[This synopsis is based on The Iliad. A Commentary ed. G.S. Kirk (Cambridge 1985-1993). There is also a synopsis in the introduction to the translation by Martin Hammond.]
1-7: Proem: invocation of the Muse and statement of the poet's theme—Akhilleus' wrath and its disastrous consequences.
8-21: Transition to the main narrative, and the priest Khruses' request to Agamemnon for the return of his daughter Khruseis.
22-42: Agamemnon's insulting reply, followed by Khruses' departure and prayer to Apollo for revenge.
43-52: A plague is sent by Apollo upon the Achaean army.
53-120: Summoning of the assembly, and beginning of the quarrel between Akhilleus and Agamemnon.
121-87: The quarrel develops: Akhilleus threatens to go home, and Agamemnon to take Briseis.
188-222: Akhilleus is tempted to kill Agamemnon on the spot, but Athene intervenes in person and dissuades him.
223-305: The quarrel continues; Nestor's attempt at conciliation fails, and the assembly is dissolved.
306-48: Khruseis is sent home by ship, and Briseis is removed from Akhilleus' hut by Agamemnon's heralds.
348-430: Akhilleus calls on his mother, the sea-goddess Thetis, to help him avenge the insult to his honour; she promises to ask Zeus to favour the Trojans.
430-87: Odysseus delivers Khruseis to her father Khruses and, after propitiating Apollo with prayer and sacrifice, returns with his ship to the Achaean camp near Troy.
488-92: Akhilleus meanwhile has withdrawn from the fighting and stays in anger by the ships.
493-611: Thetis goes to Zeus on Olumpos; he reluctantly grants her request, which causes him to be upbraided by Here. Hephaistos mediates and the evening ends in feasting and music.
1-34: Zeus cannot sleep; he summons destructive Dream and bids it appear to Agamemnon and tell him to attack the Trojans without delay. Dream stands over the king's head as he sleeps and, in the guise of Nestor, passes on Zeus's message.
35-83: Agamemnon awakes and reports his dream to the other leaders. He proposes making ready for a general attack on Troy after an initial testing of morale, and Nestor expresses cautious agreement.
84-210: Agamemnon addresses the assembled army, and carries out his plan of suggesting flight as a test of morale. As a consequence they rush for the ships, and Athene spurs Odysseus to restrain them and make them return to assembly.
211-393: The army settles down in assembly once again, only for Thersites to rail against the leaders and repeat the call for retreat; he is chastised by Odysseus, who then restores morale with a long speech, followed by others from Nestor and Agamemnon himself.
394-483: The troops return to the ships and prepare a meal before going into battle; the chieftains dine with Agamemnon, who sacrifices an ox. Then the heralds give the order to form up; an unparalleled sequence of similes marks the march-out of the troops onto the plain.
484-760: The poet calls on the Muses to list, through him, the Achaean leaders and their ships. There follows the Catalogue of Ships, recording the 29 constituent contingents of the army with their leaders, towns and ships.
761-79: A short statement about the outstanding warrior and horses.
780-815: While the Achaeans advance Iris is sent by Zeus to the Trojans; she takes the form of the look-out Polites and reports the approach of a great army. Hektor dismisses the assembly and the Trojan forces issue from the city and form up in the plain.
816-77: The catalogue of Trojan contingents and those of their allies.
1-14: The two armies advance against each other across the plain.
15-120: Paris (Alexandros) is shamed by Hektor into agreeing to fight a duel with Menelaos to resolve the issue. The two armies are overjoyed, and heralds are despatched to fetch king Priam, and also animals, for an oath-sacrifice.
121-60: Iris, disguised, tells Helen of the impending duel, and Helen hastens from home to the Achaean gate, where she finds Priam and his counsellors surveying the scene.
161-244: Priam seats Helen beside him and asks her to identify for him some of the Achaean leaders in the plain below; she does so, but ends in distress because she cannot see her brothers among them.
245-312: The heralds, accompanied by Priam and Antenor, arrive on the battlefield from Troy bringing sacrificial victims and wine. The oath-sacrifice, preliminary to the duel, is carried out by Agamemnon, after which the Trojan elders return to the city.
313-82: After further preparations the duel takes place; Menelaos is victor, but Aphrodite snatches Paris away to the safety of his bedchamber.
383-461: Summoned home to the bedroom by Aphrodite, Helen attempts to resist but is frightened into compliance. She rebukes Paris but finally goes to bed with him; meanwhile on the battlefield Agamemnon claims victory for Menelaos.
1-84: The gods are in assembly; Zeus maliciously suggests making peace after the duel, and Here and Athene are furious; he agrees that the latter should descend to earth to organize the breaking of the truce.
85-219: Persuaded by Athene, Pandaros shoots at Menelaos and wounds him superficially. Agamemnon is enraged at the breaking of the truce and fearful for his brother, but Menelaos reassures him and Makhaon is summoned to dress the wound.
220-421: Meanwhile the Trojan ranks approach and the Achaeans rearm. Agamemnon moves through the contingents inspecting their readiness and distributing praise and blame among the leaders.
422-544: The two armies advance against each other and at last join battle. After a short description of general combat the first individual encounters are described.
1-94: Athene inspires Diomedes with strength and confidence and he begins his triumphant progress by defeating the two sons of Dares. Six other Achaean leaders including Agamemnon each make a kill, but Diomedes scatters the Trojan lines like a river in flood.
95-165: Diomedes' triumph is not without its reverses, for Pandaros temporarily disables him with an arrow-shot; but he prays to Athene who fills him with even greater might, so that he slays four pairs of Trojans in quick succession.
