How does Achilles react to the death of Patroclus
- Achilles declines to fight but agrees to the exchange of armor, with the understanding that Patroclus will fight only long enough to save the ships. ...
- Achilles asked Zeus for Patroclus to return safe and successful. ...
- The death of Patroclus is a pivotal moment in Homer's Iliad. ...
What does Achilles say when Patroclus died?
Thetis wept and answered, “Then, my son, is your end near at hand—for your own death awaits you full soon after that of Hector.” Then said Achilles in his great grief, “I would die here and now, in that I could not save my comrade. He has fallen far from home, and in his hour of need my hand was not there to help him.
How did Achilles mourn Patroclus?
The earlier steadfast and unbreakable Achilles agonizes, touching Patroclus' dead body, smearing himself with ash and fasting. He laments Patroclus' death using language very similar to that later used by Andromache of Hector. He also requests that when he dies, his ashes be mixed with Patroclus'.
How does the death of Patroklos affect Achilles?
When Achilles learns of the death of Patroklos, he bursts into tears, tearing his hair and throwing himself on the ground. His sorrowful lament is heard by his mother, Thetis, and she comes to comfort him. She points out that if Achilles avenges Patroklos, he himself will be killed.
Did Achilles cry over Patroclus?
Just as Achilles does not eat, he does not sleep during his suffering: he cries for Patroclus every night “and sleep, before whom all things bow, could take no hold upon him” (Iliad 24.4–5).
How old was Achilles when he met Patroclus?
Achilles and Patroclus are now thirteen. Their bodies change, and they notice the other boys in the palace begin sleeping with women.
When Achilles refuses to fight who is Patroclus killed by?
warrior HectorAfter leading the Greeks in battle against the Trojans, disguised in the armor of the great Greek hero Achilles, Patroclus is killed by the warrior Hector, fulfilling a prophecy made by the god Zeus.
Is Achilles responsible for Patroclus death?
Ultimately, Achilles is responsible for Patroclus' death—if for no other reason than his stubborn refusal to fight. Therefore, it is fitting, poetically speaking, that it is his armor that leads to Patroclus' death.
Why did Achilles let Patroclus fight?
Achilles again explains his grudge against Agamemnon and his determination to keep his promise to rejoin the battle when it reached his own (50) ships, but now that the fight is so near, he will let Patroclus wear his armor to scare the Trojans and win honor for Achilles, and get Briseis and other gifts for Achilles.
What did Achilles say about Patroclus?
Here are some of his words: “My dear comrade's dead - Patroclus - the man I loved beyond all other comrades, loved as my own life - I've lost him.” Book 18. Patroclus returns as a ghost and has one final conversation with Achilles: “A last request - grant it, please.
Why is Patroclus important?
Patroclus is important because his death leads to a chain of events that ultimately ends in the deaths of many people, including the Trojan warrior Hector and Achilles himself. Patroclus is a disposable character in that he largely exists to spur Achilles into action.
What book does Achilles find out about Patroclus death?
Book 18 of The IliadIn 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.
What does Achilles lament about Patroclus' death?
He laments Patroclus’ death using language very similar to that later used by Andromache of Hector. He also requests that when he dies, his ashes be mixed with Patroclus'. The rage that follows from Patroclus’ death becomes the prime motivation for Achilles to return to the battlefield.
What is the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus?
The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is a key element of the stories associated with the Trojan War. Its exact nature has been a subject of dispute in both the Classical period and modern times. In the Iliad, Homer describes a deep and meaningful relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, where Achilles is tender toward Patroclus but callous and arrogant toward others. Homer never explicitly casts the two as lovers, but they were depicted as lovers in the archaic and classical periods of Greek literature, particularly in the works of Aeschylus, Aeschines and Plato.
Why did Aeschylus claim Achilles was the Erastes?
Phaedrus argues that Aeschylus erred in claiming Achilles was the erastes because Achilles was more beautiful and youthful than Patroclus (characteristics of the eromenos) as well as more noble and skilled in battle (characteristics of the erastes ).
Why did Achilles not participate in the Battle of Myrmidon?
Due to his anger at being dishonored by Agamemnon, Achilles chooses not to participate in the battle. As the tide of the war turns against the Achaeans, Patroclus convinces Achilles to let him lead the Myrmidon army into battle wearing Achilles’ armor. Patroclus succeeds in beating back the Trojan forces, but is killed in battle by Hector .
Who is Achilles in the play Troilus and Cressida?
William Shakespeare 's play Troilus and Cressida portrays Achilles and Patroclus as lovers in the eyes of the Greeks. Achilles' decision to spend his days in his tent with Patroclus is seen by Ulysses and many other Greeks as the chief reason for anxiety about Troy.
Who is the Christian writer who compares Achilles and Patroclus to Jonathan and David?
Medieval Christian writers deliberately suppressed the homoerotic nuances of the figure. David Halperin compares Achilles and Patroclus to the traditions of Jonathan and David, and Gilgamesh and Enkidu, which are approximately contemporary with the Iliad's composition.
Who is older, Achilles or Patroclus?
Achilles is the most dominant, and among the warriors in the Trojan War he has the most fame. Patroclus performs duties such as cooking, feeding, and grooming the horses, yet is older than Achilles. Both characters also sleep with women:
What is the death of Patroclus?
The death of Patroclus is one of the most powerful scenes in Homer's 'Iliad.' This lesson will summarize the events surrounding the hero's end, and explain its significance for the epic as a whole.
What happened in the Iliad?
In The Iliad, for ten long years, the Greek forces lay siege to the city of Troy, without conquering it. By Book 15, Trojan forces have counterattacked the Greeks, breaking through a wall that protected their ships anchored on the shore outside of Troy. Patroclus can't stand it, and is determined to vanquish the Trojans. He begs his dear friend, the great warrior Achilles, to lend him his armor so he can battle the Trojans. This isn't just any armor: Achilles is a demigod, or half-man, half-deity, and considered fierce and essentially invincible in battle.
What was Achilles' reaction to Patroclus' death?
Achilles’ strong reaction to Patroclus’ death is often taken as a sign that their relationship was possibly deeper than it may seem at first glance. Those who believe they were lovers often cite lines where Achilles says that he loved Patroclus as his own life (Book 18).
Why does Achilles die in the Iliad?
His death occurs because Achilles refuses to fight to protect his honor, ...
What movie portrays Achilles and Patroclus as cousins?
Different versions that came out depict Achilles and Patroclus in very distinct ways, such as Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida which shows them as lovers, whereas the Hollywood film Troy portrays them as cousins.
Who is the Greek poet who is often compared to Homer?
Sappho , the Greek poet who is often compared to Homer, often expresses love for women in her work and her sexuality has long been debated. These are just a few examples of why Achilles and Patroclus being lovers may not be so far-fetched as some people may claim.
Does Homer ever depict a romantic relationship with Achilles?
This ambiguity may not be done on purpose, but it has led to a large number of divergent conclusions. Homer never explicitly depicts a romantic relationship when it comes to Achilles and Patroclus, nor does he allude to anything sexual between them.
What is the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus?
The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is a key element of the myths associated with the Trojan War. Its exact nature has been a subject of dispute in both the classical period and modern times. In the Iliad, it is clear that the two heroes have a deep and extremely meaningful friendship, but the evidence of a romantic or sexual element is equivocal. Achilles is tender towards Patroclus, while he is callous and arrogant towards others. Commentators from the classical period on have tended to interpret the relationship through the lens of their own cultures. Thus, in Athens during the 5th century BC, the relationship was commonly interpreted as pederastic. While some contemporary readers maintain the same pederastic view, others believe the relationship to simply be a strong friendship between two war heroes. Contemporary readers are more likely to interpret the two heroes either as non-sexual “war buddies”, or as an egalitarian homosexual couple.
What is Achilles' attachment to Patroclus?
Achilles’ attachment to Patroclus is an archetypal male bond that occurs elsewhere in Greek culture: Damon and Pythias, Orestes and Pylades, Harmodius and Aristogeiton are pairs of comrades who gladly face danger and death for and beside each other. Their bond was also the inspiration for the bond between Alexander and Hephaestion.
What did Achilles fight for?
Although most warriors fought for personal fame or their city-state (including, at times, Achilles), at certain junctures in the Iliad, Achilles fights for Patroclus. He dreams that all Greeks would die so that he and Patroclus might gain the fame of conquering Troy alone. After Patroclus dies, Achilles agonizes touching his dead body, ...
What is Achilles tender towards?
Achilles is tender towards Patroclus, while he is callous and arrogant towards others. Commentators from the classical period on have tended to interpret the relationship through the lens of their own cultures. Thus, in Athens during the 5th century BC, the relationship was commonly interpreted as pederastic.
