Homer? Who is Homer?

 

If I'm going to stake a claim one way or the other, I'll say The Iliad and The Odyssey had two different authors.  I suppose much of the language is similar (although I'm obviously not qualified to judge the Greek), and clearly the second author was fully knowledgeable of the first work.  But the literary devices and non-sequential narrative of The Odyssey are so different than the straightforward chronicle of The Iliad.  And as Lattimore pointed out in the introduction, the use of simile and imagery language is more rampant in The Iliad as well.

A crude and blasphemous comparison: The Iliad  is "Cheers", while The Odyssey is "Frasier"-- the first using (and perfecting, and defining for all followers) a classic, repeatable chapter-to-chapter formula; the second establishing its own unique identity while expanding the genre's possibilities in a number of innovative directions (language, narrative structure).

Homer II should have included a special credit: "Based on the character 'Odysseus', created by Homer I."

The Iliad, Book 24

Games over, Achilleus can't sleep.  12th day after Hektor's death.  Zeus sends Thetis to him, convinces him to let Priam retrieve body.  Achilleus agrees.  Zeus sends Ida to tell Priam to ransom the body, alone.  He sets out.  Hermes arrives and escorts him, unseen, direct to Achilleus.  Priam begs for the body.  Very charitably, Achilleus concedes.  Promises to hold off further attack another 12 days, allowing Hektor's burial.  Priam leaves in secret under cover of night.  Arriving at the city, Cassandra sees him first, awakens all Ilion with her wailing grief.  Individual mourning by Andromache, Hekabe, and Helen.  Funeral pyre and burial for Hektor, breaker of horses.

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Me:  I was genuinely surprised to see the name Cassandra in this book.  Apparently that's where it comes from.

The Iliad, Book 23

Return to ships, sprepare for Patroklos burial.  In a dream Patroklos asks Achilleus to bury him quickly.  Aphrodite and Apollo preserve body of Hektor.  Achilleus has Patroklos's funeral mound (and his own) built, sacrifices Trojan prisoners to be burned on the pyre.  Next day, Patroklos's bones stored.  Games and prizes and betting, hosted by Achilleus.  Chariot race (Diomedes, Antilochos, Menelaos), boxing, wrestling (Aias and Odysseu draw), footrace (Odysseus), spear combat (Aias and Diomedes tie), shot put, archery, spear throwing.  Achilleus dispenses prizes at will, settles disputes with extras, bonus gifts for Nestor and deserving others.

The Iliad, Book 22

Apollo taunts Achilleus, who turns back to the city.  Hektor out front.  Priam peering down, recognizes his fate.  Hektor debates fighting there, or handing over the city as ransom to end the war.  Then runs, Achilleus in pursuit.  Finally Zeus weighs both lives in Fate, and Hektor's time has come.  At this, Apollo abandons him, Athene comes in the likeness of his brother Deiphobos, convinces him to confront Achilleus.  Brief words.  Two spear casts miss-- Athene retrieves Achilleus's spear, Hektor recognizes he's alone, and screwed.  Achilleus administers the death blow.  Hektor begs for his body to be spared, but for nought.  Greeks arrive, ravage the body, start return to ships-- burial of Patroklos, for Achilleus.  Priam starts after to ransom Hektor's body.  Much mourning in Ilion, especially by Andromache, who weeps most of all for Hektor's infant son Astyanax.

The Iliad, Book 21

Trojans retreat, Achilleus rages, killing even those he knows.  Keeps 12 alive for later.  Begging does not stay him-- for death comes unfairly.  Finally, the river Xanthos (Skamandros) rises against him, and he is imperilled-- saved by Athene and Poseidon.  Xanthos rises again-- Hera sends Hephaistos to beat it back with fire-- Achilleus saved for good.  the gods quarrel-- Athene wins over Ares, Athene over Aphrodite, Poseidon and Apollo draw, Leto over Artemis.  Achilleus charges to the city.  Apollo inspires Agenor to stand fast, and strike a blow; then Apollo whisks Agenor to safety, taking his place, and leading Achilleus on a chase back to the river, while the remaining Trojans safely enter the city gate.

The Iliad, Book 20

Battle at hand, Zeus allows gods to pick sides.  Greeks: Hera, Athene, Poseidon.  Trojans: Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite.  Gods and mortals fight.  Achilleus eyes Hektor, Apollo presses Aineias to confront Achilleus instead.  Gods retreat.  Yo' momma jokes.  Blows exchanged.  Apollo comes to rescue Aineias-- not his time yet.  Hektor eyes Achilleus; Apollo says not yet.  Achilleus kills a bunch.  Hektor makes his move-- blows exchanged, but Athene protects Achilleus and Apollo really protects Hektor.  No final confrontation yet.  Achilleus kills a bunch more.