166-240: Aeneias seeks out Pandaros in order to stop Diomedes; after long consultation, in which Pandaros deplores his own previous lack of success, they agree on a joint attack in which Aineias is to drive the chariot, Pandaros to be spearman.
241-310: As Aineias and Pandaros approach them by chariot Sthenelos advises Diomedes to withdraw and is rebuked for it. In the engagement that follows Pandaros is killed and Aineias severely wounded while trying to protect his body.
311-430: Aineias is saved from death by Aphrodite, who is recognized and attacked by Diomedes and wounded in the hand. With Ares' help she retreats to Olumpos and complains to her mother Dione, who cures her wound as Athene and Here make fun of her to Zeus.
431-518: Now Diomedes attacks Apollo, who is holding the wounded Aineias, and is repulsed. The god makes an image of Aineias over which the two sides fight, and tells Ares to put an end to Diomedes' rampage. Ares stirs up Trojan resistance, and Apollo sends the real Aineias, now divinely cured, back into action.
519-710: The battle continues; despite individual successes the Achaeans are slowly forced back as Ares supports the Trojans. Agamemnon, Aineias, Menelaos, Antilokhos and Hektor all have their moments of triumph; then Tlepolemos succumbs to Sarpedon in a major episode, and Hektor becomes even more of a danger.
711-834: Athene and Here determine to stop Ares; Here looks after the preparation of horses and chariot while Athene dons her armour. They get permission from Zeus before descending to the battlefield, where Here, disguised, encourages the Achaeans, and Athene rebukes Diomedes and urges him to attack Ares.
835-909: Athene joins Diomedes in his chariot and helps him wound Ares, who with a roar of pain rushes up to Olumpos. He complains bitterly to Zeus, who does not conceal his dislike but has him healed. Athene and Here return to Olumpos having achieved their aim.
1-72: The battlefield is left to men, and the Achaeans, with Aias and Diomedes predominant, score a run of victories. Menelaos is dissuaded by Agamemnon from sparing Adrestos, and the scene ends with a brief injunction to the troops by Nestor.
73-118: Hektor's brother Helenos urges him and Aineias to stop the Trojan rout; Hektor is then to withdraw to Troy and tell Hekabe to arrange formal prayers to Athene in her temple. The troops rally and Hektor leaves for Troy.
119-236: In a long interlude while Hektor returns to Troy, Diomedes encounters the Lycian Glaukos and professes not to know who he is, which elicits a long account of Glaukos' descent from Sisuphos, and the deeds of Bellerophon. Diomedes salutes him as a guest-friend through their grandfathers, so they exchange armour and agree to avoid each other in subsequent combat.
237-311: Hektor arrives back at Troy, converses with his mother Hekabe and tells her to organize the supplication of Athene at her temple. Theano as priestess opens the temple and offers the prayers, which are unsuccessful.
312-68: While the women are at the temple Hektor proceeds to the house of Paris, who accepts his reproach and agrees to join him on his return to battle. Helen's invitation to linger is courteously declined by Hektor, who explains that he must hurry on to see his family.
369-502: Hektor does not find Andromakhe in their house; hastening to the Scaean gate, he meets her with their son. She begs him not to risk his life; he gently tells her where his duty lies. The baby is frightened by his helmet, and husband and wife part with tenderness and sorrow.
503-29: Paris runs like a proud stallion and overtakes his brother, who is cool but less hostile as they prepare to leave the city.
1-43: Hektor and Paris regain the battlefield, where each slays a minor Achaean and Glaukos a third. Athene descends from Olumpos to Troy. Apollo intercepts her and proposes a stop to fighting for the day; she agrees to his suggestion that Hektor should challenge an Achaean champion to a duel.
44-122: Helenos conveys the divine intention to Hektor, who stands between the two armies and makes his challenge. The Achaeans are embarrassed; eventually Menelaos rises to accept, but is dissuaded by Agamemnon.
123-205: Nestor rebukes the other Achaeans for their reluctance, relating a long exemplary tale of events in his youth. As a result nine chieftains volunteer, of whom Aias is then selected by lot.
206-312: Aias arms and is terrible to see. After an exchange of boasts they fight: Aias has the advantage but the heralds intervene, and he and Hektor exchange pieces of armour.
313-411: At the celebratory feast Nestor proposes a truce for burying the dead and a subsequent fortification of the camp. Simultaneous Trojan discussions lead to an offer to return the riches Helen brought with her, and more in addition, and also of a truce for burial. The Achaeans reject the first but accept the second.
412-41: Both sides gather up and cremate their dead; the Achaeans carry out Nestor's plan of using the occasion to build a wall and trench before their camp.
442-82: After a brief diversion to Olumpos for a complaint by Poseidon, wine-ships arrive from Lemnos and the Achaeans feast after their labours, after nightfall, but fearfully as Zeus thunders ominously.
1-52: Early next day Zeus warns all the gods, with elaborate threats, not to interfere in the fighting down below; after which he travels from Olumpos to Ida in his divine chariot.
53-171: The troops march out after dawn; fighting is even at first, then Zeus favours the Trojans. Nestor is saved by Diomedes when one of his horses is killed; together they face Hektor, but retreat when Zeus hurls a thunderbolt in front of their chariot and then thunders again in support of the Trojans.
172-252: Hektor urges on the Trojans, and Here fails to persuade Poseidon to intervene; they are breaking into the camp when Agamemnon temporarily rallies the Achaeans and prays to Zeus for salvation; he sends a favourable omen and the Achaeans recover for a time.
253-349: Diomedes initiates the Achaean counter-attack; Teukros has a run of successes with his bow but cannot hit Hektor, who disables him with a stone-throw. Zeus inspires the Trojans to advance once again, and the Achaeans are thrown back once more through the trench.
