Homer asks muses to help sing the song of the rage of Achilles; Story opens in the 9th yr of Trojan War; Acheans have a plague because Agamemnon didn't want to give back Chryses' daughter; Agamemnon ignores his advisors in that matter; Chryses asks for Apollo to send aforementioned plague; 10 days later, seer Calchas states that he'll explain to Achilles the reasoning behind plague if Achilles helps him - Achilles agrees, and Calchas says Chryses' daughter must be returned, and Apollo must get a sacrifice; Agamemnon protests, but gives in; Achilles tells him treasure is divided and he'll get paid later; Agamemnon refuses, and states he'll take the prize of any captain, outraging Achilles; Achilles critisises Agamemnon and threatens to sail home; Agamemnon doesn't care, and states he'll take his slave girl Briseis for himself; Athena stops Achilles from killing the King, promising a reward; Achilles states he will no longer fight; Nestor tries to mediate, but Achilles storms off; Agamemnon agrees to give Apollo gets the sacrifice; Briseis is taken away from Achilles without a fight; Achilles prays to mum Thetis to get revenge; Achilles asks Thetis to ask Zeus for help, as she once helped Zeus, who now owes her a favour; Thetis agrees and tells Achilles to stay clear of fighting; Odysseus sails to island of Chryses and returns his daughter; Odysseus conducts Agamemnon's sacrifice; Thetis talks to Zeus, asking for Trojan victory in Achilles absence; Zeus is angered at prospect of a fight with Achaea-backing Hera, but agrees; Hera sees all and is annoyed, but is silenced by Zeus; Hephaestus stands in front of Gods, trying to diffuse situation between his parents; Hephaestus talks about his fall from Olympus; Gods feast and fall asleep.

Both armies approach each other (Trojans loudly/ Achaeans quietly); Paris challenges Achaeans for one-on-ones; Menelaus sees Paris and plans to fight him whilst Paris retreats into his lines; Hector criticises Paris' cowardice,who agrees but states Aphrodite's gifts shouldn't be rejected; Paris tries to save face of Hector's criticism by offering to duel Menelaus, w/ winner taking Helen and ending the war; Hector agrees for a temporary truce; Agamemnon sees Hector and asks archers to cease fire whilst Hector asks Trojans to put down their armour; Menelaus calls duel "limited vengeance", noting heavy casualties but accepts challenge; Menelaus asks for sacrifice made to gods w/ King Priam as witness to seal oath to end war; Armies rejoice at possibility of war ended; Goddess Iris takes form of Hector's sister Laodice and flies to Helen to inform her of duel; Helen longs for Menelaus and homeland; Priam and elders gather in Troy's tall tower and remark Helen's beauty but say it's better for Achaeans to take her back and end the war; Priam calls Helen and she points out certain men on the field, specifically Agamemnon, Odysseus, Great Ajax, Idomeneus; Priam's advisor Antenor tells of Odysseus visit to Troy and praises his elegance; Helen cannot find her brothers Castor and Polydeuces not knowing they're already dead in Helen's homeland Lacedaemon; Trojans bring sacrifice and call Priam to oversee; Agamemnon swears oath; Zeus doesn't fulfill people praying for oath; Priam returns to Troy; Heroes pull lots (Paris' falls out, so he'll throw 1st spear), Paris' throw hits shield but doesn't go through whilst Menelaus' spear nearly hits Paris and his sword breaks over his head; Menelaus is furious and grabs Paris by the chest, dragging him to Achaean lines; Aphrodite intervenes and transports him back to Troy; Aphrodite travels to Helen and turns into her seamstress from Lacedaemon, telling her to join Paris in bedroom; Goddess is furious and threatens to destroy Helen, who threatens Paris' cowardice; Both make love and Achaeans proclaim Menelaus victor, ending war by oath.

Gods have a council on Mt. Olympus and watch Troy; Zeus taunts Hera as she and Athena stood there whilst Aphrodite rescues Paris; Zeus states Menelaus is the victor, and that he should lead Helen home; Hera's angry, states duel won't stop effort to raze Troy, which angers Zeus; Zeus states that she should stand in his way should he want to do something similar; Hera agrees, offering Achaean cities of Argos, Sparta, Mycenae for Troy; Zeus is satisfied and assures Troy's destruction; Athena is ordered to provoke Trojans into breaking truce; She, in the form of a Trojan soldier, flies down to the anxious army and induces archer Pandarus to shoot arrow at Menelaus, promising him fame/ gifts from Paris; Pandrus prays to Apollo and shoots Menelaus, but it merely grazes him due to Athena's deflection; Agamemnon sees Menelaus bleeding and curses the oath breakers; Healer Machaeon is summoned; Both armies are ready to fight; Agamemnon rouses troops, praising Cretan Idomeneus and Aeantes (Great and Little Ajax); Nestor advises troops w/ Agamemnon commending him; Agamemnon goads Odysseus, accusing him of hanging back, but later Agamemnon reassures him; Agamemnon meets Diomedes and also prods him for shirking away from battle, comparing him to his father Tydeus; Agamemnon tells a story of Tydeus defeating enemies; Diomedes co-commander Sthenelus tells Agamemnon men are stronger than ancestors, but Diomedes silences Agamemnon, saying that this is merely provocation; Achaean army moves forward to battle, marching like a surf pounding the shore; Armies collide ; Achaean captains Antilochus and Great Ajax kill Trojans; Odysseus' comrade is killed by Trojans, so Odysseus kills Priam's bastard son in reprisal; Under Achaean assault, Trojans are forced back; Apollo watches and cries for Trajan retaliation whilst Athena spurs Achaeans; Homer finishes book w/ 2 death descriptions: Diores is struck by Pirous' rock and speared, and Pirous is speared as he springs away; Soldiers lie dead.

