by Homer
‘So it is impossible for any mortal to fight Achilles. He always has a god with him to keep death at bay. Quite apart from that, his spear has a way of flying straight and true and never (100) stopping till it lands in human flesh. However, if a god decides to keep things equal between us, Achilles will not have an easy victory, even though he does like to think he is made of bronze.’
Lord Apollo son of Zeus said:
‘Warrior, come, invoke the deathless gods yourself! They say you are the son of Aphrodite daughter of Zeus, while Achilles is born of a lesser god. Aphrodite is a daughter of Zeus, but Thetis has only the Old Man of the Sea for her father. Straight at him, then, with the hard bronze! And don’t let his threats and insults put you off.’
With these words Apollo breathed tremendous energy into this shepherd (110) of the people, who advanced through the front ranks, his bronze armour glittering. But the goddess white-armed Hera was not taken unawares and, when she saw Aeneas son of Anchises advancing through the crowd of men to attack Achilles, she beckoned her friends to her side and said:
The gods agree not to intervene
‘Poseidon and Athene, both of you now carefully consider what you should do next. Here comes Aeneas to attack Achilles, bronze armour glittering and backed by Phoebus Apollo. Come, let us send (120) him straight back again. Or one of us could stand by Achilles and endow him with great strength. His courage must not be allowed to fail him. He must be made aware that the best of the immortals hold him dear and that those who, up till now, have saved the Trojans from defeat are of no account whatever. We all came down from Olympus to join in this battle so that Achilles should not suffer any harm at Trojan hands today, though later on he must endure what destiny spun for him with the first thread of life when his mother bore him. But if all this is not conveyed to him in a message from the immortals (130) themselves, he will be terrified when he finds himself confronted by a god. The gods are difficult for any man to deal with, when they face him openly.’
Poseidon the earthshaker replied:
‘Hera, don’t be so unreasonably aggressive. There is no need. I, for one, am not anxious to set the gods at each other’s throats. So let us move out of the way and sit down where we can watch from a convenient spot. War will be men’s business. Of course, if Ares or Phoebus Apollo starts the fight or if they lay hands on Achilles to keep him out of the action, then we (140) ourselves will immediately take them on in battle. But not for long, I think. Our enemies will soon have to break the battle off and go back to the other gods on Olympus, overwhelmed by our sheer strength.’
With these words the sable-haired god led the way to the high earthwork that the Trojans and Pallas Athene had made for godlike Heracles. Heracles had once vowed to get rid of a great sea-monster sent against the Trojans, and this was a place of refuge for him when it came up from the beach to attack him on dry land. There Poseidon and the other gods sat down and (150) spread impenetrable mist round their shoulders. Their divine opponents also sat down on the brow of Callicolone on the other side, round you, Apollo, and Ares sacker of cities. Thus both parties settled down on opposite sides, plotting their next moves. Each of them hesitated to begin hostilities, though Zeus from his seat on high had told them to.
Aeneas vs. Achilles
Meanwhile the plain was filled with human combatants and sparkled with the bronze of infantry and charioteers alike. The earth shook beneath their feet as the two forces charged towards each other. And now, in the (160) intervening space, their two greatest champions, Aeneas son of Anchises and godlike Achilles, came together, determined to do battle. Aeneas was the first to step forward with a gesture of defiance. His massive helmet nodded on his head; he held his lively shield in front of him and brandished his bronze spear.
From the other side the son of Peleus sprang to meet him like a lion, a killer which a villageful of men have gathered together in their determination to destroy. At first the lion goes its way and treats them with contempt, but when one of the bolder young men hits it with a spear, it snarls and crouches to spring; foam collects round its jaws, the brave spirit in its heart growls, (170) it lashes its ribs and flanks with its tail to work itself up into a fighting fury and, glaring fiercely, charges straight in, determined to kill a man or be killed itself in the forefront of the battle – so Achilles’ proud spirit and determination drove him to confront great-hearted Aeneas.