350-484: Athene and Here view the Achaean rout with perturbation, and are driving out of Olumpos to intervene when Zeus sees them from Mt Ida and sends Iris to warn them, with heavy threats, to desist; Here persuades Athene that they should do so. Zeus returns to Olumpos and rebukes the goddesses, revealing that Hektor will remain victorious until after Patroklos' death.
485-565: Darkness interrupts the fighting; Hektor gives orders for the night and encourages his troops, predicting success on the morrow. They burn countless fires on the plain and await the dawn.
1-88: Demoralized by his defeat, Agamemnon summons an assembly of the host and proposes withdrawal. Diomedes, to general applause, repudiates this pusillanimous suggestion, and Nestor after complimenting Diomedes' spirit outlines precautions for the night and hints at further measures.
89-181: Agamemnon entertains the leaders. After the meal Nestor reminds Agamemnon that his high-handed seizure of Briseis has brought about the present crisis and proposes that overtures be made to Akhilleus. In reply Agamemnon admits his mistake and names the price he is prepared to pay, but insists that Akhilleus must acknowledge his superior rank. Nestor welcomes Agamemnon's offers and proposes a deputation of chosen leaders to go to Akhilleus. Prayers and offerings for success are made.
182-223: Accompanied by Phoinix and the heralds the ambassadors make their way along the shore to Akhilleus' quarters, praying to Poseidon as they go. They enter Akhilleus' hut and are made welcome.
224-306: Odysseus' speech.
307-429: Akhilleus' reply.
430-605: Phoinix' speecg: ‘Akhilleus must be advised by his old friend and nurse. To reject suppliants is dangerous arrogance and probably counterproductive, as the story of Meleagros shows.'
606-19: Akhilleus replies with impatience to Phoinix' sermon. He acknowledges the moral pressure brought to bear on him and warns Phoinix to cease, but keeps the old man with him in case he should decide (now an open question) to return to Phthie.
620-68: Akhilleus signals Patroklus to prepare Phoinix' bed, then in a blunt and soldierly manner Aias suggests that he and Odysseus admit defeat. He is outraged at Akhilleus' failure to respond to their overtures. Aias' words strike a chord in Akhilleus' mind and he does not answer them directly but returns once again to Agamemnon's contempt. He is sufficiently moved, however, to overlook his intention to depart in the morning and make a concession: he will fight if Hektor reaches the huts and the ships. Odysseus and Aias then depart. Akhilleus and his friends retire for the night.
669-713: After formalities of welcome Odysseus reports the failure of their overtures. The council is crushed by the news until roused by a resolute speech from Diomedes. He urges that the fight be renewed in the morning. All then return to their quarters for the night.
1-179: The Atreidai, sleepless and apprehensive, do the rounds of the camp and in a series of courteous exchanges awaken the chiefs in order to inspect the watch and concert their plans for the night.
180-253: Nestor calls for a volunteer to spy out Trojan intentions. Diomedes at once responds and calls for a companion. The other chiefs volunteer and, in order to spare Menelaos, Agamemnon tells Diomedes to make his own choice. He names Odysseus.
254-98: The two heroes arm themselves for their dangerous mission, donning helmets of unusual design. With prayers to Athene and encouraged by an omen, they set off through the night.
299-331: The Trojans too are in council: in return for the promise of the horses of Akhilleus Dolon volunteers to spy out the Achaean intentions.
332-468: Dolon equips himself and sets off towards the ships. The two Achaeans hear his approach and slip aside. They cut off his retreat and take him prisoner. Under interrogation Dolon reveals the arrival, apparently that very night, of Rhesos with his Thracians and some magnificent pieces of prospective booty: golden armour, a gold and silver chariot, and a team of snow-white horses. Without hesitation the two Achaeans kill Dolon and change their target to the new arrivals.
469-502: The Achaeans surprise the Thracians sleeping. Diomedes slays Rhesos and twelve other Thracians while Odysseus makes off with the horses.
503-79: Prompted by Athene Diomedes and Odysseus make good their escape, while Apollo alerts Rhesos' cousin, Hippokoon. The two Achaeans arrive home safely with their loot, collecting the arms of Dolon en route. Welcomed by their friends the heroes dispose of the booty, bathe and dine.
1-66: Zeus despatches Strife to stir up the Achaeans. Agamemnon's magnificent armour is described. The Achaeans then march out from their new fortifications; the Trojans, spurred on by Hector, advance to meet them.
67-91: The mutual slaughter of the two armies, watched by Zeus and Eris, leads to an Achaean break-through.
92-283: Agamemnon launches a ferocious attack; Hektor does not oppose him, having been warned by Zeus to hold back until Agamemnon is disabled and withdraws. Agamemnon keeps the field for a time, but is driven off to the ships.
284-309: Hektor sees Agamemnon withdraw and encourages his men. The Trojans rally and a short aristeia of Hector follows.
310-400: Counter-attack of Odysseus and Diomedes. Finally Diomedes injures Hektor with a spear-cast to his helmet. Hektor retreats. Diomedes is then wounded in the foot by Paris with an arrow and is forced to withdraw to the ships.
401-88: Odysseus slays several Trojans including Kharops. Sokos, brother of Kharops, succeeds in wounding Odysseus. Odysseus calls for help. Menelaos brings Aias to his rescue. The latter holds off the Trojans while Menelaos leads Odysseus away.
489-595: Aias covers the withdrawal of Odysseus and slays several Trojans. Hektor continues to do execution and Zeus forces Aias to retreat. Eurupulos is shot by Paris. Finally Aias makes it back to the main Achaean forces.
