Pages

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The Iliad, Book 16

Patroklos begs Achilleus to enter the fighting.  Achilleus allows Patroklos to wear his own armor, lead 2500 Mymidons into the fray.  One warning: fight to save the ships, to preserve passage home, but don't attempt to take the city.  A ship is lit.  Myrmidons charge.  At the sight of Achilleus's armor, the Trojans scatter.  Aias tries to take out Hektor, but can't-- he retreats fastest.  At the city walls, Patroklos kills Sarpedon.  Fight over the body-- Greeks take the armor, Apollo removes Sarpedon's body.  Similarly, fight over Hektor's charioteer.  In the scuffle, Patroklos strikes a blow on Apollo, who strikes back, disarming him.  Patroklos hit by spear.  Wounded and unprotected, Hektro casts the fatal blow.  In death, Patroklos mocks him and declares his fate will be the same at the hands of Achilleus.

No comments: