All 50 Uses of
Achilles
in
The Iliad by Homer - (translated by: Edward)
- THE CONTENTION OF ACHILLES AND AGAMEMNON.†
Chpt 1.1
- In the war of Troy, the Greeks having sacked some of the neighbouring towns, and taken from thence two beautiful captives, Chryseis and Briseis, allotted the first to Agamemnon, and the last to Achilles.†
Chpt 1.1
- Achilles calls a council, and encourages Calchas to declare the cause of it, who attributes it to the refusal of Chryseis.†
Chpt 1.1
- The King being obliged to send back his captive, enters into a furious contest with Achilles, which Nestor pacifies; however, as he had the absolute command of the army, he seizes on Briseis in revenge.†
Chpt 1.1
- Achilles in discontent withdraws himself and his forces from the test of the Greeks; and complaining to Thetis, she supplicates Jupiter to render them sensible of the wrong done to her son, by giving victory to the Trojans.†
Chpt 1.1
- BOOK I. Of Peleus' son, Achilles, sing, O Muse, The vengeance, deep and deadly; whence to Greece Unnumbered ills arose; which many a soul Of mighty warriors to the viewless shades Untimely sent; they on the battle plain Unburied lay, a prey to rav'ning dogs, And carrion birds; but so had Jove decreed, From that sad day when first in wordy war, The mighty Agamemnon, King of men, Confronted stood by Peleus' godlike son.†
Chpt 1.1
- Nine days the heav'nly Archer on the troops Hurl'd his dread shafts; the tenth, th' assembled Greeks Achilles call'd to council; so inspir'd By Juno, white-arm'd Goddess, who beheld With pitying eyes the wasting hosts of Greece.†
Chpt 1.1
- Who thus with cautious speech replied, and said; "Achilles, lov'd of Heav'n, thou bidd'st me say Why thus incens'd the far-destroying King; Therefore I speak; but promise thou, and swear, By word and hand, to bear me harmless through.†
Chpt 1.1
- Him answer'd thus Achilles, swift of foot: "Speak boldly out whate'er thine art can tell; For by Apollo's self I swear, whom thou, O Calchas, serv'st, and who thy words inspires, That, while I live, and see the light of Heav'n, Not one of all the Greeks shall dare on thee, Beside our ships, injurious hands to lay: No, not if Agamemnon's self were he, Who 'mid our warriors boasts the foremost place."†
Chpt 1.1
- To whom Achilles, swift of foot, replied: "Haughtiest of men, and greediest of the prey!†
Chpt 1.1
- To whom the monarch Agamemnon thus: "Think not, Achilles, valiant though thou art In fight, and godlike, to defraud me thus; Thou shalt not so persuade me, nor o'erreach.†
Chpt 1.1
- To whom Achilles thus with scornful glance; "Oh, cloth'd in shamelessness! oh, sordid soul!†
Chpt 1.1
- Thus while he spake, Achilles chaf'd with rage; And in his manly breast his heart was torn With thoughts conflicting—whether from his side To draw his mighty sword, and thrusting by Th' assembled throng, to kill th' insulting King; Or school his soul, and keep his anger down.†
Chpt 1.1
- Achilles, wond'ring, turn'd, and straight he knew The blue-eyed Pallas; awful was her glance; Whom thus the chief with winged words address'd: "Why com'st thou, child of aegis-bearing Jove?†
Chpt 1.1
- Whom answer'd thus Achilles, swift of foot: "Goddess, I needs must yield to your commands, Indignant though I be—for so 'tis best; Who hears the Gods, of them his pray'rs are heard."†
Chpt 1.1
- The time shall come, when all the sons of Greece Shall mourn Achilles' loss; and thou the while, Heart-rent, shalt be all-impotent to aid, When by the warrior-slayer Hector's hand Many shall fall; and then thy soul shall mourn The slight on Grecia's bravest warrior cast."†
Chpt 1.1
- Nor thou, though great thou be, attempt to rob Achilles of his prize, but let him keep The spoil assign'd him by the sons of Greece; Nor thou, Pelides, with the monarch strive In rivalry; for ne'er to sceptred King Hath Jove such pow'rs, as to Atrides, giv'n; And valiant though thou art, and Goddess-born, Yet mightier he, for wider is his sway.†
Chpt 1.1
- Atrides, curb thy wrath! while I beseech Achilles to forbear; in whom the Greeks From adverse war their great defender see.†
Chpt 1.1
- To whom Achilles, interrupting, thus: "Coward and slave indeed I might be deem'd.†
Chpt 1.1
- With his own followers, and Menoetius' son, Achilles to his tents and ships withdrew.†
Chpt 1.1
- The camp thus occupied, the King pursued His threaten'd plan of vengeance; to his side Calling Talthybius and Eurybates, Heralds, and faithful followers, thus he spoke: "Haste to Achilles' tent, and in your hand Back with you thence the fair Briseis bring: If he refuse to send her, I myself With a sufficient force will bear her thence, Which he may find, perchance, the worse for him."†
Chpt 1.1