What is Achilles' goal in Thetis?
Achilles returns to the battlefield with the sole aim of avenging Patroclus’ death by killing Hector, Patroclus’ killer , even though the gods had warned him that it would cost him his life.
What is the relationship between the two war heroes?
While some contemporary readers maintain the same pederastic view, others believe the relationship to simply be a strong friendship between two war heroes. Contemporary readers are more likely to interpret the two heroes either as non-sexual “war buddies”, or as an egalitarian homosexual couple. Due to this strong relationship, the death ...
Who is Achilles' strongest bond?
Achilles’ strongest interpersonal bond is with Patroclus, whom he loves dearly. As Gregory Nagy points out, For Achilles … in his own ascending scale of affection as dramatized by the entire composition of the Iliad, the highest place must belong to Patroklos….
What does Achilles tell Patroclus to do?
Achilles sees the burning and tells Patroclus to put on his armor while he gathers the Myrmidons. Achilles tells the men that now is the chance to let loose their pent-up rage against the Trojans. Leading them are Patroclus and Automedon. Achilles then uses a special cup to make an offering to Zeus.
Why did Patroclus exhort his followers to fight well to bring glory to Achilles?
Patroclus exhorts his followers to fight well to bring glory to Achilles so that Agamemnon will learn the error of not respecting the bravest of the Greeks. The Trojans assume that Achilles is leading the men and is now reconciled with Agamemnon, and since Achilles is fighting again, they are afraid.
What does Patroclus tell Meriones to do?
The two taunt each other. Patroclus tells Meriones to fight and shut up. Zeus decided the Greeks should get the body of Sarpedon, so he makes Hector fearful, recognizing the gods have turned against him, so he flees on his chariot with the Trojans following. The Greeks strip the armor from Sarpedon.
What does Glaucus tell Hector about Sarpedon?
Glaucus tells Hector that Sarpedon has been killed and that Ares has done it using the spear of Patroclus. He asks Hector to help prevent the Myrmidons from stripping Sarpedon's armor. Hector leads the Trojans to the body of Sarpedon and Patroclus cheers on the Greeks to strip and dishonor the body.
Why is the book of Zeus important?
This is a crucial book and a turning point because in it Zeus sits idly by knowing his son Sarpedon will be killed, and Achilles' friend Patroclus is also killed. Zeus knows that the death of Patroclus will force Achilles to fight for the Greeks (Achaeans/Danaans/Argives). This will allow Zeus to fulfill his promise ...
What does Patroclus say to Hector?
Patroclus dying says to Hector that Zeus and Apollo have made Hector the victor, although he shares the mortal share of death with Euphorbus. Patroclus adds that Achilles will soon kill Hector. Next: Major Characters in Book XVI. Patroclus - loyal friend and companion of Achilles in the Trojan War.
What does Achilles do to Zeus?
Achilles then uses a special cup to make an offering to Zeus. He asks Zeus to grant victory to Patroclus and let him return unharmed with his comrades. Zeus grants the part that makes Patroclus succeed in his mission of driving back the Trojans, but not the rest.
Overview
In the Iliad
Achilles and Patroclus are close comrades in the war against the Trojans. Due to his anger at being dishonored by Agamemnon, Achilles chooses not to participate in the battle. As the tide of the war turns against the Achaeans, Patroclus convinces Achilles to let him lead the Myrmidon army into battle wearing Achilles’ armor. Patroclus succeeds in beating back the Trojan forces, …
Classical views in antiquity
In the 5th and 4th centuries BC, the relationship was portrayed as same-sex love in the works of Aeschylus, Plato, Pindar and Aeschines.
In Athens, the relationship was often viewed as being loving and pederastic. The Greek custom of paiderasteia between members of the same-sex, typically men, was a political, intellectual, and sometimes sexual relationship. Its ideal structure consisted of an older erastes (lover, protector), …
Post-classical and modern interpretations
Commentators from the Classical period on have interpreted the relationship through the lens of their own cultures. The post-classical tradition shows Achilles as heterosexual and having an exemplary platonic friendship with Patroclus. Medieval Christian writers deliberately suppressed the homoerotic nuances of the figure.
See also
• Homosexuality in ancient Greece
• Homosexuality in the militaries of ancient Greece
• Nisus and Euryalus