Battle continues, with Achaeans such as G.Ajax and Diomedes killing several Trojans; Menelaus nearly spares Trojan Adrestus’ life for ransom, but Agamemnon convinces him to kill; Achaeans push forward; Seer Helenus, son of Priam, teels Aeneas & Hector to stand fast and rally troops; Hector is ordered to return to Troy to organise sacrifice for Athena; Hector obeys, driving soldiers foward and then turning back to Troy; Glaucus meets Diomedes, and tells him they have never met before, and will fight him if he's mortal; Glaucus responds that birth shouldn't been the question, as men are like 'generations of leaves'; Glaucus recalls tale of ancestor Bellerophon, Diomedes asks to be friends, as their grandfathers knew each other; Hector reaches Troy and asks people to pray to Gods; Goes to Priam's and seeks mother Hecuba, who offeres wine; He refuses and orders women to gather sacrifice, which is rejected by Athena; Hector comes across Paris, polishing armour and along with Helen berate Paris' shirking; Paris states he's striken by grief, but Hector's citicism is fair, and agrees to catch up w/ Hector; Hector speeds home, but Andromache isn't there, as she's gone to tower to watch the fighting; Hector runs to gate to meet her and infant son Astyanax; Andromache weeks for past loss of family to Acheans, begging Hector to stay in fear of becoming a widow; Hector states he must fight so Troy isn't destroyed; Hector wants to cradle son, but Astyanax is frightened of Hector's armour, so he removes is helmet to kiss son; Hector prays for son to become a warrior, and tells Andromache not to mourn him so soon, as no man can escape their fate; Hector heads back to battle as Trojan women mourn him, believing he won't return; Paris joins Hector, who scolds him for being a good soldier who hangs back, as the two head into battle.

Achaeans panick as they sense defeat; Agamemnon summons an armies meeting to declare the war a failure, stating Zeus has "entangled me in madness"; Achaeans are told its time to sail home; Diomedes criticises Agamemnon and states he'll stay and fight as Troy is destined to fall; Men roar with assent, with Nestor agreeing with Diomedes and calling to a meal and strategic meeing; Nestor proposes Agamemnon make peace with Achilles to ensure his return to battle; Agamemnon agrees, stating that Zeus spurred him to quarrel with Achilles; Agamemnon sets aside treasures for Achilles including Briseis' return and marriage to one of his daughters; Odysseus, Great Ajax, and elderly Phoenix are chosen to go and make peace; Agamemnon's emissaries reach Achilles' camp where Achilles is singing and playing lyre; Patroclus is next to Achilles and they welcome the embassy; Achilles provides food and drink for men; Odysseus asks for Achilles help and lists the promised treasures; Achilles rejects offer, claiming death is the same for all and there's no point of battling Trojans, cursing Agamemnon and treasures; Achilles tells embassy of his two told fates by Thetis; He remarks no wealth is worth his life and tells Captains to sail home; Achilles welcomes Phoenix to stay with him; Phoenix attempts to convince Achilles to not sail home, recalling Achilles' father Peleus sending his son off to battle; Phoenix tells story of conflict with own father which resulted in his exile and him raising Achilles; Phoenix mentions story of warrior Meleager, a man who refused to fight for his city out of anger but eventually was convinced, yet recieved no treasure; Achilles still rejects, and asks for Phoenix's support; Embassy returns to Agamemnon to give him news of Achilles' refusal; Soldiers are dispirited but Diomedes says that Achilles is really proud, and will fight when the time comes; Meeting ends and men go to sleep.

Achaeans sleep except for Agamemnon, who asks Nestor for a new plan; Menelaus also can't sleep, and Agamemnon asks his brother to gather best captains; Agamemnon tells Nestor his anguish so Nestor asks to wake captains which Menelaus has already done; Nestor wakes Odysseus & Diomedes; Nestor asks for volunteers to infiltrate Trojans - Diomedes volunteers and suggests a partner; Many volunteer to go, Diomedes chooses Odysseus; Both men arm for battle, Odysseus wearing an ancient helmet w/ boar teeth; Athena sends a lucky bird sign, so men pray to Athena and set out at night; In Trojan camp Hector also plans a mission and promises treasure to volunteers; Soldier Dolon accepts challenge and heads to ships, but Odysseus spots him and both Achaeans ambush him; Dolon begs for his life, so Achaeans gather Intel from him about the Trojans; Diomedes kills Dolon and both head to Thracian camp as suggested by Dolon; Diomedes & Odysseus enter Thracian camp, kill soldiers protecting king and steal King's horses; Diomedes wants to kill more but Athena tells them to return to Achaean camp; Apollo sees Athena & Diomedes' work and wakes up Thracians; Achaeans race back to their ships w/ Thracian King's horses; Nestor praises horses w/ Odysseus playing it down; Both men wash themselves and drink in praise of Athena.