- Achilles mark'd their coming, not well pleas'd: With troubled mien, and awe-struck by the King, They stood, nor dar'd accost him; but himself Divin'd their errand, and address'd them thus: "Welcome, ye messengers of Gods and men, Heralds! approach in safety; not with you, But with Atrides, is my just offence, Who for the fair Briseis sends you here.†
Chpt 1.1
- He spoke: obedient to his friend and chief, Patroclus led the fair Briseis forth, And gave her to their hands; they to the ships Retrac'd their steps, and with them the fair girl Reluctant went: meanwhile Achilles, plung'd In bitter grief, from all the band apart, Upon the margin of the hoary sea Sat idly gazing on the dark-blue waves; And to his Goddess-mother long he pray'd, With outstretch'd hands, "Oh, mother! since thy son To early death by destiny is doom'd, I might have hop'd…†
Chpt 1.1
- To whom Achilles, swift of foot, replied, Groaning, "Thou know'st; what boots to tell thee all?†
Chpt 1.1
- Meantime, beside the ships Achilles sat, The Heav'n-born son of Peleus, swift of foot, Chafing with rage repress'd; no more he sought The honour'd council, nor the battle-field; But wore his soul away, and inly pin'd For the fierce joy and tumult of the fight.†
Chpt 1.1
- Yet fear I in my soul thou art beguil'd By wiles of Thetis, silver-footed Queen, The daughter of the aged Ocean-God; For she was with thee early, and embrac'd Thy knees, and has, I think, thy promise sure, Thou wilt avenge Achilles' cause, and bring Destructive slaughter on the Grecian host."†
Chpt 1.1
- Jupiter, in pursuance of the request of Thetis, sends a deceitful vision to Agamemnon, persuading him to lead the army to battle in order to make the Greeks sensible of their want of Achilles.†
Chpt 1.1
- All night in sleep repos'd the other Gods, And helmed warriors; but the eyes of Jove Sweet slumber held not, pondering in his mind How to avenge Achilles' cause, and pour Destructive slaughter on the Grecian host.†
Chpt 1.2
- Against Achilles and Ulysses most His hate was turn'd; on them his venom pour'd; Anon, at Agamemnon's self he launch'd His loud-tongued ribaldry; 'gainst him he knew Incensed the public mind; and bawling loud, [1] With scurril words, he thus address'd the King: "What more, thou son of Atreus, would'st thou have?†
Chpt 1.2
- I will not call you men! why go we not Home with our ships, and leave this mighty chief To gloat upon his treasures, and find out Whether in truth he need our aid, or no; Who on Achilles, his superior far, Foul scorn hath cast, and robb'd him of his prize, Which for himself he keeps?†
Chpt 1.2
- Achilles, sure, Is not intemperate, but mild of mood; Else, Atreus' son, this insult were thy last."†
Chpt 1.2
- But now on me hath aegis-bearing Jove, The son of Saturn, fruitless toil impos'd, And hurtful quarrels; for in wordy war About a girl, Achilles and myself Engag'd; and I, alas! the strife began: Could we be friends again, delay were none, How short soe'er, of Ilium's final doom.†
Chpt 1.2
- Next those who in Pelasgian Argos dwelt, And who in Alos, and in Alope, Trachys, and Phthia, and in Hellas fam'd For women fair; of these, by various names, Achaians, Myrmidons, Hellenes, known, In fifty ships, Achilles was the chief.†
Chpt 1.2
- Of men, while yet Achilles held his wrath, The mightiest far was Ajax Telamon.†
Chpt 1.2
- For with Achilles, and the steeds that bore The matchless son of Peleus, none might vie: But 'mid his beaked ocean-going ships He lay, with Agamemnon, Atreus' son, Indignant; while his troops upon the beach With quoits and jav'lins whil'd away the day, And feats of archery; their steeds the while The lotus-grass and marsh-grown parsley cropp'd, Each standing near their car; the well-wrought cars Lay all unheeded in the warriors' tents; They, inly pining for their godlike chief, Roam'd…†
Chpt 1.2
- …charge of Nastes came the Carian troops, Of barbarous speech; who in Miletus dwelt, And in the dense entangled forest shade Of Phthira's hill, and on the lofty ridge Of Mycale, and by Maeander's stream; These came with Nastes and Amphimacus; Amphimacus and Nastes, Nomion's sons; With childish folly to the war he came, Laden with store of gold; yet nought avail'd His gold to save him from the doom of death; Slain by the son of Peleus in the stream; And all his wealth Achilles bore away.†
Chpt 1.2
- From Ilium's heights Apollo, filled with wrath, Look'd down, and to the Trojans shouted loud: "Uprouse ye, valiant Trojans! give not way Before the Greeks; their bodies are not stone, Nor iron, to defy your trenchant swords; And great Achilles, fair-hair'd Thetis' son, Fights not, but o'er his anger broods apart."†
Chpt 1.4
