#agamemnon

After Hector’s rampage the Greeks end up crammed against their ships and both Agamemnon and Menelaus fail to sleep. One for wounded pride and one for guilt. No need to guess which is which. Menelaus is a good person I think and sees the best in others and it included assuming his brother was going out to war- ha!

Agamemnon does have a point when he says they need tactics to make up any of the ground lost and it includes the call for respect that he makes sure to use to each warrior regarding name of self and family and humbleness when calling them to meet. He even finds time to defend his brother in multiple ways to Nestor which is something nice to see.

Nestor again is responsible for the prodding of the Greeks to action leading to Diomedes and Odysseus going out for a scouting mission. Best part of this moment is Odysseus saying yeah yeah I’m great, now can we move before the sun comes up?

During their time out, the enemy sent spy is an idiot, granting them valuable information and satisfaction leading to the death of the Thracian king and the theft of his horses. Dolon is a worthless ass you blames Hector for his volunteering.

The whole thing ends with Apollo interfering to stop Athena’s meddling from doing any more damage.

This whole thing feels like the moment of squandered moments for the Trojans and proof of fates verdict.

P.S. Agamemnon has smooth feet- proof to me that he’s no warrior. Warriors and soldiers would have calloused feet.

P.P.S. Diomedes calls Nestor a “hard man” which he is. He is one seriously bad and tough dude.

After Zeus inflicts horrible pain on the Greeks “Panic” and “Rout” take them and bring about desperation. Agamemnon actually assists with the calls to the men and acknowledges his madness, blaming “Cronus’ son.” They fear they have lost the war and the balance of fate.

Agamemnon’s folly with Achilles is pointed out and his lack of courage is brought up by multiple people in multiple ways. And he finally admits his part and the value of Achilles. He proposes and full list of offerings and apologies to but says “(l)et him bow down to me? I am the greater king….the greater man.” Humph. He still isn’t there. But the delegation goes to Achilles at his wish.

The group finds Achilles playing the petulant rock star, literally. He is playing to a full audience and wallowing in his pride. He calls them in with a near cat call and is addressed by Odyseus as to the need for him, his responsibilities, and the offer.

Achilles then compares Agamemnon to the Gates of Hell and condemns him. He asks why they are there again- pointing out that he doesn’t believe they are there for a wife since they so easily took his. He says he’s leaving and he is not interested in the offer or Agamemnon’s daughter because he will die there and it isn’t worth his life.

His charioteer begs him to relent, but he will not, warning him that he will hate him if he sides with Agamemnon. Ajax follows berating him and is met with a get out and a fv(k you for Agamemnon.

Needless to say, the “greater man” swears off Achilles leaving the Greeks in the same place they were. Desperate.

P.S. Ew moment in Achilles comment about enjoying “her to the hilt.”

After the gods leave the field Diomedes continues his rampage through the Trojan ranks. The text lists the slaying of demigods at his hands. The action brings forward the kings of Greece including Menelaus. He almost takes a ransom prisoner until Agamemnon reminds him of his duty to slaughter and pushes his brother and ranks to kill and take no spoils until the Trojans are dead.

Opposing them, Hector and Aeneas bring their own ranks round to combat. But the Prince of Troy, Helenus the seer, tells Hector to return to the city to have the Queen and the ladies of Troy to attempt prayers and offerings to Athena to bring her wrath to an end. Troy has always given offerings but as the past passage attest, Athena brings much death and destruction when in her disfavor.

Once Hector leaves more Trojan heroes step forward to face Diomedes including the grandson of Bellerophon, Hippolochus. Their battle includes an exchange of their armor and sworn friendship. But it is the conversation that passes which includes Hippolochus review of his grandfather’s story that I find important and I wonder if it isn’t why this is in the epic. “But the day soon came when even Bellerophon was hated by all the gods.” The gods always have favorites. In Greece, in Troy, and they all have favorites and invariably in all the instances the gods turn on or turn their face from those they “love.” They are such fickle and hateful creatures.