596-617: Akhilleus observes the wounded brought back to the ships. He sends Patroklos to investigate.
618-69: Patroklos finds Nestor taking refreshment after his return from the battlefield and delivers his message. Nestor reports the disasters that have just occurred. Nestor's oblique appeal to Akhilleus.
670-762: The Pylian epic. In the hope that Patroklos may be moved to defend the ships Nestor relates a heroic exploit from his younger days in which he went to war and defeated the champions of the Epeans.
762-803: Nestor urges Patroklos to use his influence with Akhilleus, either to display his arete again in person or to send Patroklos back to the fight.
804-841: Patroklos runs back towards Akhilleus' quarters. On the way he meets another casualty, Eurupulos, and gives him aid.
1-33: The narrative returns from the ships to the battlefield, but before the poet develops the usual piece of general description of the fighting the mention of the Achaean ditch and wall leads the poet into a digression: the works had been begun without divine blessing and were to be obliterated by the rivers of the Troad on the morrow of the Achaeans departure.
34- 59: After his note on the Achaean Wall the poet devotes the rest of the book to the account of its defence. He begins in the usual way with a General Description of the battle, ornamented by a simile (41-8), as the Achaeans scramble to safety behind their trench and wall. Hektor probes the Achaeans' outer defences, but his horses refuse the ditch.
60-107: Pouludamas explains to Hektor the hazard presented by the ditch and proposes they make the assault as infantry. Hektor accepts this sensible advice and dismounts. The Trojans divide themselves into five companies, each under three commanders.
108-194: Asios, leading the third division of the Trojan forces, refuses to dismount. The gate before him is open, but the Lapithai, Leonteus and Polupoites, advance to defend it and frustrate Asios' attack. After reflecting on the difficulty of his task the poet gives the two Lapithai a short aristeia.
195-289: Hektor is about to launch an attack when an omen appears. It is cautiously interpreted by Pouludamas. Hektor angrily rejects the omen and leads his men in an attempt to make a breach in the wall; both sides shower each other with missiles.
290- 412: Sarpedon, commander of the Lycians intervenes. He summons Glaukos to join him and in a famous speech utters a lapidary statement of the heroes' code. His attack on the wall comes near to success.
413- 71: The Achaeans rally and the battle hangs momentarily in the balance. But Hektor inspires the Trojans for a second assault and bursts through the gates, spear in hand. The Trojans swarm over the wall.
1- 168: While Zeus is looking away, Poseidon crosses the sea by chariot and intervenes in the shape of Kalkhas to halt the Trojans before the ships. He encourages the Aiantes, and then the other Greeks, who stand firm and arrest the Trojans' charge; Meriones attacks Deiphobos, but breaks his spear and goes to fetch another from his hut.
169-245: The Greeks have the upper hand in indecisive fighting, but Poseidon's grandson Amphimakhos is slain. Angered by his death, the god exhorts Idomeneus, who arms and heads for battle.
246-360: Returning to battle, Idomeneus meets his subordinate Meriones who explains that he is behind the lines to fetch a new spear. Idomeneus offers him one, and both defensively assert their courage. They decide to fight on the left, and re-enter battle together; both sides are fiercely engaged at close quarters, because the wills of Zeus and Poseidon are at odds.
360-454: Idomeneus kills Othruoneus and Asios; Antilokhos slays Asios' charioteer. Deiphobos kills a certain Hypsenor, but Idomeneus slays Alkathoos and mocks the Trojans' lack of success.
455-539: Deiphohos obtains Aineias' help against Idomeneus, fierce fighting erupts over Alkathoos' body. Idomeneus retires exhausted; Deiphohos kills Ares' son Askalaphos but is wounded by Meriones and has to withdraw.
540-672: Indecisive and bloody warfare, in which the Greeks keep the upper hand.
673-837: Hektor, unaware of the Greek successes on the left, fights in the centre, where the Trojans are in disarray from the Achaeans' missiles, Pouludamas advises him to consult his officers, Hektor agrees, only to find that most of those on the left are dead or injured, so he rallies the whole line, but the Greeks stand firm, led by Aias.
1-152: Nestor, roused by the din while tending Makhaon in his hut, goes out to investigate. He meets the wounded leaders Diomedes, Odysseus and Agamemnon, who proposes to save the ships by launching them. Odysseus objects, and Diomedes persuades them to exhort those men who are holding back; Poseidon, in disguise, heartens Agamemnon with a speech and the Greeks with a great shout.
153-353: To keep Zeus from noticing Poseidon's intervention, Here arrays herself in all her beauty, tricks Aphrodite into lending her an irresistible love-charm and bribes Sleep to go with her to Mt Ida. Zeus is seized with passion, and the divine couple sleep together beneath a golden cloud.
354-401: Poseidon, hearing that Zeus is asleep, exhorts the Greeks, who exchange armour so that the best fighters are the best equipped. The two sides, led by Poseidon and Hektor, clash with a great din.
402-522: Alas knocks Hektor out with a stone: he is carried off the field. Inhis absence, the Greeks gain the advantage and the Trojans soon flee in panic, with heavy losses.
1-77: Zeus awakens and is angry at Here when he sees the Trojans in flight. She cleverly swears that Poseidon acted of his own accord. Zeus sends her to Olumpos to summon Iris and Apollo, who will reverse the rout, predicting the death of Hektor and fall of Troy, he reveals to her that his support of the Trojans is only temporary.
78-15:0 Here goes to Olumpos to declare that resistance to Zeus is vain, yet enrages Ares by announcing the death of his son Askalaphos. Athene stops Ares from seeking revenge against Zeus. At Here's behest, Apollo and Iris go to Ida.