When they had come within range of each other, swift-footed godlike Achilles spoke first:
Aeneas and Achilles exchange taunts
‘Aeneas, what has induced you to advance so far from the (180) ranks to meet me? Is it ambition that drives you to fight, hoping you will step into Priam’s shoes and rule the horse-taming Trojans? But killing me will not make Priam abdicate for you. He has sons of his own; his health is sound; and he’s not half-witted either.
‘Or perhaps the Trojans have sectioned off a piece of their best land with rich vineyards and cornfields for you to cultivate, if you succeed in killing me? Well, I think you will find it difficult. I seem to recollect that once before you ran from my spear. Or have you forgotten that time I caught you alone, cut you off from your cattle and sent you scuttling at speed down (190) the slopes of Mount Ida? You didn’t even have time to look behind you! You then took refuge in Lyrnessus. But I followed up and sacked the place with the help of Athene and Father Zeus, carrying off into slavery the women I captured, though Zeus and the other gods protected you. But this time I don’t think he is going to protect you, as you fondly imagine. So I do urge you to get back now, rejoin the ranks and not stand up to me, or you will suffer for it. Only a fool is wise after the event.’
Aeneas replied and said:
‘Son of Peleus, don’t imagine you’re going to scare me with words (200), as though I were a little child. I too know perfectly well how to exchange insults and abuse. You and I know each other’s ancestry and we know each other’s parents, for though you have never set eyes on mine, nor I on yours, we have heard men celebrate them in song.
Aeneas’ lineage
‘They say you are a son of matchless Peleus and lovely-haired Thetis daughter of the Sea, while I can claim great-hearted Anchises as my father and (210) Aphrodite as my mother. One or the other of these couples is going to mourn the loss of a beloved son today, since I am sure you and I will not settle our differences and leave the battlefield after a childish little chat. But if you really wish to learn who I am, I will tell you. Most people know my story already.
‘Zeus who marshals the clouds began the line by fathering Dardanus. Dardanus founded Dardania at a time when the sacred town of Ilium had not yet been built as a town for men to inhabit, when the people there were still living under the foothills of well-watered Mount Ida. Dardanus had a son, lord (220) Erichthonius, who was the richest man on earth. He had three thousand mares, feeding in the marshlands and rejoicing in their little foals. One day as they were grazing there, the North Wind fell for them and took the form of a black stallion to service them, and in due course they produced twelve foals. These in their frolics could run across a field of corn, brushing the highest ears, and never break one; and when they frolicked on the broad back of the sea, they skimmed the white foam on the crests of the waves.
‘Erichthonius had a son called Tros who became lord of the Trojans; and Tros himself had three matchless sons, Ilus, Assaracus (230) and godlike Ganymedes who grew up to be the most beautiful youth in the world, and because of his good looks was kidnapped by the gods to be the wine-steward of Zeus and live with the immortals for ever. Ilus was father to matchless Laomedon whose sons were Tithonus, Priam, Lampus, Clytius and Hicetaon ally of the War-god. But Assaracus was the father (240) of Capys whose son Anchises is my father, whereas Hector is the son of Priam. That then is my family; that is the blood I claim as mine. As for prowess in war, that is a gift from Zeus who endows a man with it in greater or less measure, as he thinks fit. He is the most powerful god of all.
‘Enough! No
more standing here in the middle of the battlefield talking like little boys. We could sling plenty of insults at each other – enough to sink a ship. Man’s tongue is glib. There are words of all sorts at its command. They cover a wide range, (250) one way and another. You get the kind of answer you have asked for. But there is no call for you and me to stand and insult one another like women who have lost their tempers over some festering dispute and come out into the middle of the street to hurl insults at each other, so angry they will say anything, true or false. I’m determined to fight, and no words of yours will put me off till we have had it out with our spears. Enough now! Let’s taste each other’s bronze!’
