#achilles
I just finished Song Of Achilles and my eyes burn with the weight of unshed tears. Even though, I, as a greek myth fanatic, knew how the story ended, I still hoped against all hope that they would live. They had a love like no others; Achilles fought a river for Patroclus and Patroclus d!ed for Achille’s honour. Plz read the book so we can cry together….
achilles every time ppl offered him girl servants to spend the night with in phthia:
If you have to go, you know I will go with you
Life post-Patroclus from Achilles’s point of view.
*whisper shouting* are you kidding me
i will reread this book until it falls apart in my hands
The Song of Achilles // Madeline Miller // Read #4
me, the motherfucker who knows the ending of patroclus’ and achilles’ myth like the back of my goddamn hand: maybe they won’t die this time
guys … i think it’s time for reread number four
y'all gay bitches are so fucking emotional all i have to do is say “name one hero who was happy” an they burst into tears
i’m gay bitches
‘Modern American English makes soldiers’ love for special comrades into a problem, because the word love evokes sexual and romantic associations. But friendship seems too bland for the passion of care that arises between soldiers in combat. Achilles laments to his mother that his philos his “greatest friend is gone.” (18:89f) Much ink has been spilled over whether this word (and the abstract noun philia) and all its linguistic relatives should be translated under the rubric of “friend, friendship” etc. or of “love, beloved” etc. However, the difficulty of finding the right word reflects differences between ancient Greek and modern American culture that needs to be made clear. “Philia includes many relationships that would not be classified as friendships. The love of mother and child is a paradigmatic case of philia; all close family relations, including the relation of husband and wife, are so characterised. Furthermore, our [word] ‘friendship’ can suggest a relationship that is weak in affect…, as in the expression ‘just friends’… [Philia] includes the very strongest affective relationships that human beings form,… [including but not limited to] relationships that have a passionate sexual component.“’ — Achilles in Vietnam, Jonathan Shay, (1994: 40-1), quoting The Fragility of Goodness, Martha C. Nussbaum (1986: 354).
‘Virtually everyone who read the Iliad in college and most who read it in high school have been told that these two comrades were also lovers. This belief carries the ancient authority of both Aeschylus and Plato, even though the plain sense of Homer’s text is devoid of evidence that these two comrades-in-arms, Achilles and Patroklos, were sexual partners. Achilles’ grief for Patroklos would not have been greater had they been a sexual couple, nor less if they had not been.’ — Achilles in Vietnam, Jonathan Shay, (1994: 42), bold is my emphasis.
These two/three quotes seem particularly relevant to me in light of a) this excerpt from Coming out Under Fire: The history of gay Men and Women in World War Two b) the MCU fandom ship of Cap and Bucky which displays the 'special relationship’ of soldiers, often in a sexual way, and c) the growing awareness (on tumblr, at least) of those on the ace/aro spectrums.
Firstly, it does seem like the nature of the special relationships forged between people in the horror of war seems to have helped people in those situations be more understanding of different types of sexual love, and different sexual orientations in general. Secondly, whilst I have precisely zero problems with people portraying a ‘special comrade’ relationship between Cap and Bucky that does contain a sexual element — (this is different from presenting these two characters as simply having sexual preferences that are not heterosexual), I feel it is important to be aware of the fact that a lack of sex in such a relationship does not make it lesser — and this is true of all relationships, not just that of the 'special comrade’.
achilles: what do they mean the raddest era of greek history. i was the raddest era of greek history. why was i not born in the era of hella when i am the most hella
patroclus: [soothing myrmidon noises]
so today in our history class we talked about Achilles and Patroclus…
Me, in a group chat: THEY WERE GAY FOR EACH OTHER
Me: THERE IS NO HETEROSEXUAL EXPLANATION FOR THIS
My friend: TYPICAL ARCHEOLOGY
“My great friend is gone: Patroklus–comrade in arms– whom I held dear above all others, dear as myself, now gone, lost.”
Iliad init
Patroclus, at Achilles’ funeral: Can i have a moment alone with him?
Odysseus: Of course *leaves*
Patroclus, leaning over Achilles’ coffin: Now listen, I know you’re not dead.
Achilles: Yeah no shit
Odysseus: Hey, Patroclus, can you take out the trash?
Patroclus: I would, but you’re already outside.
Odysseus:
Patroclus: *high fives Achilles*
Patroclus: *completely serious* I have to get something off my chest…
Achilles:is it your shirt?? I hope its your shirt please
Patroclus: Just to be sure, are you asking me romantically or platonically?
Achilles, down on one knee, ring still out: You did not just fucking ask me that-
Odysseus:are you a cuddler?
Achilles: I AM A MACHINE OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION-
Patroclus: yeah he’s a cuddler.
Odysseus, reading a fortune cookie: if you kill a killer, the number of killers in the world stays the same.
Achilles, with a mouth full of takeout: kill two
Patroclus: please promise me you won’t die in battle. I’m scared.
Achilles: death?the onlythings that aredeadare my coremusclesbecause I’m alwayson myGRINDChiron 4:13
the song of achilles: basically
patroclus: oh no he’s hot
achilles: omg mom you’re embarrassing me get out of my room it isNT A PHASE
thetis: [homophobic hissing]
chiron: i ship it
odysseus: pff dude same
Patroclus: you know, Penelope gives Odysseus flowers everyday. I wish you’d do that too
Achilles:okay
*the next day*
Achilles: *gives Odysseus flowers*
Odysseus:??????
Achilles: I don’t know. I’m confused aswell