The first two times Patroclus launches against the Trojans, he is successful, killing Sarpedon (son of Zeus who participated in the war). Trying to rectify the situation, Patroclus convinced his friend and lover, Achilles, to dress in Achilles‘ own armour and lead the Myrmidons against the Trojans. Agamemnon is injured in the battle and, despite Ajax‘s efforts, Hector successfully breaches the fortified Greek camp, wounding Odysseus and Diomedes in the process, and threatens to set the Greek ships on fire. But, with Achilles and his warriors out of battle, the tide appears to begin to turn in favour of the Trojans. In the meantime, Diomedes and Odysseus sneak into the Trojan camp and wreak havoc. Throughout everything, in the background, the various gods and goddesses (particularly Hera, Athena, Apollo and Poseidon) continue to argue among themselves and to manipulate and intervene in the war, despite Zeus’ specific orders to not do so.Īchilles steadfastly refuses to give in to pleas for help from Agamemnon, Odysseus, Ajax, Phoenix and Nestor, declining the offered honours and riches even Agamemnon‘s belated offer to return Briseis to him. Meanwhile, in the Trojan castle, despite the misgivings of his wife, Andromache, the Trojan hero, Hector, son of King Priam, challenges the Greek warrior-hero Ajax to single combat, and is almost overcome in battle. However, in his blind arrogance and blood-lust, he strikes and injures Aphrodite. Heroes of iliad by Tischbeinĭuring the new fight, the Greek hero Diomedes, strengthened by Athena, obliterates the Trojans before him. After the fight is over, the goddess Athena who favors the Greeks provokes the Trojans to break the truce, and another battle begins. Despite the goddess Aphrodite’s intervention on behalf of the over-matched Paris, Menelaus wins. During a brief truce in the hostilities between the Trojan and Greek troops, Paris and Menelaus meet in single combat over Helen, while she and old King Priam of Troy watch from the city walls. Testing the loyalty of the remaining Greeks, Agamemnon pretends to order them to abandon the war, but Odysseus encourages the Greeks to pursue the fight. Feeling dishonoured, Achilles wrathfully withdraws both himself and his Myrmidon warriors from the Trojan War.

But, when Agamemnon eventually reluctantly agrees to give her back, he takes in her stead Briseis, Achilles‘s own war-prize concubine.

Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire (Catullus 8)Īt the warrior-hero Achillesorders, the Greek soldiers force Agamemnon to return Chryseis in order to appease Apollo and end the pestilence.

Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus (Catullus 5).

Passer, deliciae meae puellae (Catullus 2).

Homers the illiad