Athena finds a target of menace in Aesepus an ally whose fired shot fails to kill Menelaus due to the quick action of his fellow Argives and the interference again of Athena on the field.

It is this action alone that gives Agamemnon one of his few justifiable moments. The breaking of the truce is a break in sacred war behavior and in doing so he has the right to hate the Trojan action. His belief that they were deceitful I still find irritating since Athena began it, but he is correct in his rage. Of course he can’t help himself from being the jack@$$ he is because most of his rage is the appearance. His concern for his brother’s welfare is all about how it will impact how he looks to his people.

It appears to me that the men of Greece are genuinely worried for the good man Menelaus, but his brother is exactly who Achilles believes him to be. However in righteous anger the Greek army seems to me to be juxtaposed as both movable sheep and unstoppable forces of nature. They move to their goatherd and rush like hurricane. I find the image to be what the word awesome was meant to be. And during this rise of force the shepherds such as Ajax call for men to hold their ground and “No heroics now!” They see the madness and know the end of the game.

In the middle of this Agamemnon takes Odysseus to task and gets Achilles accusations thrown from another mouth of being blustering and mouthy. Interestingly in this moment Agamemnon shows that he has learned and he apologizes. What follows is a frightening image of silent wrath versus Trojan bluster. Clear direction versus opposing voices of allies. The end is the scores of dead on both sides, enough to break your heart.

This chapter starts with an intentional lie on the part of Zeus to Agamemnon. The dream sent plays on the king’s existing weaknesses including his pride. To me this is in two ways; that he is destined to win and that Zeus would speak especially to him. It takes a level of arrogance that only Agamemnon has shown up until now to believe these things.

He uses this sense of self-importance and an attempt at reverse psychology to push the Greeks to attack when they do. However Odysseus sees the psychology and a Greek named Thersites sees the arrogance. Thersites calls out the king and demands that they should go home. His message is the Greek version of Cassandra inside the city and he is abused and ignored.

Agamemnon’s push for continuing the war includes “payment in full” for the miseries born by the Greeks during the war in rape. He threatens to kill deserters and says that if they lose it is their own cowardice. He then acknowledges his fault in the fight with Achilles but doesn’t take responsibility. Instead he makes a bid to tell the men that if Achilles fought the war would be over.

Odds and ends: Odysseus is called raider of cities, the ox sacrificed has to be five years old and I’m not sure why, the sacrifice will work but not right away, Ares sons are Greek but he fights for the Trojans.

There are two distinct Ajax and I wonder if these are likely part of the original oral tradition.

Hercules’ sons and grandsons are at Troy which helps line up the timing of the different myths.

Not surprisingly many heroes in Greek literature are demi-gods and in the Iliad there is no end of them. So many of them take on an aspect of their parents persona. What is unique is the two pivotal demi-gods are at cross-points in their self analysis.

The editor of this edition (Robert Fagles) points out that by the time the war starts Helen is done being a narcissist while Achilles is beginning his full swing. It is an interesting point. However if still don’t see how an aware Helen doesn’t stop the war by stepping back to her husband. I still can’t like her.

However the editor points out something else I never really looked at before which is that while Achilles is raging in his wounded pride, he never loses sight of who to blame. He doesn’t kill the messenger. He knows that it Agamemnon who has no honor. The editor indicates that Achilles honor is always his motivation but for me personally I see a great deal more pride then honor. He believes himself better by his grandeur in battle but never acknowledges that his prowess is a cheat. First in his birth to a nymph, second his protection from Styx, and finally third from the god-made armor brought to him.

Honor should not let a real warrior cry to his mother to punish the people were mean to him. He shouldn’t watch men die for his “injury” and he shouldn’t punish another for his own guilt as he did Hector. I acknowledge Fagles’ expertise but I’m not convinced of the honor element. What I do agree with is that the story arch brought about by Priam’s night visit does return Achilles to hero status to me.

In that moment he remembers honor, what civilized and a truly great man looks like. It his redeeming act and it is too late to undo his desecration. I still struggle with the importance of sons/children for men in that society and Achilles had none. I’m working on that in my head.