Patroclus returns to Achilles' camp, crying for Achean loss; Achilles says there's no reason to grieve and Agamemnon's men are "repaid for their offenses"; Patroclus mentiones Achilles' anger is too stubborn and asks to go to battle in his place, wearing Achilles' army to demoralise Trojans; Achilles' refuses but then changes his mind under the condition Patroclus will return after driving Trojans away from the ships; Achilles' states Patroclus not go further as glory he may receive may diminish Achilles' own glory; Also Achilles is concerned for Patroclus' safety, worried about divine intervention; In battle of ships, Great Ajax is driven off his defending ship, falling back and allowing the Trojans to light it on fire; Patroclus puts on Achilles' armour after seeing blaze; Patroclus takes Achilles' chariot and stirs up Myrmidons (his troops); Achilles' prays to Zeus to fill Patroclus with courage and bring him back safely; Zeus hears prayer but only honours only half the prayer, deciding Patroclus will not return from the battlefield; Patroclus leads Myrmidons into battle, who are described as wasps; Trojans, thinking it's Achilles, fear for lives; Patroclus begins killing Trojans, and are driven away from warships; Achean captains kill opponents; Trojan's retreat turns into a rout; Hector speeds away, but many Trojans are trapped, who are later slaughtered by Acheans; Patroclus faces Sarpedon, Trojan ally and son of Zeus, who he kills; Zeus thought of saving son, but Hera told him not to interefere in son's mortal destiny, so a compromise was sending the body home intact after death; Glaucus is filled with grief at death of Sarpedon, his co-commander; Apollo fills Glaucus with strength, and Glaucus exhhorts Hector to remember his Trojan allies; Battle over Sarpedon's body begins, with casualties on both sides; Zeus debates killing Patroclus over son's death or allowing more glory to be gained, with Zeus choosing the latter; Hector is influenced by Zeus to call a full Trojan retreat, but Patroclus continues to persue them across the plain, violating promise to Achilles; Patroclus kills more Trojans and nearly stroms gates of Troy; Apollo rebuffs Patroclus, telling him that Troy is not his to seize; Apollo manifests near Hector in mortal form, spurring him to attack Patroclus; Patroclus kills Hector's chariot driver and begin fighting over the corpse; Patroclus kills more Trojans, but on fourth charge Apollo knocks Patroclus from behind; Patroclus is speared by young Trojan Euphorbus, with Hector finishing the kill, and stating that Achilles can't save him now; Patroclus predicts Achilles will kill Hector with last breath.

Menelaus, fighting nearby, sees Patroclus' death; Euphorbus tries to strip Patroclus of Achilles' armour, but Menelaus kills him; Menelaus tries to strip Euphorbus of his armour, but Hector is roused by Apollo to protect the body; Hector charges Menelaus, who knows he cannot defend against Hector himself, hence searches for Great Ajax as Trojans push him back; Menelaus finds Great Ajax and rouses him to protect Patroclus' body from desecration; Hector, by the time Menelaus and Great Ajax arrive; strip Achilles' armour of Patroclus; Both Achaeans reach Patroclus and stand guard over body, with Glaucus criticising Hector for leaving Sarpedon's body out of fear of Great Ajax; Hector dons Achilles' armour, with Zeus endowing him with strength; Hector rallies Trojans, promising half of his war spoils to the man who takes Patroclus' body; Both side's champions converge for Patroclus' body, with Hector and Great Ajax clashing again; Achaeans begin driving Trojans back to wall, but Apollo spurs Aeneas to regroup Trojans; Despite Aeneas' efforts, Achaeans hold over the body, with the battle lasting all day; Achilles, meanwhile, doesn't know Patroclus is dead, but his immortal horses begin to weep; Zeus pities horses and fills them with strength, taking driver Automedon back into thick of battle; Hector and Aeneas attack Automedon, trying to get horses; Automedon escapes Hector's attack, kills Trojan whilst Aeantes arrive as backup; Athena takes form of Phoenix, breathing fresh strength into Menelaus, who kills a close friend of Hector; Apollo reciprocally gives strength to Hector; Zeus lets forth a thunderbolt turning tide of war in Trojan's favour, so Achaeans retreat; Menelaus and Great Ajax see the turnt tide and devise a plan to pull Patroclus' body; Menelaus asks Antilochus to relay the news of Patroclus' death to Achilles; Antilochus is struck dumb at news and rushes back to camp; Menelaus and Meriones pick up the body whilst Aeantes defend from Trojans; Achaeans bust a retreat, Hector and Aeneas in persuit

