The Iliad (Penguin Classics)

by Homer

  ‘It seems like only yesterday. The Greek ships were gathering at Aulis, ready to bring trouble to Priam and the Trojans. We were making perfect sacrifices to the gods on their holy altars round a spring under a fine plane-tree at the foot of which the sparkling water was gushing out, when a great sign appeared. A snake with blood-red markings on its back, an intimidating creature which Olympian Zeus himself had released into the (310) light of day, darted out from below an altar and made straight for the tree. There was a brood of young sparrows on the highest branch, helpless little things nestling under the leaves – eight birds in all, or nine, counting the mother of the hatch. All of them, cheeping piteously and with their mother fluttering round and wailing for her dear children, were eaten by the snake. It got the mother too: it coiled itself up to strike and seized her by the wing as she flew past shrieking. But when it had devoured them all, mother and young, the god who had caused it to appear, Zeus son of sickle-wielding Cronus, transformed it and turned it into a stone.

  (320) ’We stood there transfixed by what had happened. But once this awe-inspiring prodigy had intruded on our sacrifice, Calchas interpreted the omen then and there: ‘‘Why are you silent, you long-haired Greeks? It was for us that Zeus wise in counsel staged this prophetic scene. It was late in coming and will be late in fulfilment; but its glorious memory will not die. There were eight young sparrows, making nine with their mother, and all of these, mother and hatch, were devoured by the snake. Nine, then, is the number of years we shall have to fight over Ilium, and in the tenth its broad streets will be ours.’’

  (330) ’That is what Calchas prophesied, and all he said is coming true. So, you Greek men-at-arms, you must all stand your ground till we capture Priam’s great town.’

  Nestor encourages Agamemnon

  So he spoke, and the Greeks thundered out loud to show how well they had liked this speech from godlike Odysseus. Their intimidating roar echoed round the ships. Then Nestor the Gerenian charioteer addressed them too:

  ‘Well! You might be little children with no interest in war at all, to judge by all this talk. What will become of our agreements (340) and oaths? We may as well throw on to the fire all our plans and strategies, all our pledges sealed in wine, our right hands in which we place such trust. Words are the only weapons we are using now and, given how long we have been here, they will get us nowhere.

  ‘Agamemnon, be true as always to your firm resolve and lead the Greeks into the thick of the action. If there are one or two traitors among us, scheming to sail for home before they find out whether Zeus was telling us the truth, let them rot – they (350) will not succeed. For I am convinced that Zeus the almighty son of Cronus nodded his approval of us on the day we got aboard our swift ships to bring death and destruction to the Trojans. There was a flash of lightning on our right, a sign that all would be well. Let there be no scramble to get home, then, till every man of you has slept with a Trojan wife and taken revenge for all the sweat and tears Helen has caused you. But if anyone does have a violent urge to be off, he has only to touch his well-benched black ship and, as far as everyone else is concerned, he will be ensuring his own death and destiny.

  (360) ’Now, my lord, think things over carefully and take advice from another. Here is my own: it is not to be put aside lightly. Sort your men out, Agamemnon, into their tribes and clans, so that clan helps clan and the tribes support each other. If you do this and the Greeks comply, you will find out who are the cowards and who the brave among your commanders and troops. For each man will be fighting at his brother’s side, and you will soon find out whether it is the gods’ will that stands between you and the sack of Ilium, or the cowardice of your warriors and their incompetence in battle.’

  Lord Agamemnon replied and said:

  (370) (Agamemnon regrets his quarrel) ‘One more debate where you, venerable sir, have carried all before you! Father Zeus, Athene and Apollo, give me ten such advisers as Nestor, and the town of lord Priam would soon be captured, sacked and turned over to Greek hands! But Zeus who drives the storm-cloud, the son of Cronus, will torment me. He entangles me in pointless bickering and rows. Look at the way Achilles and I quarrelled and exchanged insults over a girl, though it was I who lost my temper first. If ever he and I can see eye to eye once (380) more, there will be no stay of execution for the Trojans, not for a moment.