151-261: Zeus on Ida sends Iris to Poseidon, she persuades him to withdraw. He then dispatches Apollo to revive Hektor, who recovers and re-enters the battle.
262-404: Hektor rejoins battle, to the Greeks' alarm. On Thoas' advice, they send back the rank and file, keeping the best warriors to slow the Trojan advance. The line holds until Apollo routs them. While the Trojans strip the fallen, the Greeks pass within the rampart. The god ruins the ditch and rampart behind it; Hektor leads his men against the ships, where fierce fighting erupts. Hearing the din, Patroklos runs from Eurupulos' hut to urge Akhilleus into battle.
405-591: Both sides fight hard for the ships, the Trojans proving unable to break the Achaean line that protects them, the Greeks unable to repel the attack.
592-746: In accord with Zeus's plan, Hektor drives the Greeks from the first row of ships: Aias leaps from ship to ship fending off the enemy with a pike. Hektor finally grasps the stern of Protesilaos' vessel and calls for fire; Aias, driven back to the centre of the ship, keeps killing Trojans as they bring up blazing torches.
1-100: Patroklos begs Akhilleus to intervene to save the ships, or at least to send him in his stead. Akhilleus, still refusing to fight himself, bids him borrow his armour, lead the Myrmidons to battle and return when he has driven the Trojans from the ships.
101-277: The Trojans set fire to a ship. Akhilleus bids Patroklos arm, he takes Akhilleus' whole panoply save the hero's great spear, and his driver Automedon harnesses the divine horses, Akhilleus exhorts his men, whose leaders are listed. Returning to his hut, he prays to Zeus that Patroklos will drive the Trojans from the ships and return safely. Patroklos leads the Myrmidons into battle.
278- 418: Unnerved by Patroklos' appearance, the Trojans are driven from the ships and flee across the ditch with heavy losses.
419-683: Sarpedon intervenes. Zeus, to avert his son's doom, suggests wafting him away alive, but Here persuades him to have Sleep and Death rescue his body. Sarpedon kills Patroklos' trace-horse, but is slain by Patroklos. A fierce fight erupts, until the Greeks strip Sarpedon of his armour. Zeus sends Apollo, Sleep and Death to convey his body to Lycia for burial.
684-776: Perilously elated by success, Patroklos drives the Trojans back to the wall of Troy, where Apollo warns him that he cannot take the city. The god urges Hektor against him, but Patroklos kills Hektor's charioteer Kebriones. A fierce fight arises over his body.
777-867: The Greeks manage to win Kebriones' body, but Apollo smites Patroklos, stripping off his armour and dazing him; then Euphorbos wounds him in the back, and Hektor stabs him in the belly. Inreply to Hektor's taunt that he failed to obey Akhilleus' orders and kill him, the dying Patroklos defiantly predicts that Hektor himself will soon be slain by Akhilleus.
1-69: Menelaos stands over the corpse of Patroklos, is challenged by Euphorbos, and kills him.
70-139: Apollo, disguised as Mentes, rebukes Hektor, who charges against Menelaos; Menelaos decides to retreat, and summons Aias to help. Hektor carries off Akhilleus' divinely made armour. Aias bestrides Patroklos' corpse.
140-236: Glaukos rebukes Hektor, who puts on the armour he has captured from Patroklos and urges on the Trojan allies with the hope of recovering Patroklos' corpse.
237-318: At Aias' suggestion Menelaos again calls for help, and the Greeks rally. Zeus shrouds the scene in a mist. After a brief Trojan success Aias again overpowers them.
319-359: Apollo rebukes Aineias, who rallies the terrified Trojans, while Aias holds the Greeks steady over Patroklos' body.
360-425: The long struggle continues.
426-58: The immortal horses of Akhilleus stand motionless, grieving for their dead charioteer. Zeus speaks words of pity for those bound to or associated with the mortal lot, and gives them fresh energy.
459-542: Automedon hands over the chariot reins to Alkimedon and fights on foot. Hektor's attempt to capture the immortal horses is foiled by Automedon and the two Aiantes.
543-81: Athene encourages and strengthens Menelaos. He kills Hektor's friend Podes.
582-625: Apollo rebukes Hektor, who also receives a signal of Zeus's support. Idomeneus and other Greeks turn in flight.
626-701: Aias complains of Zeus's help to the Trojans, and initiates the call for help to Akhilleus by sending Menelaos to find Antilokhos and send him as messenger. Antilokhos sets out, in tears.
702-61: Menelaos returns to the continuing struggle over Patroklos' corpse, He and Meriones begin to bear it off the battlefield, while the two Aiantes hold off the Trojans. The desperate struggle is illustrated by a series of powerful similes.
1-147: Antilokhos brings the news of Patroklos' death to Akhilleus, who falls to the ground in an agony of grief. Thetis hears his cry in the depths of the ocean, and leads her nymphs in a lament for him; then they join him on the shore and she takes his head in her hands. Akhilleus declares his intention of killing Hektor in revenge, despite Thetis' warning that his own death must follow soon after Hektor's. Thetis forbids him to enter the battle until she returns with new armour made by Hephaistos.
148-242: Meanwhile the struggle for Patroklos' corpse has continued, with Hektor fighting furiously against the two Aiantes. Here sends Iris to rouse Akhilleus, who demurs because he has no armour, but she urges him to show himself to the Trojans, and with Athene's help his appearance and his mighty war-cry strike them with panic and allow the corpse to be borne back to the Greek camp.