Antilochus runs back to camp to tell of Patroclus' death; Achilles fears the worst and realises Achaeans are routed; When Antilochus delivers news, Achilles dissolves into grief, weeps uncontrollably and abases himself in dirt; Antilochus stays in fear Achilles will slash his own throat; Achilles lets a wreching cry his mother hears; Sea nympths gather with Thetis and fly to Achilles; Thetis laments Achilles' approaching death, but states she cannot prevent it; She asks for reason of Achilles' sorrow, and Achilles' tells of Patroclus' death, stating he has lost the will to live other than to kill Hector; Achilles' mourns previous inaction and is ready to accept his fate by revenging on Trojans; Thetis states he has no longer any armour, so she will go to Hephaestis to get some for him; Thetis asks Achilles to stay out of battle until next dawn when she will return with new arms; Sea nymphs go home and Thetis goes to Olympus; On battlefield, Achaeans continue with the retreat with Patroclus' body; Hector presses closely whilst Aeantes keep defending, but Hector is really close to seizing the body; Iris tells Achilles he must go and help defend his fallen comrade; Achilles states he has no arms, but Iris said he merely needs to show himself to strike fear; Achiiles appears on Achaean rampart, crowned by Athena with a golden cloud; Achilles gives war cry, and Trojans panic; Achaeans use opportunity to pull body to safety, with battle ending for the day; In Trojan camp Polydamas advises a retreat to the Walls, as Achaeans ere difficult without Achilles, but now he's back; Zeus causes Hector to reject his advice, calling it cowardice and commanding the army to camp outside another night, in preparation for a new attack in the morning; At night, Achilles mourns Patroclus, and prepares his body for burial, yet stating he will not bury him until Hector is slain; He states he is doomed to never voyage home; Thetis on Olympus reaches Hephaestus' home, where she is welcomed and Hephestus remembers Thetis' care after he fell from Olympus; Thetis mentiones her marriage to Achilles' mortal father, and the lack of armour; The God agrees to make a new set greater than any a man owns, and forges the famous shield of Achilles with picture of the world, with staggering detail; Also the God forges a helmet and breastplate, laying work at Thetis feet upon completion

With dawn rising, Thetis arrives at Achilles' camp with new armour; Achilles' still mourns deeply, lying face down near Patroclus' body; Armour shines so brightly Myrmidons are afraid to looks at it, and Achilles thanks his mother; Achilles calls an assembly of troops, where Agamemnon also turns up; Achilles states its time to reconcile, with Agamemnon agreeing and stating he is not to blame - he blames Zeus' daughter Atë (Ruin) for blinding his judgement and allowing the quarrel; Agamemnon tells the story of Ruin, who was cast out of Olympus for foiling Zeus' plans with Hercules, and Agamemnon tells Achilles he will still give him the gifts promised, including Briseis; Achilles accepts indifferently, knowing his time is short; Achilles urges captains to call troops ASAP; Odysseus replies men must eat to fortify themselves, with Agamemnon agreeing, but Achilles states he has no taste for food until he satisfies himself in battle; Odyssues states food is for living, convincing Achilles to eat; Captains sacrifice to Zeus and eat; Agamemnon's gifts are bought to camp; Briseis sees dead Patroclus and begins mourning for him, stating he was always kind; Zeus, filled with pity, sends Athena to nourish Achilles with food of Gods without him noticing; Achaeans prepare for battle, with Achilles arming himself with Hephaestus' armour; Horses are readied and Achilles mounts his chariot, where Hera gives her voice to horse Roan Beauty; Horse states that he will save Achilles' life today, but his death is approaching; Achilles is angered at being reminded of his fate and drives out to battle

Achilles chases a man he believes to be Agenor, but Apollo reveals himself, taunting him for chasing a god; Achilles is angered that Apollo has prevented him gaining more glory, and begins running to the Walls of Troy; Hector is only Trojan outside walls, waiting to fight Achilles to the death; Priam sees Achilles and implores Hector to come inside, asking Hector to pity him with all the losses suffered, and suggests a hero's death is much greater than dying an old man; Hector waits on Achilles as he runs across the plain, and is ashamed of plan to let Trojans camp outside the wall; Hector wonders if he can negotiate with Achilles, but the anger Achilles ha in unshakable, so Hector resolves to fight, but loses nerve and begins to run away; Achilles chases Hector, and run around the Walls thrice; Zeus, pittying Hector, wonders if he should rescue Hector, but Athena states Hector is fated to die, so Zeus relents; On fouth circuit of Troy, Achilles can't gain on Hector, but Hector can't escape Achilles' speed (a catch-22); Zeus tips balance against Hector and sentences him to death; Athena appears behind Achilles, stating she'll persuade Hector to fight; Athena appears near Hector in the form of Deiphobus, stating they could both face Achilles; Hector, moved his brother would assist, agrees, and faces Achilles; Hector speaks to Achilles, asking that they swear to honour each other's bodies irregardless of outcome, with Achilles rejecting the offer; Achilles hurls spear and misses, and Athena passes spear back; Hector's spear hits Achilles' shield but cannot pierce it; Hector turns to look at Deiphobus but can't find it, realising it was a trick of the Gods and that his fate was sealed; They charge each other with Achilles driving his spear into a weak spot in Hector's neck; Hector's dying words ask to be returned to Troy, but Achilles refues, stating dogs will eat at his corpse; Achaeans gather over body and stab his corpse; Achilles considers further battle but realises he has to bury Patroclus; He ties Hector's corpse to chariot and drags him through dust to defile the body; Priam and Hecuba grieve for Hector, calling the death the most heartbreaking loss of the war; Andromache doesn't know of husband's death due to fear of messengers; Hearing wailing, Andromache leaves chambers in time to see husband being dragged through dirt; She collapses in sorrow, lamenting about fatherless future of Astyanax

