Disclaimer: I am not an ancient Greek scholar. For the full disclaimer, read here.
“Thus, then, did [Jove and Neptune] devise a knot of war and battle, that none could unloose or break, and set both sides tugging at it, to the failing of men’s knees beneath them.”
Iliad, Book 13; Samuel Butler translation
Book 13 Summary
Carefully, without arousing the suspicion of Zeus, Poseidon enters the battlefield. He disguises himself as various men to encourage the Achaeans to keep fighting. The Achaeans double down and push back against the invading Trojans.
While the two Ajax’ barely hold it together, Idomeneus, the middle aged king of Crete, pushes back in another part of the battlefield. He slays some notable Trojan leaders, but begins to tire. Despite this, the Achaeans’ push is successful and Hector is forced to heed his advisor and have the Trojans regroup.
For a list of the major characters, with Greek and Latin names, go here.
Another Piece of the Puzzle
If I’m remembering correctly, we haven’t learned exactly how Paris got the chance to seduce Helen and bring her back to Troy. If you know the background of the Trojan War, you know how Paris did it, but if you don’t know the story and this is your first reading of the Iliad, then it’s here in Book 13 we find out.
While fighting in the left flank along with Idomeneus and Antilochus, Menelaus says this:
“Cowardly she-wolves that you are, you feared not the anger of dread Jove, avenger of violated hospitality, who will one day destroy your city; you stole my wedded wife and wickedly carried off much treasure when you were her guest...”
Iliad, Book 13; Samuel Butler translation
Notice Menelaus said “you were her guest.” Not “my guest” or “our guest.” Menelaus was not around when Paris came to visit. It was just Helen (and her children, household servants, etc.). That’s how Paris managed to seduce Helen and take her back to Troy.
Menelaus ends his speech with a prayer to Zeus and finishes with:
“All things pall after a while—sleep, love, sweet song, and stately dance—still these are things of which a man would surely have his fill rather than of battle, whereas it is of battle that the Trojans are insatiate.”
Iliad, Book 13; Samuel Butler translation
He still seems to be conflicted about this war. Recall that in Book 3, Menelaus felt bad about this war because the quarrel was just between him and Paris. From his perspective, it seems like the Trojans really want war because they refuse to give Helen back. Menelaus, it seems, is unaware that Hector and a lot of the Trojans hate this war, but for some reason won’t force Paris to give Helen back.
A little bit of communication can go a long way.
On an unrelated note, Menelaus flourished on the battlefield in Book 13. He was aggressive and killed a few notable Trojans. If I had to guess why: Agamemnon is back at the camp recovering from a wound. This gives Menelaus the chance to act independently for a change.
We Have To Talk About Idomeneus
Idomeneus is another character who, like Diomedes, isn’t as well known, but is still a great character in his own right. He’s one of the older Achaeans in this war, but not as old as Nestor and is therefore able to fight.
Idomeneus comes up here and there before Book 13. Notably, in Book 4, Idomeneus is one of the few men Agamemnon is pleasant with while he’s trying to rally the troops to attack the Trojans after the truce was broken. In Book 8, Idomeneus is the first man listed among the Achaean leaders who fled after Zeus began throwing down his thunderbolts to drive them back. And in Book 11, Idomeneus covers Nestor’s retreat so he can take the wounded field medic Machaon back to their ships for treatment.
However, in Book 13, we get a clearer picture of him. On the one hand, Idomeneus seems to come off as either superstitious or unusually reverent of the gods. When Poseidon comes down disguised as a mortal to encourage the Achaeans, he questions why Idomeneus and others are hanging out at the ships. One obvious reason is that Idomeneus had just been wounded in the knee and needed treatment (is he going to retire and become a town guard after this?). However, Idomeneus also says this:
“None are held back neither by fear nor slackness, but it seems to be the will of almighty Jove that the Achaeans should perish ingloriously here far from Argos”
Iliad, Book 13; Samuel Butler translation
Idomeneus is either on edge because of these divine occurrences and feels it’s not wise to get involved, or he doesn’t want to go against the will of the gods.
Poseidon then encourages Idomeneus to get back out there and he does. While conversing with his charioteer Meriones, he says:
“Let us turn therefore towards the left wing, that we may know forthwith whether we are to give glory to some other, or he to us.”
Iliad, Book 13; Samuel Butler translation
Idomeneus is not afraid to fight and die. He gets out to the left wing—where it is vulnerable and therefore heavily targeted by the Trojans. He kills a few notable men, including Asius whose death at Idomeneus’ hand was already foretold in the previous book. It's only when he is confronted by Aeneas and he begins to tire that he goes on the defensive.
Idomeneus is also one of the more nobler characters in the Iliad. He’s not as strong or capable of a warrior as Diomedes, but he is also not impulsive like Diomedes. He’s more level headed and a more astute observer of human behavior and what’s going on around him. If he has a notable flaw, it’s perhaps that he’s too cautious when it comes to divine intervention and signs.