  ‘Now let us eat and prepare ourselves for battle. Sharpen your spears, adjust your shields, see that your horses are fed, check your chariots and be ready to battle it out grimly all day. There will be no respite, not for a moment, till night comes and separates the forces. The strap of a man’s shield will be soaked with the sweat from his chest; his hand will weary on his spear; (390) his horses pulling at his polished chariot will be covered in lather. And as for anyone I see who prefers to loiter by the beaked ships far from battle, nothing can save him: he is for the dogs and birds.’

  So he spoke, and the Greeks thundered out loud, like a wave against the rocky promontory of a high headland when the south wind descends and whips up the seas. The waves raised by winds from all quarters never leave it in peace from any direction.

  Agamemnon’s vain sacrifice to Zeus

  They rose from the assembly at once and dispersed among the ships, where they lit fires in their huts and fed. Each man, as he sacrificed to one of the immortal gods, prayed that he might come through the grind (400) of battle with his life. Agamemnon lord of men himself sacrificed a fatted five-year-old ox to Zeus almighty son of Cronus and invited the senior advisers of the Greeks to attend – Nestor first of all, then lord Idomeneus; the two Ajaxes; Diomedes son of Tydeus; and for a sixth, Odysseus, equal in invention to Zeus. Menelaus, master of the battle-cry, came without needing an invitation, since he knew very well how heavy his brother Aga- (410) memnon’s burden was. Standing round the ox they took up the sacrificial grains. Lord Agamemnon addressed them and prayed:

  ‘Zeus, greatest and most glorious, god of the black cloud, dwelling in the skies! Grant that the sun may not set and darkness fall before I bring Priam’s smoke-blackened palace crashing down, send his gates up in flames and rip the tunic on Hector’s chest. And at his side let many of his friends fall and bite the dust.’

  (420) So he spoke, but Zeus did not grant his prayer. He accepted the offering but in return doubled his load of misery.

  When they had made their prayers and thrown the grain over the victim, they first drew back the animal’s head and slit its throat and skinned it. Then for the god’s portion they cut out the thigh bones, wrapped them in folds of fat and laid raw meat from the rest of the animal above them. These pieces they burnt on spits stripped of leaves, then pierced the entrails and held them over the flames. When the god’s portion had been consumed by fire, they ate the offal and then carved the rest of the victim into small pieces, pierced them with skewers, roasted them carefully and drew them all off.

  (430) When their work was done and the meal prepared, they feasted and no one went without a fair share. Their hunger and thirst satisfied, Nestor the Gerenian charioteer began and spoke his mind to them:

  ‘Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon lord of men, let us not prolong this meeting any more nor put off the work that the god has set our hands to. Come, let the heralds of the bronze-armoured Greeks gather the troops from the ships for battle. Then we could go round the whole Greek army together (440) and soon unleash the dogs of war.’

  So he spoke, and Agamemnon lord of men complied. He gave immediate orders to his clear-voiced heralds to call the long-haired Greeks to battle stations. They cried their summons and the men quickly gathered. The Olympian-bred lords under Agamemnon bustled about marshalling the troops, and with them went grey-eyed Athene.

  She was holding her splendid cloak, the unfading, everlasting aegis from which a hundred golden tassels flutter, all beautifully (450) woven, each worth a hundred head of cattle. Darting about with this she raced through the ranks, urging the men forward and filling the heart of every
Greek with the courage to do battle and fight the enemy relentlessly. At once the prospect of battle became sweeter to them than returning in their hollow ships to the land of their fathers.

  The Greek army gathers

  As destructive fire ravages a great forest on the mountain heights and the glint of the flames is seen from far away, so, as they fell in, the dazzling glitter of their magnificent bronze armour flashed through the air to the skies.

  (460) Like the many flocks of birds – geese, cranes or long-necked swans – that gather in the Asian meadow by the streams of Cayster and wheel around here and there, revelling in their flight, and with a great racket spread out over the ground, and the meadow is filled with sound, so the many groups poured from their ships and their huts on to the plain of the River Scamander; and the earth beneath resounded intimidatingly to the tramp of marching men and horses’ hooves, as they took their positions in the flowery meadow of Scamander, countless, as many as the leaves and flowers in their season.

  (470) Like the many groups of busy flies that swarm around the sheepfold in spring, when the milk splashes the pails, so many long-haired Greeks were drawn up on the plain against the Trojans, determined to smash through them.