Achaeans return to camp; Achilles organises elaborate funeral, and Myrmidons lament for own losses; Hector is left desecrated in dust; Men eat funeral feast, but Achilles won't wash blood off body until Patroclus' burial is complete; Achilles falls asleep due to exhaustion; Patroclus' ghost appears in night, asking to complete his funeral so he could pass into Land of Dead, and asks their bones we buried together so they aren't seperated; Achilles agrees, and tries to embrace Patroclus, yet cannot as he is a ghost; Achaean force led by Meriones cuts timber for Patroclus' funeral pyre, and begin building it; Massive sacrifice is made to gods including twelve captured Trojans by Achilles; Patroclus' pyre doesn't burn until Achilles prays to gods of west and north winds and Iris deliver's his prayer, setting the pyre ablaze; Patroclus' bones are collected and placed in urn, and a burial mound is built; Achilles asks to be built in same tomb; Achilles oversees funeral games in friend's memory; First event is chariot race with rich prizes for victors; Eumelus, Diomedes, Menelaus, Antilochus, and Meriones participate in race; Apollo is still angry with Diomedes so knocks his whip out of his hand but Athena gives it back; Eumelus is most famous driver but Athena breaks is yoke, allowing Diomedes the lead as drivers approach the race's turn; Antilochus, despite slow horse, outmaneuvers Menelaus on narrow track; Nearing finish line, Idomeneus spots Diomedes coming, but Little Ajax argues that Eumelus is first; Achilles calms quarreling captains; Diomedes win race, followed by Antilochus and Menelaus; Eumelus get a prize for bad luck and Menelaus makes Antilochus swear he didn't commit a foul; Antilochus doesn't swear, but Menelaus lets him have the prize anyway; Second event is boxing match, with more prizes; Warrior Epeus is victor, a boxing specialist; Third event is wrestling, where Great Ajax's strength versus Odysseu's knowledge of holds ends in a tie, so they share the prizes; Fourth event if foot race with Odysseus, Little Ajax and Antilochus; Ajax is winning but Athena causes him to slip, making him second and Antilochus last; Fifth even is duelling in full armour where Great Ajax and Diomedes are chosen; Both fight but are sepeated before injuries; Diomedes is declared winner by Achilles; Sixth event is iron lump throwing, with captain Polypoetes winning; Seventh event is archery, to shoot a dove tied to cord, where Meriones wins and Teucer coming second due to not praying to Apollo; Last, eighth, event is spear throwing, where Achilles intercedes and Agamemnon is automatically awarded first prize

Funeral games end, but Achilles is still consumed by grief, and flooded by memories uses chariot to drag Hector's body; Apollo pities Hector's body and protects it; Gods feel sorry for Hector and desire to save his body; They ask Hermes to steal body, but Hera, bent on shaming Trojans, won't allow it because of hate for them due to Judgement of Paris (Paris had favoured Aphrodite's beauty over Hera and Athena); 12 days after Hector's death, Apollo addresses Gods and states that Hector always had respect for Gods, and so Achilles had no decency for desecrating the body; Hera counters, stating Achilles is a son of god and Hector is not an equal to Achilles; Zeus agrees with Hera, but states that gods loved Hector, so called Iris to call for Thetis; Zeus instructs Thetis on arrival to Olympus to tell her son to give the body back to Priam, who will pay Achilles a ransom; Thetis flies to Achilles, and asks how long he will grieve, whilst mentioning Zeus' decree; Achilles agrees, saying he won't resist the will of the Gods; Zeus sends Iris to Troy, letting Priam know he needs to travel to the ships to ransom Hector's body; He is told Achilles will not kill him; Priam orders a wagon with treasure, whilst Hecuba tries to convince him not to go; Hecuba prays to gods for a sign from Zeus first, which Priam agrees to; Zeus sends an eagle for reassurance, so Priam sets out with his old driver; Zeus tells Hermes to ensure Priam's safe travel; Hermes appears in the form of a stranger, comparing Priam to his father; Priam is suspicious and asks who stranger is, and Hermes replies he is an aide of Achilles, and tells Priam the body of Hector is still intact; Hermes guides wagon through gates and makes sentries go to sleep, before revealing he's a god; Priam enters the lodge and kisses Achilles' hand, asking for mercy and beseeching Achilles to remember own father; Achilles is moved and both weep for their losses; Achilles states his father Peleus will never see him; Priam is asked to sit, but he refuses as he wants to ransom the body; Achilles asks Priam to not anger him as he may kill him if his temper flares; Achilles fetches Hector's body and apologises to Patroclus for letting Hector go; Achilles asks Priam to dine, reminding that sorrowful must eat; They eat and Priam asks to be put to bed, so Achilles tells Priam to sleep outside to not be discovered; Priam asks for 11 days of Truce to bury and mourn Hector, which Achilles agrees to; Hermes wakes Priam, advising him to leave before he's discovered and killed; Terrified Priam drives wagon out the camp, returning to Troy with the body; City is plunged into grief with Andromache, Hecuba and Helen crying out, praising Hector for his bravery; 11 days of lamentation passed and Hector is bured by Trojans

