What happened in Book 18 of the Iliad?

What happened in Book 18 of the Iliad?

Summary: Book 18 When Antilochus brings word to Achilles of Patroclus’s death, Achilles loses control of himself. He weeps and beats the ground with his fists and covers his face with dirt. In the Trojan camp, Polydamas urges his comrades to retreat to the city now that Achilles has decided to return to battle.

Where is the original Iliad text?

The best-known early complete manuscript of the Iliad is Venetus A, which was copied in around the tenth century AD by a Byzantine scribe, probably in Constantinople. Venetus A includes the complete Greek text of the Iliad, as well as extensive commentary from various ancient and medieval scholars.

Why is Achilles mourning at the beginning of Book 18?

Achilles’ grief is beginning to form itself into anger as he acknowledges that he must kill Hector. Achilles mourns his previous inaction, and says that he is now ready to accept his fate by revenging himself on the Trojans.

Who does Achilles mourn in Book 18?

Patroclus
In Book 18 of The Iliad, Achilles learns of the death of his dear friend Patroclus. He is stricken with grief and he vows revenge on Hector. Achilles’ mother, Thetis, who is a goddess, promises to get Achilles new armor from Hephaistos so he can enter battle the next day.

Why did cycnus think he could beat Achilles?

Cycnus would mock Achilles for his inability to harm him, and even went as far as removing his armour. In a rage, Achilles descended from his chariot and sought to use his sword on Cycnus, but Achilles sword simply blunted on the skin of Cycnus, as the spears had done before so.

Is the Iliad true?

The Iliad isn’t a documentary, and it’s definitely not a memoir, since the actual events that inspired Homer’s story happened hundreds of years before Homer was born.

Is the Iliad hard to read?

For the first-time reader, probably the hardest thing about Homer’s Iliad is its language. And once you get past the weird cultural details (reading the introduction to your edition will help), the poem is extremely accessible. The characters are vivid, and every reader will find someone to identify with.

Who stole Achilles armor?

Ultimately, Patroclus is killed in battle by Hector, and Achilles’ armor is stripped from his body and taken by Hector as spoils.

Who was Achilles killed by?

prince Paris
Achilles is killed by an arrow, shot by the Trojan prince Paris. In most versions of the story, the god Apollo is said to have guided the arrow into his vulnerable spot, his heel. In one version of the myth Achilles is scaling the walls of Troy and about to sack the city when he is shot.

What were Patroclus last words?

Patroclus’s Last Words When Hector tries to boast about slaying the great warrior, Patroclus uses his final words to remind Hector that his was no great victory, and that his celebration will be short-lived: ”…had twenty such men as you attacked me, all of them would have fallen before my spear.

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