243-314: Dismayed by Akhilleus' reappearance, the Trojans immediately hold an assembly on the plain before Troy. Pouludamas prudently recommends that they withdraw within the city walls at once, and remain there the next day. But Hektor, not realizing he no longer has the support of Zeus, angrily rejects this good counsel and tell them to stay in their camp on the plain and join battle again when morning comes; he himself will not fear to face Akhilleus. The Trojans applaud and accept Hektor's advice.
314-55: Meanwhile, Akhilleus mourns over the body of Patroklos, speaking too of his own death and his promise of vengeance on Hektor. The corpse is washed, anointed and clothed, and the Myrmidons lament through the night.
356-68: Suddenly the scene changes to a conversation between Zeus and Here. He remarks that it must be she who has brought about the return of Akhilleus, adding teasingly that the Greeks must be her descendants. She replies that even humans seek to get their own way; all the more should she, highest of goddesses, bring misfortunes upon the nation she hates.
369-467: Thetis reaches Hephaistos' home on Olumpos, finds him busy in his forge, and is greeted by his wife Kharis. The lame smith speaks warmly of Thetis' help to him in the past, and after hearing the tale of her unhappy son willingly agrees to fashion new armour for him.
468-608: Hephaistos sets to work, and forges a mighty shield, decorated with many scenes: the heavenly bodies (483-9); a city at peace (490-508); a city at war (509-40); the farmer's year (541-72); cattle and sheep herding (573-89); the dance (590-606); the river of Ocean (607-8).
609-17: Hephaistos makes the rest of the armour and gives it to Thetis; she bears it down from Olumpos.
1-39: Thetis brings the new armour to Akhilleus, and finds him mourning Patroklos. Inresponse to his concern about the corruption of his friend's body she protects it with ambrosia and nectar.
40-144: Akhilleus summons a council of all the Greeks, and expresses before it his regret at the losses they have suffered in his absence from battle, and his willingness to end his anger and lead an attack on the Trojans. Agamemnon in turn declares that he must have acted under the influence of Ate, tells of her power over Zeus himself, and offers to hand over the promised gifts to Akhilleus.
145-237: Akhilleus is not concerned with Agamemnon's gifts, but only with marching out to battle immediately. Odysseus demurs, saying that the men need a meal before the long day's fighting. The gifts, too, must be publicly displayed, and Agamemnon must swear that he has not slept with Briseis. Agamemnon agrees, but Akhilleus still objects to the delay. Odysseus will not yield:even after a personal loss one must eat in order to continue the struggle.
238-356: Odysseus' words are unanswerable, and the younger Greeks go off to bring the gifts from Agamemnon's quarters into the midst of the assembly. Agamemnon takes a formal oath, over a sacrificial boar, that he has not slept with Briseis. In a brief acknowledgement Akhilleus, like Agamemnon before him, blames their quarrel on Ate. The restored Briseis laments over the body of Patroklos. Akhilleus and the other Greek leaders lament too. In response to a suggestion from Zeus, Athene sustains Akhilleus with ambrosia and nectar.
356-424: Akhilleus dons his armour, in the most elaborate of such descriptions in the poem. A simile sets the scene, illustrating the number of the armed men who come out to battle. The flashing of their armour fills the air, the earth resounds beneath their feet. Then Akhilleus' furious lust for combat is described, and the glare that blazes around as he takes up his armour and weapons. Finally, his immortal horses are yoked and he mounts the chariot behind them. He rebukes them for their failure to bring their driver Patroklos home from battle, and is answered by Xanthos with a reminder that Akhilleus' own death is near, though it will not come about through any fault of theirs. With a short rejoinder, in which he again accepts the inevitability of his death, Akhilleus leads the host into battle.
1-74: Zeus summons a lull assembly of the gods and invites them to take part in the battle before Troy, so that Akhilleus may not storm the city immediately. Accordingly they march out to war in two opposing groups, and sky, sea, earth and the very Underworld are shaken by the fierce onslaught. The divine warriors pair off for duels.
75-155: The divine conflict is now interrupted, and the scene is set for the duel of Akhilleus and Aineias. This is brought about by Apollo, who in the guise of Lukaon rebukes Aineias and inspires him to advance towards Akhilleus. On the other side, the worried Here summons Poseidon to discuss their strategy in support of the Greek hero. Poseidon counsels cautious monitoring of the situation, and all the gods withdraw, in two groups.
156-258: As the two heroes confront each other, Akhilleus taunts Aineias with his lack of favour in Priam's eyes and with his flight when they previously met. In response, Aineias recounts his distinguished ancestry.
259-352: As the duel begins, each warrior hurls his spear and strikes the shield of the other. Akhilleus then charges with his sword, and Aineias seizes a huge stone. Poseidon however, concerned that Aineias may not live to fulfil his destiny, rescues him. Akhilleus unhappily realizes what has happened.
353-4I8: Akhilleus exhorts the Greeks and Hektor the Trojans. But on Apollo's advice Hektor withdraws, and Akhilleus slaughters a number of Trojans, including Hektor's brother Poludoros.
419-54: Hektor, enraged by his young brother's death, advances to face Akhilleus. They exchange challenges, but Athene intervenes on Akhilleus' behalf and Apollo then bears Hektor away to safety.
1-33: Prelude: many of the Trojans take refuge in the river Skamandros, and are slaughtered by Akhilleus.
34-138: Akhilleus meets Priam's son Lukaon, whom he had previously captured and sold. Ransomed by Eetion of Imbros, Lukaon had eventually returned to Troy. He supplicates Akhilleus, who kills him, throws him into the river, and makes a contemptuous speech over him which angers the river-god.
139-204: Akhilleus fights Asteropaios, kills him, and leaves his body in the river.