Bk 1: Divine Intervention of Apollo by sending a plague onto Achaens

Bk 1: Apollo's Plague highlights interaction w/ humans - giving a sign without actual interaction nor knowledge of intentions

Bk 1: Apollo has the power to fate many men to death via the plague

Quite entitled, believes can have the largest share of war trophies as he is the most powerful king

Bk 1: Dispute between Agamemnon and Achilles over spoils of war highlights Achilles' need for kleos; Agamemnon undermines the honour code

Bk 1: Dispute between Agamemnon and Achilles over Briseis highlights Achilles' feeling of dishonor, as he captured Briseis due to his skill in battle

Bk 1: Athena's appearence is 1st direct conversation with a mortal

Bk 1: Takes the high ground when he lets Agamemnon take Briseis

Bk 1: Achilles mentions that soon the Achaens will need him, emphasising fixed nature of fate

Bk 1: Knows that by honoring Achilles' request he will have an early death, but knows he'll be able to get glory

Bk 1: Makes a sacrifice to Apollo of 100 cows in Agamemnon's name

Bk 1: Zeus talks about fight with Hera, marking the unsure nature of fate

Bk 1: Seen to have good looks but is not skilled in the art of fighting

Bk 3: Duel between Paris and Menelaus - a signature mode of fighting between two heroes w/o influence of others

Bk 3: Hector makes a decision to call a truce by stepping into enemy fire highlights heroism

Bk 3: Steps into enemy fire to call truce; portrayed by Homer as a model hero, someone who always defends his skin

Bk 3: Iris takes form of Hector's sister Laodice to tell Helen of the duel

Homer addresses practical question of war, as the destruction of Troy is too great a price to pay for a woman, even as beautiful as Helen

Bk 3: Priam and Helen are shown to have a bond of frienship, humanizing them both

Bk 3: Helen not knowing her brothers have passed is a sign of her time away from home

Bk 3: The soldiers have a sacrifice to the gods to ensure the validity of the oaths taken - gods are active participants

Bk 3: Zeus decides to not fufill promise, showing fated nature of certain actions

Bk 3: Duel between heroes measures strength of each man's worthiness

Bk 3: Happenstance event of Menelaus' sword breaking is attributed to gods

Bk 3: Aphrodite transports Paris back to his bedroom, indicating Paris' softness in battle - his disappearance is first god's intervention in saving a mortal

Bk 3: Actions of taking Paris illustrate fine distinction betweem god as metaphor and as closer to a person - she takes the form of Helen's friend but is also capable to force Helen to do her bidding; like love, her mood changes are impulsive

Bk 4: Gods treat war as their playground, and are willing to trade mortal lives - Gods love men because of expendability

Bk 4: Willing to destroy 3 cities in return for the destruction of Troy

Bk 4: Zeus is easily able to bend men to their will, giving him appearance of being in control of men's fate - manipulates Athena to coax Panduras, hence furthereing Zeus' plan

Bk 4: Death is seen as a natural part of life, but a healer like Machaon is extremely valuable for their knowledge of medicine

Bk 4: Men are remembered through heroism on the battlefield, and compassion is a strength

Bk 4: Gods play w/ fate of the armies, who are minor players in a larger game

Bk 6: Normally capturing for ransom would be normally, but now Achaeans are determined to take no prisoners

Bk 6: Certain gods and goddesses were disposed against the Trojans, such as Athena, who was disposed against Trojans

Bk 6: Glaucus' statement of morality - 'like generations of leaves... as one generation comes to to life, another dies'; he's unafraid to take his place among the dead

Bk 6: Glaucus and Diomedes have a chivalry between the two

Bk 6: Hector is a family man and cares about both wife and son

Family ties are what Torjans are fighting to preserve, if Achaena prevail, all inside Troy's walls is doomed to slavery and their civilisation will be destroyed

War forces men from families - as much honor is there is to gain, there is much to be lost for those left behind

Bk 6: Hector's son represents promise of a future generation who'll take their father's places; Astyanax afraid of father's helmet is a sign of youth, but also of what he may become is he survives the war