The Iliad, Book 19

Armor delivered, Thetis agrees to protect Patroklos to the end of battle.  Apologies between Achilleus and Agamemnon, who blames Zeus, Destiny, and Delusion for the strife all have caused.  Odysseus calls for a feast before the final push for battle-- Achilleus won't partake.  Agamemnon delivers promised bounty, including Briseis, who mourns over Patroklos.  Athene sent by Zeus, now on Greeks' side, to strengthen Achilleus, who armors himself, though in sorrow over his fate.  Asks horses to be better protection for him than they were for Patroklos.  "Fuck off," says Xanthos the horse.  Really.

The Iliad, Book 18

Achilleus recognizes that Patroklos is dead, finally confirmed by Antilochus.  Thetis arrives to console him.  Achilleus is despondant-- sees his own prophesied death coming, for he no longer even wishes to live after Hektor is killed.  Thetis leaves to obtain new armor.  Iris sent by hera to Achilleus, pushes him to make an appearance at least so that Patroklos's body will be saved.  Athene enhances his appearance-- at the sight of him from afar, Trojans are driven back-- some commit suicide.  Poulydamas urges Trojan retreat behind city walls-- death is coming.  Hektor prefers final charge-- senses imminent victory.  Body of Patroklos is honored, saved for burial until after Hektor is killed.  Thetis calls in a favor from Hephaistos.  Builds new armor, including glorious elaborate shield.

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Me: At first reading, it seemed that the shield of Achilleus will be a universal icon throughout the rest of literature.  It has been re-created in artwork throughout history.  A good collection.  One example:

The Iliad, Book 17

Menelaos rushes to protect Patroklos's body, kills Euphorbos (Patroklos's true slayer) who was seeking the glory of Achilleus's armor.  Glaukos shames Hektro for not saving Sarpedon from Patroklos, convinces him that he must take Patroklos's body.  In first fight, Greeks recover the body, while Hektor wins Achilleus's armor.  Much back-and-forth fighting ensues over the body-- Zeus continually changing his favor-- ultimately knowing Hektor will perish, allowing him victories in the meantime.  Achilleus's immortal horses and chariot return to the ships; nearly beaten, Aias tells Menelaos to get Antilochus (away from the main fighting) to rush back and report to Achilleus what has happened-- though without his armor, not much hope.  Menelaos carries Patroklos's body in final retreat, as the two Aiases beat back the trailing Trojans, led by Hektor and Aineias.

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.

The Iliad, Book 15

Zeus awakes.  No more bullshit-- he will ensure Thetis's plea is fulfilled, and tells of all coming events, to the death of Hektor.  Brushes aside Hera, summons Poseidon to leave the fighting, sends Apollo to heal Hektor and lead the Trojan charge.  At sight of healthy Hektor, Greeks retreat.  Pushed back behind the wall, their cause looks lost.  Zeus watches for a ship to catch fire, fulfilling Achilleus's request, so he may turn the fighting back to the Greeks' favor.  Hektor is raging.  Greeks fighting for honor alone in a lost cause.  At the ships, it turns to brutal hand-to-hand combat.  Hektor has hold of a ship at last, as Aias wearily beats back a wave of Trojan fighters...

The Iliad, Book 14

Decision time.  Seeing the breaches through their defenses, Nestor gathers with Agamemnon, Odysseus, and Diomedes (all injured) to decide next move.  Agamemnon considers retreat to pull ships back into water and save them; Odysseus shows this would be suicide; Diomedes talks them into another charge or at least convincing remaining Greeks to mount another charge.  Poseidon arrives to encourage-- tells Agamemnon that the Trojans will be driven back yet.  Seeing this, Hera plots to remove Zeus's protection of the Trojans.  Tricks Aphrodite into helping, enlists Sleep's aid, seduces Zeus, knocks him out.  Sleep gives Poseidon the signal to mount the charge.  In the fighting, Aias strikes Hektor and he is rushed back to the city.  Back to a draw.

The Iliad, Book 13

Zeus, thinking his job finished, stops paying attention.  As he's distracted, Poseidon arrives the rally the Greeks.  Pushback begins on left flank, away from Hektor.  Much back and forth, losses on both sides, but no one major.  Greeks win the undercard.  Aias taunts Hektor.