205-327: Skamandros intervenes. Akhilleus' slaughter of the Paeonians arouses the river, who asks him to desist. When Akhilleus fails to comply he complains to Apollo and then pursues Akhilleus over the plain. Akhilleus appeals to Zeus, and Poseidon and Athene come to his aid. Akhilleus attacks the river, who asks Simoeis for help and begins to overpower him.
328-82: Here asks Hephaistos to burn up the plain and the river, and he does so, until Skamandros asks him to stop, and promises Here not to help the Trojans any more. She agrees, and Hephaistos desists.
383-513: The other gods fight. Ares attacks Athene, who knocks him out with a stone. Aphrodite rescues him, but Athene, encouraged by Here, knocks her flat as well. Poseidon invites Apollo to fight, reminding him of Laomedon's treachery to them, but Apollo declines. Artemis reproaches him, and Here abuses her and boxes her ears. Hermes refuses to fight Leto. Artemis goes to Zeus and complains about Here's treatment of her.
514-611: Apollo enters Troy to protect it from Akhilleus , whilst the other gods return to Olumpos. Priam urges the Trojans to keep the gates open until the army is safe inside. Apollo prompts Agenor to withstand Akhilleus, and after a soliloquy he does so. They fight briefly, but Agenor is rescued from death by Apollo, who takes his place. While Akhilleus is pursuing him, the Trojan army pours into the city.
1-24: The Trojans who have taken refuge in the city recover from their flight, but Hektor remains outside the walls. Apollo discloses his identity to Akhilleus, who is angry with him for having deceived him. Akhilleus approaches the walls.
25-90: Priam sees Akhilleus approaching the city and entreats Hektor not to face him, describing the evils in store for the Trojans if the city is taken, but his appeal fails. Hekabe also vainly begs him not to stand against Akhilleus.
91-130: Hektor ignores his parents' entreaties, and waits for Akhilleus' attack. But he then begins to debate whether or not to remain after all. Eventually he resolves to stand firm.
131-87: When Akhilleus finally bears down upon Hektor he flees. Akhilleus pursues him around the walls of Troy three times, whilst the gods look on. Zeus asks whether they should rescue him from death, but Athene protests that his doom has been fixed long ago. Zeus gives way, and Athene leaves Olumpos.
188-213: Akhilleus continues to pursue Hektor, preventing him from reaching the shelter of the walls. Hektor is given a last burst of strength by Apollo: but when they reach the springs for the fourth time Zeus weighs the fates of the two men, Hektor's doom sinks down, and Apollo leaves him.
214-47: Athene comes to Akhilleus and tells him to stand and draw breath. She then goes to Hektor, disguised as Deiphobos, and encourages him to face Akhilleus.
248-366: Hektor tells Akhilleus that he is ready to fight, and asks him to agree that the winner should return the corpse of the loser. Akhilleus refuses to accept this proposal. He throws and misses, but Athene returns the spear. Hektor hits Akhilleus' shield but the spear rebounds. He calls to Deiphobos for a second spear, but Deiphobos has vanished. He realizes his doom is sealed, and attacks with his sword. Akhilleus closes, drives his spear through his neck, and exults over him. Hektor entreats him to return his body, but he again refuses. Hektor warns Akhilleus of his own impending death, and dies. Akhilleus contemptuously dismisses the warning.
367-404: Akhilleus strips off Hektor's armour, and the other Greeks stab his corpse. Akhilleus suggests that they attack Troy, but then remembers that Patroklos is unburied. He tells them to return to the ships with Hektor's body, singing a victory-song. He then fastens the body to his chariot by thongs passed through the ankles, and sets off, dragging it behind him.
405-36: Hektor's parents and the people of Troy lament his death. Priam begs them to let him go and entreat Akhilleus for the return of Hektor's body, and Hekabe leads the women of Troy in lamentation.
437-515: Meanwhile, Andromakhe sits weaving at home knowing nothing of Hektor's death. She has just told her maids to prepare the water for his bath, when she hears the laments of Hekabe and the Trojans. Fearful for Hektor she rushes to the wall, and when she sees him she faints. Recovering, she laments his death, her own loss, and the helpless plight of their son Astuanax.
1-34: When the Achaeans reach the ships, Akhilleus tells the Myrmidons to lament Patroklos, and they drive their chariots thrice round the corpse, while he leads the lament. He then gives them a funeral feast.
35-61: The leaders escort Akhilleus to Agamemnon and invite him to wash, but he refuses to do so until Patroklos is buried. He tells them to eat and to prepare for the funeral, and they take their supper and go to bed. Akhilleus then lies down to sleep at the edge of the sea.
62-108: Akhilleus sleeps, and Patroklos' ghost visits him in a dream and delivers instructions for his funeral. Akhilleus tries vainly to embrace him, but his spirit slips away and leaves him. He awakes and tells his companions of the vision.
109-26: Dawn comes, and Agamemnon orders the Achaeans to fetch wood for the pyre of Patroklos. Meriones takes charge of this. They take mules to Mt Ida, cut down oak trees, and bring them back to the sea-shore, where they lay them ready for the pyre.
127-53: Akhilleus tells the Myrmidons to arm and prepare their chariots. They do so and then escort the body of Patroklos in the funeral procession, after covering it with their hair. When they reach the pyre Akhilleus cuts off a lock of his own hair, and offers it to Patroklos.
154-91: Akhilleus tells Agamemnon to send the rest of the army away to eat, while the close associates of Patroklos prepare the pyre. The preparations are described: they include the slaughtering of sheep and cattle, the offering of honey and oil, and the sacrifice of four horses, two dogs, and twelve Trojan captives. Akhilleus lights the pyre, and bids Patroklos farewell, saying that he will give Hektor's body to be eaten by dogs. But the body of Hektor is preserved by Aphrodite and Apollo.