Bk 6: Trojan women lament for Hector's predicted death, indicating fated demise

Bk 9: Flimsily justifies that Zeus is responsible for his quarrel with Achilles

Bk 9: Achilles is a good host to the embassy with Agamemnon sent

Bk 9: Achilles questions fundemental reason of fighting the war, temporarily rejecting the idea that soldiers can attain greater honor in combat

Bk 9: Achilles has a choice of 2 fates - fate is fixed but there is room for a decision

Bk 1: Slaves are property - Agamemnon and Achilles fight over Briseis

Bk 9: Briseis is part of the treasure that Agamemnon wants to give Achilles

Bk 9: To Achilles, all death is the same so it doesn't matter where it comes from

Bk 9: Agamemnon attempts to gain back Achilles by offering a treasure

Bk 9: Achilles is hesitant to seal his fate for a price not worth it

Bk 9: The more other men respect Achilles, the more his honor will grow

Bk 9: His nature as a warrior means he cannot always hold back from the fight due to his anger

Bk 10: Brothers Agamemnon and Menelaus both express concern at the fate of Achaean expedition

Bk 10: Helen connects Menelaus directly to the war as she is his wife

Bk 10: Night raid displays a new aspect of war - combat is not only duels any longer, but also the use of tactics and intelligence to secure victory over the Trojans

Bk 10: Diomedes volunteering to go on the raid with Odysseus further solidifies his status as a great Achaean hero

Bk 10: Odysseus' helmet has an ancient lineage, just like the art of war was passed down to sons for countless generations

Bk 10: Capitulates too easily to Odysseus, so cowardice gets him nothing

Bk 10: The cowardice of Dolon is used to the Achaean benefit and Dolon is later killed

Bk 10: Dolon's cowardice wins him nothing and he is killed all the same

Bk 10: Both Odysseus and Diomedes are able to escape the Thracians due to Athena's help

Bk 10: Like Athena helped the Achaeans, Apollo intervenes in favor of the Trojans and allies during the night raid

Bk 10: The night raid becomes a key moment of heroism that gives hope after a difficult battle the previous day

Bk 16: Pride and anger towards Agamemnon is extreme, with deaths of comrades failing to move him; Preserving honour is measuring stick of his life

Bk 16: Preserving honour is the measuring stick of Achilles' life

Bk 16: Achilles' is unaware accepting Patroclus' plan helps to execute Zeus' plan

Bk 16: Only thing that maches intensity of Achilles' care for own glory is love and concern for Patroclus

Bk 16: Greeks were sea-faring people, and wealth was made using ships, so them being on fire is serious

Bk 16: Patroclus enters the battle at pivotal moment when the fate of the whole war was hanging in the battle as the ships were the only way Achaeans could get home

Bk 16: Myrmidons haven't thought since the Agamemnon and Achilles quarrel, so are eager to demonstrate their prowness

Bk 16: Proves he is a strong fighter capable of glory without Achilles' help, even when disguised as Achilles

Bk 16: Sarpedon's death illustrates Zeus' inability to master fate, and he's compelled to let his son die

Bk 16: Zeus' love for son Sarpedon allows him to spare son's body from desecration

Bk 16: Zeus' love for son Sarpedon allows him to spare the body from desecration, showing importance of fathers and families.

Bk 16: Zeus' love for Sarpedon allowed him to spare son's body from desecration highlights importance of fathers and families providing proper respect to the dead

Bk 16: Zeus decides to give Patroclus more glory, as it's more in line with original plan

Bk 16: Zeus decides to give Patroclus more glory as the more he distinguishes himself in battle, the more tragic his death will be

Bk 16: Patroclus has his own aristeia on the battlefield by reaching great heights on his rampage, nearly stroming Troy

Bk 16: Apollo pushes Patroclus from behind, leading to his death

Bk 16: Patroclus is killed by a young Trojan spearman Euphorbus

Bk 16: Sense that Patroclus overstepped his limits and tried to change his fate, so the battle must be restored to its natural order as decreed by Zeus

Bk 17: Patroclus' body becomes the greatest symbol of honour the war has seen so far

Bk 17: Well known companion of Achilles, and both sides recognise what the capturement of his body would mean

Bk 17: Both sides know Patroclus is a well known companion of Achilles

Bk 17: Hector doning Achilles' armour is a symbol of glory for him in killing Patroclus

Bk 17: Hector and Great Ajax fight throughout poem, as both a strong fighters of their side but Ajax is destined to be a lesser hero than Achilles, so he can only fight Hector to a standstill and not kill him

Bk 17: Achilles' horse highlight close relationship to the gods, as he is nearly immortal himself

Bk 18: Athena cannot show full force in battle as Zeus only ordered Apollo to support the Trojans

Bk 18: Strength and heroism in fighting of Trojans whilst others carry Patroclus body

Bk 18: Great Ajax heroically fights off Trojans whilst other Achaeans carry Patroclus

Bk 18: Regrets his pride allowing him to stay away from battle which ended up in Patroclus' death

Bk 18: Hephaestus makes a new set of armour for Achilles at Thetis request

Bk 18: Achilles refused to risk life for treasure of Agamemnon but fights as revenge for Patroclus' death.