The Iliad, Book 12

Flash forward-- far in the future, well after the fall of Troy and the Greeks return home, Zeus and Poseidon will destroy the Greeks' wall and ditch with a flood, wiping away all trace of the siege.  For now, it is the site of battle.  Trojans dismount to overwhelm the stronghold on foot, except one company who remain on horses and are destroyed.  Both sides are unflinching until Sarpedon breaches the wall's defenses, and Hektor breaches the wall itself.  Trojans on their way to the ships, ready to finish the job.

The Iliad, Book 11

Battle rages.  Greeks, driven by Hate (from Zeus), led by Agamemnon, sweep through Trojans, push close to city walls.  Hektor warned to stay back until Agamemnon gets wounded and leaves battle.  This happens, and Hektor leads the pushback.  greeks picked off and injured one by one, including Diomedes, Odysseus, Aias.  Achilleus sees the injuries, sends Patroklos for a report.  Nestor tells a story of a previous battle, in which he came to the rescue of his friends and won glory doing so.  Begs Patroklos to convince Achilleus to join the battle-- or if not, to himself lead a charge and raise the spirits of the Greeks.  Tragedy unfolding.

The Iliad, Book 10

Agamemnon and Menelaos, unable to sleep, rouse the usual suspects to plot their next move.  Diomedes and Odysseus volunteer for recon mission under protection of Athene.  Meanwhile, Dolon volunteers as a scout for Hektor, promised the loot of Achilleus.  Captured by Diomedes and Odysseus.  Odysseus interrogates, Dolon tells all, Diomedes beheads him.  Diomedes and Odysseus raid a Trojan camp, killing 13 and making off with good horses.  And there was much rejoicing.

The Iliad, Book 9

The storm rages.  Agamemnon, in council, announces decistion to sail back.  Nestor places all blame on him for his insult to Achilleus.  Agamemnon relents, promises gifts beyond worth to Achilleus, including Briseis, if he will fight and save the Greeks.  A band meets Achilleus, and Odysseus makes the pitch.  Achilleus's response: "Not the point!  Agamemnon took what was mine.  It cannot be repaid.  Besides, I know my fate.  Stay and fight (and die), and never receive gifts anyway."  Phoinix: "Where's your loyalty, at least to me whom you grew up with?"  Parable.  Achilleus: "Why are you so loyal to Agamemnon, a lesser man?"  Aias: "But protect your countrymen!"  Achilleus: "It's no use.  But I may fight when Hektor is at the ships."  Returning, Odysseus tells Agamemnon that Achilleus's anger is unrelenting.

The Iliad, Book 8

Zeus pulls rank, declares no more interference by the gods.  Athene and Hera sulk.  Zeus retreats, places fates in the scales, Trojans take the day.  Hektor again leads the onslaught, almost taking Nestor.  Pushed back behind the walls, Agamemnon rallies the Greeks-- Zeus temporarily relents.  A hard charge, ending when Hektor strikes Diomedes, who is saved from death under the protection of Aias.  Athene and Hera vow to come to aid the Greeks-- turned back by Zeus.  Hera pledges to counsel Greeks.  Zeus threatens Poseidon's destruction in a day, and reveals the Greeks cannot win until Achilleus is aroused by the death of Patroklos.  Trojans and Hektor stalled by nightfall, but sitting pretty.

The Iliad, Book 7

Trojans start to sweep through.  Athene and Apollo call a temporary truce, suggest a one-on-one to end the day's combat.  Hektor requests an opponent-- Menelaos accepts, but talked down by Agamemnon.  Nestor chastises the Greeks-- then nine volunteer.  Aias chosen by lot.  Gains the upper hand on Hektor.  Zeus's messengers call a halt.  Gift exchange.  On the beach, Greeks plot their next move.  In Troy, Paris again asked to give up Helen.  He declines, but offers all his possessions instead.  Offer declined, but a truce is called while bodies are burned.  Greeks build a tower upon their pyre; Poseidon tells Zeus they forgot to sacrifice when they decided to build it.  Ominous music...

The Iliad, Book 6

Greeks gain the uper hand; Trojans rally behind Hektor.  Diomedes and Glaukos meet for one-on-one combat.  Hearing Glaukos's history, Diomedes realizes they are old famly friends.  They withdraw after a gift exchange, which Diomedes wins.  Hektore returns to the city, asks Helen and women to pray to Athene to turn the tide in their favor.  Scolds Paris.  Gets flattered and seduced by Helen, but turns her down.  On way back to battle, meets his wife Andromachus and his son.  Andromachus has misgivings-- her whole family has been killed by Achilleus.  Hektor says he fights for her-- so that she won't be taken by the Greeks as a prize.  Paris returns to battle.