Troy 9
by CTCWeb Editors
Achilles Returns
The fighting does not go well for the Greeks. Discouraged by their battle losses, they apologize to Achilles. They hope that this act of contrition will induce him to rejoin the fighting. Agamemnon sends Odysseus, Phoenix, and Ajax to plead with the young warrior (image). They promise to return the captive woman to Achilles. He is unmoved by their entreaties. He stubbornly refuses to return despite the Greeks’ continued loss of ground to the Trojans, who by now are threatening to burn the Greek ships.
In a desperate act, Achilles’ closest friend and countryman Patroclus (image) decides to wear Achilles’ battle armor and leads Achilles’ forces, the Myrmidons, into battle. By dressing in the armor of the greatest warrior and appearing on the battlefield, Patroclus hopes to inspire the Greeks. He hopes that the Greek warriors will take heart and fight harder, believing Achilles has rejoined the battle. He also hopes that the apparent renewed presence of Achilles on the battlefield will terrify the Trojans. Achilles agrees to the idea, but he restricts Patroclus only to helping rescue the Greek ships. He forbids Patroclus to attack Troy. The ruse succeeds, until Hector kills Patroclus and takes Achilles’ armor as a prize.
Driven mad by grief, Achilles returns to battle in new armor fashioned by the god Hephaestus. He fights furiously and kills countless men. Ultimately he drives the Trojans back inside the city walls. Only Hector remains outside to challenge the rampaging Achilles. He quickly regrets his boldness. Face-to-face with the wrath of Achilles, Hector grows afraid and tries to escape. Achilles chases him around the city walls. Eventually Hector faces Achilles and is slain.
Artist's rendering of Greek Vase depicting Warriors Preparing for Battle
Still raging, Achilles ties Hector’s body to the back of his chariot. He drags Hector’s body around the city day-after-day, for nine days (image). King Priam of Troy watches as his son’s corpse is submitted to daily humiliation. Unable to stand by and allow it to continue, in the middle of the night, Priam leaves Troy and goes to Achilles’ tent. He begs Achilles to return Hector’s body. Achilles recognizes in Priam’s anguish the grief he feels over the loss of Patroclus. The two men weep together over their respectively losses. Achilles returns Hector’s body to Priam (image). The Iliad ends with Hector’s funeral.
To see the story of Achilles portrayed in ancient Greek art, see “The Iliad through the Eyes of Achilles.”