  Like goatherds who easily sort out their wandering flocks of goats when they have become mixed up at pasture, so the commanders deployed men here and there to advance to battle; and in among them moved lord Agamemnon, with head and eyes like those of Zeus who delights in thunder, (480) with a waist like the War-god’s and a chest like Poseidon’s. Like a bull that stands out clearly from all the cattle in a herd, conspicuous among the assembled cows, so Zeus made Agamemnon look that day, conspicuous among the crowd and eclipsing all other warriors.

  (The catalogue of Greek ships) Tell me now, you Muses that live on Olympus, since you are goddesses, are present everywhere and know everything, while we men have only hearsay to go on and know nothing – tell me who were the leaders and commanders of the Greeks? As for the rank and file, I could not name or even count them, not if I had ten tongues and ten (490) mouths, a voice that could never tire and a heart of bronze -unless you, Muses of Olympus, daughters of Zeus who drives the storm-cloud, remind me how many came to Ilium. So I shall list the captains and their ships from first to last.

  Boeotia

  The contingent from Boeotia was commanded by Peneleos, Leitus, Arcesilaus, Prothoenor and Clonius. The towns the Boeotians came from were Hyrie and stony Aulis, Schoenus and Scolus; Eteonus with its many ridges; Thespeia and Graea and spacious Mycalessus; Harma, (500) Eilesion and Erythrae; Eleon, Hyle and Peteon; Ocalea and the stronghold of Medeon; Copae, Eutresis and Thisbe rich in doves; Coronea and grassy Haliartus; Plataea, Glisas and the stronghold of Lower Thebes; sacred Onchestus, Poseidon’s lovely grove; Arne with its many vines; and Mideia, holy Nisa and remote Anthedon. This contingent under their commanders (510) came in fifty ships with a hundred and twenty young Boeotians in each.

  Orchomenus

  The contingent from Orchomenus, men from Aspledon and Minyan Orchomenus, was commanded by Ascalaphus and Ialmenus. These two were sons of Ares. Astyoche, a modest young girl, had conceived them in the palace of her father Actor son of Azeus; she had gone upstairs with the mighty War-god and slept with him in secret. They had come in thirty hollow ships.

  Phocis

  The contingent from Phocis was commanded by Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of the great-hearted Iphitus son of Naubolus. The towns they came from were Cyparissus (520) and rocky Pytho; holy Crisa, Daulis and Panopeus; around Anemoreia and Hyampolis and the bright River Cephisus; and Lilaea, where the Cephisus rises. This contingent came under their commanders in forty black ships. Their leaders marshalled the Phocian ranks and set them in their battle stations next to the Boeotians on the left.

  Locris

  The contingent from Locris was led by swift-footed Ajax son of Oïleus, the lesser Ajax – not such a man as Ajax son of Telamon, indeed inferior by far. He was short (530) and wore linen body-protection; but no Greek was his equal in spearmanship. The towns his following had come from were Cynus, Opous and Calliarus; Bessa, Scarphe and lovely Augeiae; Tarphe and Thronion and around the streams of the River Boagrius. This contingent came under Ajax’s command in forty black ships manned by the Locrians who live across the straits from holy Euboea.

  Euboea

  The contingent from Euboea consisted of the Abantes, breathing courage. The towns these men came from were Chalcis, Eretria and Histiaea with its many vines; Cerinthus by the sea and the high fortress of Dius; and (540) Carystus and Styra. These were all captained by Elephenor, ally of the War-god, son of Chalcodon and leader of the greathearted Abantes. His followers were quick on their feet; they wore their hair long at the back, fighters hoping to lunge with their ash spears and rip through the armour on their enemies’ chests. This contingent came under Elephenor’s command in forty black ships.

  Athens

  The next contingent came from the stronghold of Athens, the community of great-hearted Erechtheus. Erechtheus was a child of the fruitful Earth who was brought up by Athene daughter of Zeus. She had established him at (550) Athens in her own rich temple where Athenian youths offer him bulls and rams ever year. This contingent was commanded by Menestheus son of Peteos. He had no rival on earth in the art of handling infantry and chariots. Nestor was the only competition, and he was an older man. The Athenians came under Menestheus’ command in fifty black ships.