- …bravest and the best, as lions fierce, Or forest-boars, the mightiest of their kind, There stood the white-arm'd Queen, and call'd aloud, In form of Stentor, of the brazen voice, Whose shout was as the shout of fifty men: "Shame on ye, Greeks, base cowards! brave alone In outward semblance; while Achilles yet Went forth to battle, from the Dardan gates The Trojans never ventur'd to advance, So dreaded they his pond'rous spear; but now Far from the walls, beside your ships, they fight."†
Chpt 1.5
- …the fairest robe In all the house, the amplest, best esteem'd; And at her altar vow to sacrifice Twelve yearling kine that never felt the goad, So she have pity on the Trojan state, Our wives, and helpless babes, and turn away The fiery son of Tydeus, spearman fierce, The Minister of Terror; bravest he, In my esteem, of all the Grecian chiefs: For not Achilles' self, the prince of men, Though Goddess-born, such dread inspir'd; so fierce His rage; and with his prowess none may vie."†
Chpt 1.6
- …For thee will all the Greeks with force combin'd Assail and slay: for me, 'twere better far, Of thee bereft, to lie beneath the sod; Nor comfort shall be mine, if thou be lost, But endless grief; to me nor sire is left, Nor honour'd mother; fell Achilles' hand My sire Eetion slew, what time his arms The populous city of Cilicia raz'd, The lofty-gated Thebes; he slew indeed, But stripp'd him not; he reverenc'd the dead; And o'er his body, with his armour burnt, A mound erected; and the…†
Chpt 1.6
- There were sev'n brethren in my father's house; All in one day they fell, amid their herds And fleecy flocks, by fierce Achilles' hand.†
Chpt 1.6
- From his encounter in the glorious fight, Superior far to thee, Achilles shrinks; But thou amid thy comrades' ranks retire; Some other champion will the Greeks provide; And, fearless as he is, and of the fight Insatiate, yet will Hector, should he 'scape Unwounded from the deadly battle-strife, Be fain, methinks, to rest his weary limbs."†
Chpt 1.7
- This by the son of Telamon was borne Before his breast; to Hector close he came, And thus with words of haughty menace spoke: "Hector, I now shall teach thee, man to man, The mettle of the chiefs we yet possess, Although Achilles of the lion heart, Mighty in battle, be not with us still; He by his ocean-going ships indeed Against Atrides nurses still his wrath; Yet are there those who dare encounter thee, And not a few; then now begin the fight."†
Chpt 1.7
- …steeds and buckler'd men; By noble Hector, brave as Mars, and led By Jove to vict'ry, coop'd in narrow space; Who now had burnt with fire the Grecian ships, But Juno bade Atrides haste to rouse Their fainting courage; through the camp he pass'd; On his broad hand a purple robe he bore, And stood upon Ulysses' lofty ship, The midmost, whence to shout to either side, Or to the tents of Ajax Telamon, Or of Achilles, who at each extreme, Confiding in their strength, had moor'd their ships.†
Chpt 2.8
- He holds me now in hatred, and his ear To Thetis lends, who kiss'd his knees, and touch'd His beard, and pray'd him to avenge her son Achilles; yet the time shall come when I Shall be once more his own dear blue-ey'd Maid.†
Chpt 2.8
- THE EMBASSY TO ACHILLES.†
Chpt 2.8 *
- Agamemnon pursues this advice, and Nestor farther prevails upon him to send ambassadors to Achilles in order to move him to a reconciliation.†
Chpt 2.8
- They make, each of them, very moving and pressing speeches, but are rejected with roughness by Achilles, who notwithstanding retains Phoenix in his tent.†
Chpt 2.8
- Sounder opinion none can hold than this, Which I maintain, and ever have maintain'd, Ev'n from the day when thou, great King, didst bear The fair Briseis from Achilles' tent Despite his anger—not by my advice: I fain would have dissuaded thee, but thou, Following the dictates of thy wrathful pride, Didst to our bravest wrong, dishon'ring him Whom ev'n th' Immortals honour'd; for his prize Thou took'st and still retain'st; but let us now Consider, if ev'n yet, with costly gifts And…†
Chpt 2.9
- To whom the monarch Agamemnon thus: "Father, too truly thou recall'st my fault: I err'd, nor will deny it; as a host Is he whom Jove in honour holds, as now Achilles hon'ring, he confounds the Greeks, But if I err'd, by evil impulse led, Fain would I now conciliate him, and pay An ample penalty; before you all I pledge myself rich presents to bestow.†
Chpt 2.9
Definitions:
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(Achilles in reference to the Greek god) mythical Greek hero of the Iliad; central character and foremost Greek warrior at the siege of Troyeditor's notes: Achilles was seen as semi-divine. His mother tried to make him immortal by bathing him in a magical river when he was a baby, but the heel by which she held him remained vulnerable--his "Achilles' heel."
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(meaning too rare to warrant focus) Achilles is also used as a shortened way to identify an achilles tendon or heel cord at the back of the lower leg.