12/10/06 - Classical Literature - Iliad: Retrospective

Death of Hektor marks Achilleus's aristeia.

Our sympathies lie with Hektor here. He defends his city, family, he is fighting for his dignity. He is the most 'human' character while Achilleus is the closest character to a god.

Book 22 shows Achilleus's wrath at its peak, which makes him appear more godlike. Instead of calming down after Patroklus's death he becomes more furious.

Book 23 Patroklus's funeral. Human sacrifice, women's bodies. Achilleus's cruelty. Honours Patroklus as a hero. Games held in his honour, celebrating life. Achilleus is portrayed as magnanimate rather than savage. Homeric device for the Achaian heroes to make their final appearance in all their glory.

Magical touch, Hektor's body protected by Apollo. Apollo is a symbol of morality. Apollo speaks reason when Achilleus has gone too far; he sends a plague on the Achaians when Agamemnon kidnaps Chryseis.

Achilleus's case goes to king of gods through Thetis. The ransoming of Hektor's body. Thetis reminds Achilleus of his morality and his doom, as well as being his mother and a goddess.

Priam's behaviour is in a way a kind of aristeia. Heroic for an old man. Divine aid from Hermes, passes to Achilleus's house without being seen. 24:468-590. Homer reminds us that Achilleus is reconciled by letting us know he has eaten and had sex with his returned concubine. Priam and Achilleus have a moment of mutual respect. They share food; Achilleus becomes angry as Priam almost refuses to eat. Achilleus has not changed his temper. 24:599-620. Note, ring composition: a, b, c, c, b, a. Shield-like shaped argument.

Key themes: Supplication, Apollo, burying of dead, Thetis and Zeus, dispute, then again in reverse order until end.
Greeks invented geometry, links to Homer's structural technique.

Trojan cycle not encompassed in Iliad, but events before and after it are mentioned, e.g. Helen and Paris, death of Achilleus, fall of Troy.

Performance would take three 6 to 8 hour days.
E.g. book 1-9, 10-18, 18-24.
End of book 9, starry night, reflecting audience's tiredness at the end of the day?