Bk 18: Patroclus' death is enough for Achilles to face his fate of great glory and certain death

Bk 18: Achilles is unafraid to face certain death as he knows he will both reach great glory and avenge Patroclus' death

Bk 18: Respected so much as a fighter that mere presence instills terror into his enemies

Bk 18: Achilles is respected so much as a fighter that mere presence instills terror into his enemies

Bk 18: Athena enhances Achilles' presence with a godlike quality

Bk 18: Polydamas gives sound advice but Zeus' intervention makes it sound useless

Bk 18: Under influence of the Gods, fails to read signs correctly and his pride proves his fatal flaw

Bk 18: Achilles decision to keep Patroclus body unburied is a form of respect as revenge must come first, and Achilles is willing to face certain death to achieve this

Bk 18: Achilles' love for Patroclus leads to revenge despite certain death

Bk 18: Achilles' love for Patroclus and desire for revenge is so great he chooses to act despite certain death

Bk 18: Entire world on Achilles' shield means he's singled out as one of the foremost representatives of humanity, unique in strength

Bk 19: Achilles returning to battle has sealed his fate - he can no longer think of returning to the homeland and living a long life, nor his spoils of war

Bk 19: Achilles knowing that he will die has led to ordinary aspects of Achaean life to lose their value, especially the spoils of war promised by Agamemnon; he is on a more heroic plane than others

Bk 19: Achilles and Agamemnon agree to reconcile, with Agamemnon blaming Atë (Ruin) for their quarreling

Bk 19: Achilles refusal to eat is also a sign of eagerness to begin killing

Bk 19: Achilles' refusal to eat highlights he no longer needes any of men's necessities - his choice to fight has essentially made him one of the dead

Bk 19: Appearance of Briseis brings the plot of the Agamemnon v Achilles quarrel full circle

Bk 19: Briseis' lamentation shows how much has changed since her last appearance - since Patroclus' death her significance has diminished

Bk 19: Achilles' sense of determined fate is deeply underscored, as even horses remind him of his incoming death; he is sick of hearing about his demise as words no longer have meaning: only action remains

Bk 22: Apollo running away from Achilles helps save more Trojan lives

Bk 22: Priam stated that to die a young man means one was not daring enough in battle, extoling the lives of heroes

Bk 22: Portrayed as more human and relatable than Achilles, motivated to try to make amends for the harm caused

Bk 22: Hector is motivated to make amends for all the harm that he has caused

Bk 22: Zeus considers deviating from his plan conceived in Bk 1 to save Hector but Athena reminds him it is Hector's fate to die

Bk 22: Zeus considers deviating from his plan conceived in Bk 1 to save Hector but Athena reminds him it is Hector's fate to die, and that Hector's fate was outside Zeus' control

Bk 22: Zeus' concern for Hector highlights his heroism and imminent death

Bk 22: Zeus' concern for Hector highlights his heroism and imminent death

Bk 22: Zeus tips the scales against Hector, so there is no longer doubt about his fate

Bk 22: Achilles' will receive the glory of killing the greatest of Trojan heroes after Zeus tips the scales in Achilles' favour

Bk 22: Athena plays a trick on Hector by disguising herself as Deipohobus

Bk 22: Gods are fully on Achilles' side to give him every possible advantage

Bk 23: Patroclus' request of joint burial highlights importance of proper burial, as only it allows the soul a passage to the afterlife, something which is being denied to Hector

Bk 23: Achilles' glory is connected not to immortality, but rather a complete acceptance of his own death, demonstrated by request to be buried with Patroclus

Bk 23: Funeral games mark the end of the grieving period and provide a peacetime-like lull

Bk 23: Achilles seems more like the king than Agamemnon by taking his place at the forefront of the Acheans

Bk 23: Events of games have roots in warfare but are thoroughly domesticated e.g. unliked wrestling match of Odysseus and Ajax, there are no ties in the battlefield

Bk 23: Even in a sporting event, the gods will find a way to intervene

Bk 23: Mock combat provides a peacetime mirror of war, as with the wrestling match, you can't declare a winner on the battlefield

Bk 23: Archery competition highlights how important it is to respect Gods, no matter how small the task

Bk 23: Achilles respects Agamemnon and his skill by awarding him 1st place at spear throwing

Bk 24: Achilles is filled with anguish but overcomes grief to show respect to the Gods

Bk 24: Hermes commenting on how Priam reminds him of his dather emphasises how great Priam is as a father, with a father's great love for his dead son

Bk 24: Priam is taken to Achilles at his camp, where they can speak without political inteference, Achilles here understands the losses they've faced and is the first moment of compassion for a living person since Patroclus' demise

Bk 24: In Priam's grief for his son, he can see how his death will affect his father

Bk 24: A shared meal between Achilles and Priam is a moment of silent unity in shared grief - however is only temporary

Bk 24: Women of Troy grieve for Hector and testify to his humane qualities

Bk 6: When Greek leaders come to Achilles, he is in his tent playing the lyre and singing of the deeds of past heroes

Bk 22: Hector hopes that he dies a kalos thanatos and that his heroism will be told about in the future