Aeneas spoke and launched his powerful spear at the other’s (260) formidable, unearthly shield. The great shield bellowed with its impact. Achilles in alarm thrust the shield well in front of him with his mighty hand, thinking the long-shadowed spear of great-hearted Aeneas was bound to pierce it – the fool. He had forgotten that the renowned gifts of the gods are not liable to crumple or yield to mortal assault. So the heavy spear of warlike Aeneas did not break through the shield, but was stopped by the gold that Hephaestus had put into his gift. It did succeed in driving through two layers but there were three to come, since (270) the little lame god had put on five of them, two of bronze, two on the inner side of tin and one of gold. It was in this gold layer that the ash spear was held.
Aeneas comes off worse
Achilles next threw his long-shadowed spear and hit Aeneas’ round shield on the outside of the rim, where the bronze and the oxhide backing were thinnest. The ash shaft from Mount Pelion burst right through with a resounding crack. Aeneas ducked, thrusting his shield above himself in terror; and the eager spear, breaking through (280) both layers of this all-enveloping shield, passed over his back and hit the ground. The long shaft had not touched Aeneas, but he froze, appalled by the closeness of the miss, and shock-waves clouded his vision.
Achilles, drawing his sharp sword, charged furiously at him with an intimidating yell. Aeneas then picked up a huge lump of rock, a tremendous feat. Not even two men today could manage it, but Aeneas tossed it about quite easily on his own. And as Achilles came on, Aeneas would have struck him with the boulder on the helmet or the shield (which had already saved (290) Achilles from an ugly end) and Achilles would have closed and killed Aeneas with his sword, had it not been for the quick eye of Poseidon the earthshaker. He immediately spoke his mind to the gods:
‘This will not do! I am very anxious about great-hearted Aeneas. In a moment he will fall to Achilles and go down to Hades because he took the Archer-god Apollo at his word - the fool! As though Apollo would save him from an ugly end! Why should this innocent man, who has always given the most gratifying offerings to the gods who inhabit the broad skies, suffer for his involvement in other people’s troubles? (300) Let’s take action and rescue him from death. Even Zeus might be angry if Achilles kills Aeneas, who after all is destined to survive and save the line of Dardanus from extinction. Zeus loved Dardanus more than any other child he had by a mortal mother, but now hates Priam’s line. So mighty Aeneas shall rule over Troy and be followed by his children’s children in the time to come.’
Ox-eyed lady Hera replied:
‘Earthshaker, decide for yourself whether to rescue Aeneas (310) or abandon him. Pallas Athene and I have repeatedly sworn in the presence of all the gods never to save the Trojans from their doom, not even on the day when their whole town is consumed by the devastating fires that will be lit there by the warlike Greeks.’
POSEIDON saves Aeneas
When Poseidon the earthshaker heard this, he plunged through the mayhem and the rain of spears, making for the spot where Aeneas and famous (320) Achilles were engaged. Once there, he spread a mist before Achilles’ eyes. Then he extracted the fine ash spear from greathearted Aeneas’ shield, laid it at Achilles’ feet and swept Aeneas off the ground high into the air. Aeneas was propelled with such force by the god’s hand that he vaulted over all the intervening lines of infantry and charioteers and came down on the very edge of the battlefield, where the Caucones were arming for (330) battle. Poseidon the earthshaker approached him there and spoke winged words:
‘Aeneas, what is the meaning of this madness? Which of the gods told you to fight proud Achilles, who is not only stronger than you but a greater favourite of the immortals? Whenever you come up against that man, retreat at once or you will find yourself in Hades’ halls, in defiance of destiny. But when Achilles has met his fated end, you can return in full confidence to the front line, since no other Greek is going to kill you.’
With these words Poseidon left Aeneas there and immediately removed (340) the divine mist from Achilles’ eyes. Achilles looked around him hard and angrily reflected on the situation:
‘Well, well, what an astonishing sight! My spear is lying here on the ground, but the man I meant to kill with it is nowhere to be seen. It is clear that Aeneas is, after all, very close to the immortal gods, though I felt there was little truth in all that boasting of his. To hell with him. He will be so thankful to (350) have saved his skin this time that he won’t be anxious to take me on again. Now I’ll give the war-loving Greeks their orders and see what I can do against the other Trojans.’