192-225: When the pyre fails to burn Akhilleus prays to Boreas and Zephuros, and Iris goes to summon them. She finds the Winds feasting in the home of Zephuros and gives them Akhilleus' message. They cross the sea to Troy and fall upon the pyre, setting it ablaze. All night it burns, and Akhilleus continually pours wine on the ground, calling on the spirit of Patroklos with constant lamentation.
226-61: At dawn the fire dies down, the Winds return home, and Akhilleus falls asleep exhausted. He is woken by the gathering of the leaders, and tells them to quench the pyre, collect Patroklos' bones, and build a mound: this will be enlarged after his own death, to cover both of them. They do as he orders, and he then makes the army sit down and brings out prizes for the contests.
262-897: The games: the chariot race (262-652); Akhilleus offers prizes for boxing (653-99) and wrestling (700-39); the foot race (740-97); Akhilleus offers prizes for the armed duel (798-825); throwing a lump of iron (826-49); the archery contest (850-83); spear throwing (884-97).
1-21: The Achaeans disperse, eat their supper, and go to bed. But Akhilleus is unable to sleep. At dawn he yokes his chariot, drags Hektor three times round Patroklos' tomb, and leaves him stretched out face downward in the dust. But Apollo protects his corpse from harm, covering it with his aegis.
22-76: The gods pity Hektor and urge Hermes to steal his body, but Here, Poseidon and Athene object. On the twelfth day Apollo protests at the gods' neglect of Hektor's corpse and support for Akhilleus. Here answers that Akhilleus deserves more honour,but Zeus supports Apollo. He orders Thetis to be summoned so that she can tell Akhilleus to accept Priam's ransom.
77-119: Iris visits Thetis in the sea, and summons her to Olumpos. They arrive and Thetis is welcomed. Zeus then asks her to instruct her son to receive Priam and accept the ransom for Hektor.
120-42: Thetis comes to Akhilleus and delivers her message. Akhilleus at once consents.
143-87: Zeus instructs Iris to visit Priam, and to tell him to go to Akhilleus with gifts of ransom, promising that Hermes will be his escort. Iris comes to Priam, and finds him and his family in deepest grief. She delivers her message.
188-227: Priam orders his sons to prepare the wagon, and tells Hekabe of Iris' visit. She tries to dissuade him, but he insists on going.
228- 80: Priam selects the precious possessions which he will take as ransom. He then drives the Trojans out of his palace with an angry speech, and bitterly reproaches his sons, telling them once again to prepare and load the wagon. They obey.
281-321: While preparations are being made, Hekabe brings a cup of wine, and tells Priam to make a libation, pray for safe return and ask for a good omen from Zeus. Priam does so and Zeus sends a great eagle in response.
322-48: Priam and the herald Idaios set off, escorted by Priam's family until they leave the city. Zeus then instructs Hermes to conduct Priam to Akhilleus unseen by the rest of the Greeks, and Hermes comes down to Troy disguised as a young man.
349-442: At dusk they stop to water the horses. Hermes approaches and converses with Priam, telling him that Hektor's body is intact. Priam offers him a cup which he refuses, but he promises to escort him safely, and takes charge of his chariot.
443-69: When they reach the Achaean wall Hermes puts the guards to sleep and opens the gates. They arrive at Akhilleus' hut. Hermes opens the great doors and they enter. He then reveals his true identity, tells Priam to entreat Akhilleus, and departs.
469-84: Priam enters Akhilleus' hut alone and finds Akhilleus who has just finished eating. Unnoticed by him or his companions he approaches, clasps his knees and kisses his hands. Akhilleus and the companions are struck with amazement.
485-512: Priam supplicates Akhilleus. They both weep.
513-51: Akhilleus then raises Priam to his feet and addresses him. He asks him to sit down and offers him consolation, reflecting on the nature of human misfortune, and comparing Priam's fate with that of Peleus.
552-95: Priam refuses the offer of a seat, and asks Akhilleus to release Hektor's body as soon as possible. Akhilleus, however, warns him not to anger him and Priam gives way. The ransom is removed from the wagon, and the body is washed, dressed and put on a bier, which is placed on the wagon. Akhilleus asks Patroklos not to be angry because he has released the body of his enemy, and promises him a share in the ransom.
596-632: Akhilleus returns inside, sits down opposite Priam, and invites him to share a meal, telling the story of Niobe as a precedent. The meal is prepared, they eat and drink, and then gaze at each other in wonder.
633-76: Priam asks to be allowed to go to sleep, and Akhilleus orders beds to be prepared under the portico. A truce of eleven days is agreed for Hektor's burial. Idaios and Priam go to sleep outside while Akhilleus sleeps in the hut with Briseis beside him.
677-718: Hermes comes to Priam and urges him to leave, and he and ldaios do so, under his escort. At the ford of the Skamandros Hermes leaves them. At dawn they reach the city. Kassandre sees them and announces the news to the Trojans, who come out to meet them with Hekabe and Andromakhe, amid general lamentation.
718-76: Hektor is brought home and laid on a bed. By it they set singers, who lead in singing a dirge, and the women join in keening. Andromakhe begins their lament, followed by Hekabe and Helen. All join in lamentation.
777-804: Priam orders the Trojans to collect wood for the pyre, and for nine days they do so. On the tenth day Hektor's body is burnt. Next day the pyre is quenched, the body is buried, and the people hold the funeral feast in Priam's palace.