  Salamis

  The contingent from Salamis was led by Ajax son of Telamon in twelve ships. He beached them where the Athenian force was stationed.

  Argos

  The contingent from Argos contained men from the towns of Argos and well-walled Tiryns; from (560) Hermione and Asine with their deep gulfs; from Troezen, Eionae and vine-clad Epidaurus; and from Aegina and Mases. They were commanded by Diomedes, master of the battle-cry, and Sthenelus, son of far-famed Capaneus. Euryalus, a godlike man, son of lord Mecisteus son of Talaus, had come as third in command. But Diomedes, master of the battle-cry, was in charge of the whole force. This contingent came under their commanders in eighty black ships.

  Mycenae

  The contingent from Mycenae contained men from the stronghold of Mycenae, from wealthy (570) Corinth and well-built Cleonae; from Orneiae and lovely Araethyrea; from Sicyon, where Adrestus reigned in early years; from Hyperesie and lofty Gonoessa, Pellene and around Aegion; and from the whole length of the coast and the broad lands of Helice. Lord Agamemnon son of Atreus commanded these men in their hundred ships. His following was by far the finest and most numerous. He armed himself in gleaming bronze, exultant, (580) and stood out among all the other warriors because he was the best man, commanding by far the largest force.

  Lacedaemon

  The contingent from hollow Lacedaemon contained men from that lovely land with its many ravines; and men from Pharis, Sparta and Messe rich in doves; from Bryseiae and lovely Augeiae; from Amyclae and the seaside town of Helos; and from Oetylus and Laas. Menelaus, master of the battle-cry, brother of Agamemnon, commanded their sixty ships. They had a station separate from the Mycenaean contingent. Menelaus strode among them, confident in his readiness for action and urging them to battle. Nobody was more (590) eager than he to take revenge for all the sweat and tears Helen had caused them.

  Pylos

  The contingent from Pylos came from there and from lovely Arene; from Thryon, where the River Alpheus is forded; from handsome Aepy; from Cyparisseis, Amphigeneia, Pteleus and Helos; and from Dorion, where the Muses met Thamyris the Thracian poet and ended his career while he was on his way from Oechalia and the home of Oechal-ian Eurytus. He had boasted that he would win a singing competition even if the Muses themselves, daughters of Zeus who drives the storm-cloud, were to take part. This angered them. (600) They paralysed him, robbed him of the divine gift of song and made him forget his lyre. Nestor the Gerenian charioteer commanded these men. They had come in ninety hollow ships.

  The contingent f
rom Arcadia came from the lands where Mount Cyllene lifts its peak and Aepytus was buried, where men are trained in hand-to-hand fighting. The towns they came from were Pheneus, Orchomenus rich in sheep, Rhype and Stratie and windy Enispe; Tegea and lovely Manti-nea, Stymphelus and Parrhasie. Lord Agapenor son of Ancaeus (610) commanded their sixty ships. Many Arcadians, expert fighters, boarded each ship. Agamemnon lord of men had himself given Agapenor the well-benched ships in which to cross the wine-dark sea, as the Arcadians knew nothing of seafaring.

  Elis

  The contingent from Elis came from Buprasion and as much of the bright land of Elis as lies between Hermine, furthest Myrsinus, the Olenian Rock and Alesion. They had four commanders, each with ten swift ships filled (620) with these troops from Elis. Amphimachus son of Cteatus and Thalpius son of Eurytus, grandsons of Actor, commanded two squadrons; mighty Diores, son of Amarynceus, the third; and godlike Polyxeinus, the son of lord Agasthenes, Augeas’ son, the fourth.

  Dulichium

  The contingent from Dulichium came from there and the sacred Echinean Islands across the sea from Elis. Meges, equal of Ares and son of Phyleus, commanded them. Phyleus was a charioteer dear to Zeus who had quarrelled

  (630) with his father and migrated to Dulichium. This contingent came under Meges’ command in forty black ships.

  Cephallenia

  The contingent from proud Cephallenia was led by Odysseus. It contained men from Ithaca and Neritos with its quivering leaves, from Crocyleia and rugged Aegilips; from forested Zacynthus and Samos and the mainland opposite the islands. Odysseus, equal in wisdom to Zeus, commanded these men. This contingent came under his command in twelve ships with crimson-painted bows.