He spoke, leapt back into the front ranks and exhorted every man:
‘Godlike Greeks, don’t stand there waiting for the Trojans, but each pick out your man and put your heart into the fight. I may be strong, but I can’t deal with such a force on my own and take them all on. Even immortal gods like Ares or Athene could do little damage if they threw themselves into the jaws of (360) such a conflict. But whatever speed, skill and strength can do, I’ll do it and without a moment’s let-up. I am going straight through their lines and I don’t think any Trojan is going to rejoice to find himself on the end of my spear.’
So Achilles spoke, inspiring his men. On the other side glorious Hector urged on the Trojans and talked of attacking Achilles:
‘Proud Trojans, don’t be frightened by the son of Peleus. I too could fight the gods themselves with words, but with a spear it’s much more difficult: the gods are far too strong for us. Achilles (370) won’t do all he says. He may succeed in some respects, but even he falls short in others. And I am going to meet him, though his hands are like fire, yes, though his hands are like fire and his courage like bright iron.’
APOLLO warns off Hector
So Hector spoke, inspiring them, and the Trojans brought their spears to the ready. The two forces fell upon each other, and the battle-cry went up. Then Phoebus Apollo went up to Hector and said:
‘Hector, whatever you do, don’t advance to take on Achilles. Stay with the troops and let him find you in the crowd. Otherwise, he will hit you with his spear, or stab you at close range with his sword.’
So he spoke, and Hector retreated back into the ranks in alarm (380) when he heard the god’s voice.
Achilles kills four Trojans
But Achilles, clothed in martial valour, sprang at the Trojans with an intimidating yell. First he killed Iphition brave son of Otrynteus and leader of a large contingent. His mother was a Naiad who had borne him to Otrynteus, sacker of towns, below the snowy heights of Tmolus in the rich land of Hyde. Godlike Achilles, as this man came on against him, hurled his spear through the middle of his head, splitting his skull in two. He thudded to the ground, and Achilles triumphed over him:
‘Here you fall, son of Otrynteus, most impetuous of men. (390) This is where you die, though your birth was by lake Gygaea on your father’s estate by the eddying streams of Hermus and Hyllus where the fish breed.’
So he boasted, and darkness engulfed Iphition’s eyes. The wheel-rims of the Greek chariots tore him to pieces at the front of the fighting. Achilles then added Demoleon, one of Antenor’s sons, a brave man at repelling the enemy. He hit him on the temple through his bronze-sided helmet. The bronze helmet failed to hold the spear. The eager point went through, smashed the bone and spatter
ed the inside of the helmet with the man’s (400) brains. That put a stop to Demoleon’s assault.
Hippodamas was next. He had leapt from his chariot and was running away when Achilles stabbed him with a spear in the back. He choked out his life and bellowed as a bull bellows when it is dragged round the altar of Poseidon lord of Helice by young men, to the earthshaker’s delight. Such was the bellow that came from Hippodamas as the proud spirit left his bones.
But Achilles was already after Priam’s godlike son Polydorus with his spear. Priam had forbidden him to fight because he was (410) his youngest child and his favourite; he beat everyone at racing. But now in his innocence he was showing off his speed by dashing about among the front-line men, until he met his death. As he sprinted past, swift-footed godlike Achilles threw his spear at the middle of his back where the golden buckles of his belt were fastened and his body-armour overlapped. The spear-point went right on through him and came out by his navel. He dropped to his knees with a scream, the dark cloud of death enveloped him and, as he sank, he clutched his innards to him with his hands.
When Hector saw his brother Polydorus sink to the ground, (420) clutching his innards, his eyes were dimmed with tears. He could no longer bear to remain detached, but made at Achilles like a raging fire, brandishing his sharp spear. Directly Achilles saw him, he leapt to meet him and spoke in triumph:
APOLLO rescues Hector
‘Here is the man who struck me the cruellest blow of all when he killed my dearest friend! We have done now with dodging one another down the lines of battle.’