Side Note: Idomeneus is also the grandson of Minos. Yes, that Minos. The “Minotaur and the Labyrinth” Minos and one of the three judges of the dead. I would have liked to see that conversation when Idomeneus went before the judges in the afterlife.
The Divine Conspiracy, Part 4 – A Pattern Begins To Emerge?
I haven’t talked about this subject since Book 4 despite the fact there was a lot of divine intervention between Books 4 - 13. And there will be a lot more after Book 13. I felt there was more interesting topics to cover, but Book 13 reinforces one of my theories from earlier.
Book 13 opens up with this narration:
“Now when Jove had thus brought Hector and the Trojans to the ships, he left them to their never-ending toil, and turned his keen eye away… for he did not think that any of the immortals would go and help either Trojans or Danaans… But King Neptune had kept no blind look-out… for he pitied the Achaeans who were being overcome by the Trojans; and he was furiously angry with Jove.”
Iliad, Book 13; Samuel Butler translation
Really? Zeus thought none of the other gods would interfere? Despite the fact that they had been trying to at every opportunity? Zeus, the king of the gods, the most powerful and wisest of the Olympians, and the executor of Fate, can’t be this ignorant.
I believe Zeus looked away on purpose. It goes back to my theory that the Olympians, despite the fact that some of them are on opposite sides of the war, are working together. Every time one side has the advantage, suddenly the gods change the tide of the war and the other side gets the advantage. Then the advantage switches again. The only real results is the war dragging out longer and more men dying.
Here’s a recap of the major interventions by the gods, at least as it relates to the war effort:
Apollo sends a plague on the Achaeans after his priest is spurned by Agamemnon (Book 1)
This event ultimately leads to Achilles backing out of the war and putting his revenge into motion, handicapping the Achaeans significantly
Hera and Athena prevent Achilles from striking down Agamemnon after being humiliated by him (Book 1)
Agamemnon will then go on to kill many men, as well as continually pushing the Achaeans forward
The deceptive dream by Zeus which causes Agamemnon to attack the Trojans prematurely (Book 2)
Athena intervenes to keep the Achaean army from packing up and leaving Troy (Book 2)
Aphrodite prevents Menelaus from killing Paris in their duel and whisks Paris away, causing some confusion about the results of the duel (Book 3)
Paris will then go on to kill others in the war
Athena entices Pandarus to shoot Menelaus, breaking the truce and causing the war to erupt again (Book 4)
Athena blesses Diomedes and pushes him forward on the battlefield, despite being injured, and he kills many men (Book 5)
Aphrodite and Apollo save Aeneas’ life and heal him (Book 5)
Aeneas will go on to kill many men
Hera pushes the Achaeans forward after losing some ground to the Trojans (Book 5)
Athena and Apollo intervene to bring about a temporary ceasefire so both sides can collect their dead (Book 7)
This is important for what happens next
The next day: Zeus comes down from Olympus, tips the scales in favor of the Trojans, and sends the Achaeans fleeing (Book 8)
Hera, and then Zeus, encourage the Achaeans to keep fighting as the Trojans put pressure on them (Book 8)
Apollo prevents Hector from dying (Book 8)
Hector will go on to kill many men, but will also be instrumental for a major event that hasn’t happened yet
Zeus encourages the Trojans and they push the Achaeans back to their camp (Book 8)
Athena assists Diomedes and Odysseus in causing some havoc during their infiltration mission (Book 10)
Zeus, through the goddess Discord, emboldens the Achaeans to keep fighting rather than flee in their ships (Book 11)
This ultimately leads to a stalemate
“And now the son of Saturn as he looked down from Ida ordained that neither side should have the advantage, and they kept on killing one another.”
Zeus strikes fear into Telamonian Ajax so he and Hector don’t fight each other (Book 11)
Ajax probably would have killed Hector otherwise
Zeus intervenes to give the Trojans enough advantage over the Achaeans to breach their walls and gates (Book 12)
Poseidon’s interference creates a “knot of war and battle” with Zeus (Book 13)
You may see a pattern begin to emerge. This could be a power struggle between two factions (the gods who favor the Trojans vs. the gods who favor the Achaeans). However, this could be what’s just on the surface and something more sinister is at foot. For example: maybe all of the gods are intentionally prolonging this war? If so, why? I will leave that for a future post when there is more evidence to examine.
On the other hand, all these instances of divine intervention could just be literary devices. Homer could just be saying that the war was a great struggle for both the Trojans and Achaeans. Just as one side seems to gain the advantage, miraculously they lose it and the other side gains the advantage.
In other words, Homer is describing the unpredictability of war.
That’s all for Book 13 of the Iliad.
May your days be filled with grace.
-Andronikos
The booklist I am going through can be found here.
If you want to learn a little more about the Iliad, I have a page devoted to it.
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Thumbnail: Lightning Hitting Body of Water by unknown. Taken here. Public domain.