Disclaimer: I am not an ancient Greek scholar. For the full disclaimer, read here.
"It has been well for Hector and the Trojans, but the Achaeans will long indeed remember our quarrel. Now, however, let it be, for it is over. If we have been angry, necessity has schooled our anger."
Iliad, Book 19; Samuel Butler translation
Book 19 Summary
Thetis delivers the armor Hephaestus made to Achilles. He then rallies the Achaeans to himself. Achilles publicly reconciles with Agamemnon and Agamemnon likewise does the same, delivering to Achilles everything he promised to give him earlier.
A feast is proclaimed in order to be ready for the coming battle, but Achilles refuses to eat or drink and grieves before Patroclus’ body. Athena secretly feeds him some nectar and ambrosia so that he will have strength to fight.
Afterward, Achilles dons the armor made by Hephaestus and prepares for war.
For a list of the major characters, with Greek and Latin names, go here.
The Other Woman Who Started It All
When Achilles speaks before the assembled Achaeans to publicly reconcile with Agamemnon, he starts with this:
“Son of Atreus, surely it would have been better alike for both you and me, when we two were in such high anger about Briseis, surely it would have been better, had Diana’s arrow slain her at the ships on the day when I took her after having sacked Lyrnessus. For so, many an Achaean the less would have bitten dust before the foe in the days of my anger.”
Iliad, Book 19; Samuel Butler translation
I’m sure Briseis would be charmed to hear that.
Remember, that Briseis is the woman Agamemnon took away from Achilles after he had to give up the priest of Apollo’s daughter. This was the beginning of the feud between them.
Also recall what Achilles said about Briseis in Book 9:
“From me alone of the Achaeans did he take the woman in whom I delighted- let him keep her and sleep with her… Any man of common right feeling will love and cherish her who is his own, as I this woman, with my whole heart, though she was but a fruitling of my spear.”
Iliad, Book 9; Samuel Butler translation
I just realized this, but Achilles and Agamemnon had a mini “Trojan War” of their own. Agamemnon unjustifiably took Achilles’ woman from him. Achilles response drags everyone else into the feud. A lot of people die as a result.
Anyway, on the one hand it seems that Achilles genuinely cares for her. However, he was more bent out of shape over being dishonored and disrespected than having a woman he loved taken away from him. She was a war prize to him, but she was a war prize he wanted deeply. In the end though, he would have gladly traded Briseis’ life if it meant Patroclus would still be alive.
After Briseis is given back to Achilles, she weeps over the body of Patroclus.
"Patroclus, dearest friend, when I went hence I left you living; I return, O prince, to find you dead; thus do fresh sorrows multiply upon me one after the other. I saw him to whom my father and mother married me, cut down before our city, and my three own dear brothers perished with him on the self same day; but you, Patroclus, even when Achilles slew my husband and sacked the city of noble Mynes, told me that I was not to weep, for you said you would make Achilles marry me, and take me back with him to Phthia, we should have a wedding feast among the Myrmidons. You were always kind to me and I shall never cease to grieve for you."
Iliad, Book 19; Samuel Butler translation
Patroclus was going to make sure she wouldn’t remain some trophy, but now he’s dead and who knows what Briseis’ fate is going to be now? Especially since Achilles is fated to die in this war after he gets his revenge on Hector.
My Opinion On Agamemnon and Achilles Hasn’t Changed
I stated in my post on Book 1 that I don’t think Achilles and Agamemnon are good people to look up to. My opinion hasn’t changed. Sure, they are strong warriors in their own right, but that’s where the admiration ends and the disdain begins.
We already saw above that Achilles plainly stated that if Briseis hadn’t been in the picture, many of the Achaeans wouldn’t have died. Nevermind the fact that it was his desire for revenge and his petition to Zeus that brought so much death to the Achaeans.
If you thought Achilles’ statement was garbage though, here’s Agamemnon’s response:
“Often have the Achaeans spoken to me of this matter and upbraided me, but it was not I that did it: Jove, and Fate, and Erinys that walks in darkness struck me made when we were assembled on the day that I took from Achilles the meed that had been awarded to him. What could I do? All things are in the hand of heaven, and Folly, eldest of Jove’s daughters, shuts men’s eyes to their destruction.”
Iliad, Book 19; Samuel Butler translation
Neither of these men are taking responsibility for their actions. Agamemnon even justifies his response by recalling a story about Zeus just before the birth of Heracles (Hercules). However, all the story proves is that Zeus also refused to take responsibility for his rash oath and took it out on someone else.
I guess… if the king of the gods can refuse to take responsibility for his actions, the supreme commander of an army can too…?
Odysseus—The Real Leader
Odysseus is hearing the exchange between Achilles and Agamemnon and is having none of it. After Agamemnon declares he will give Achilles everything he promised to him the day before, Odysseus interjects. Agamemnon is not going to get off the hook that easy. He insists that Agamemnon does the following:
Bring out the gifts to Achilles before everyone and give them to him
Swear before the Achaeans he didn’t sleep with Briseis
Entertain Achilles with a “feast of reconciliation” in Agamemnon’s tent
Odysseus then ends with an admonishment:
“As for you, son of Atreus, treat people more righteously in [the] future; it is no disgrace even to a king that he should make amends if he was wrong in the first instance.”
Iliad, Book 19; Samuel Butler translation
In other words: learn your lesson, swallow your pride, and actually apologize next time.
Odysseus also handles Achilles well. He wants to fight now and avenge Patroclus. Odysseus tells him to wait:
“No man can do battle the livelong day to the going down of the sun if he is without food; however much he may want to fight his strength will fail him before he knows it.”
Iliad, Book 19; Samuel Butler translation
The soldiers need to eat, drink, and rest.
Achilles doesn’t care. We go to battle now!
Odysseus then puts Achilles in his place:
"Achilles, son of Peleus, mightiest of all the Achaeans, in battle you are better than I, and that more than a little, but in counsel I am much before you, for I am older and of greater knowledge. Therefore be patient under my words. Fighting is a thing of which men soon surfeit, and when Jove, who is wars steward, weighs the upshot, it may well prove that the straw which our sickles have reaped is far heavier than the grain. It may not be that the Achaeans should mourn the dead with their bellies; day by day men fall thick and threefold continually; when should we have respite from our sorrow? Let us mourn our dead for a day and bury them out of sight and mind, but let those of us who are left eat and drink that we may arm and fight our foes more fiercely.”
Iliad, Book 19; Samuel Butler translation
This isn’t “The Achilles Show.” Many men here have lost their friends and compatriots. They have no choice but to mourn them for a brief time and then get back out there. They have to think about right now and not what’s already happened. And right now, the men have to eat and drink and rest so their hunger and exhaustion doesn’t get them killed tomorrow. You, Achilles, don’t get to be the exception just because you’re pissed off.
Odysseus shows his great leadership skills once again. It begs the question why Odysseus is not the commander of the army instead.
That’s all for Book 19 of the Iliad.
May your days be filled with grace.
-Andronikos
The booklist I am going through can be found here.
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Thumbnail: Achilles Presented with his New Armour by his Mother, Thetis by Alexander Runciman (1736-1785). Taken from National Galleries Scotland. Image is Creative Commons.