Patroklos' death

Patroklos finds Achilles and begs him for help. Achilles finally allows him to borrow his armor but only to drive my men away from the Greeks ships. Patroklos led the Greeks in his borrowed armor and hedges the Trojans away from the ships and killed many those strong, talented men. Patroklos killed Sarpedon and Glaukos steps in for his fallen comrade, Patroklos then ends up deathly wounded and his last words were that Hektor will be killed by Achilles before the war is over. There was fighting over Patroklos' body and Hektor was able to steal Achilles armor off of him. Zeus steps in again (perfect timing, if I do say so myself) and we once again begin to gain the upper hand. The greeks fight against us and were able to take Patroklos' body before we could. Then, what I had feared the most, Achilles comes back into battle after hearing that Patroklos was dead. He scared the bejesus out of all my men fighting with the help of Athene. I, of course, did not personally witness this but I heard from others that screaming and flames were involved. Even after Patroklos' warning, Hektor thinks that he is ready to take on Achilles instead of defend Troy from behind walls. Hephaistos had even crafted Achilles a new set of armor that Thetis brings to him. He looks to be ready for a fight.

What was curious to me is why Achilles allowed Patroklos to take his armor to wear himself but refused to go into battle himself? Achilles knew that Patroklos was heading for danger yet still did not step in. I think the reason that Achilles still refused to go to battle was that he was still being prideful over his little spat. I don't think that anyone was fooled when Patroklos went onto the battle field in Achilles armor, and that may be part of the reason he was killed. But what do I know? I'm just an old guy sitting on the top of my wall and watching the going ons.

Go to this website if you want more information about Patroklos, go to that link!

Patroclus. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2013. <http://ancienthistory.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ>.

Breaking down walls

The Trojans and Achaians are fighting around the outside of the Greek wall that protects their camp. After seeing an eagle drop a snake, Hektor was told not to keep fighting but he NEVER listens! Silly boy. But he was able to smash through the walls and I was told the Trojans poured through the walls like a torrent. Poseidon prepares himself to help the Greeks out while Zeus isn't looking, but he only helps in small ways. Hektor finally listens to others and prepares to withdraw whilst flinging insults to Aias. Agamemnon once again brings up loading up the ships and once again Odysseus steps in to stop him and convince the others to keep on fighting. (I wish Odysseus would shut up and let them leave!) Hera seduces Zeus so that Poseidon can help get the Greeks back into battle. Several other gods got involved and helped our side and the Greeks.

In the last part, Zeus was duped by Hera...She seduced him and then he fell asleep on Mt. Ida. Is he really the one in charge in the book or is he so easily manipulated by others? He has a specific laid out for how the war will end and when he woke up he quickly got back in control of the situation and cleaned up the damage that was caused while he was asleep. The manipulation by Hera in book 14 and the control he has in book 15 are in complete contrast with each other. He also claimed superiority over Poseidon when he said they were equals. Who is in charge here? Is Zeus in control or does he bounce around like a yo-yo and his actions reflect who is manipulating him at the time?

"Roger Baker: Bad News and the Wall of Denial" The Rag Blog: Roger Baker : Bad News and The Wall of Denial. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2013. <http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/roger-baker-bad-news-and-wall-of-denial.html>.

Fighting, fighting, and a some more fighting

I had almost thought that we would win the battle this way, but to no avail. Just as Agamemenon was about to give up and go back to Greece, Diomedes steps in and pumps everyone up again. They do, however, try to get Achilles to return to the army but he wants to go to his homeland, Phthia, and take Phoenix with him. So he's no help, thank the gods! The Achaeans, the next morning, send Diomedes and Odysseus to spy on us and we had sent Dolon. The fool got himself captured by the dynamic duo (Diomedes/Odysseus) and spills everything. He tells him where the Thracians were and the two go and kill 12 men, their King Rhesus, and escape unharmed on Rhesus's chariot. I was really upset when I heard that King Rhesus was killed because he seemed like a good guy. I was also told that Dolon was murdered and his armor was stolen. The next day, the battle continues. Zeus rains blood on the Achaeans which scared the poop out of them. Good! I don't know whose side Zeus is on but it doesn't matter when he helps us out like that. Several people get injured like Agamemnon and Hector. I was especially proud when Paris stepped up and fought. Patroklos at the end, was asked to once again try and convince Achilles to come fight or at least let them borrow his armor. I didn't know of this, but that will never work. We are too clever to fall for THAT! We will FIGHT and we will WIN. I am confident of this.

Everyone, me included, place a lot of importance in military glory. When Agamemenon was ready to give up, Diomedes stepped in and made clear how cowardly he would be if he did. Also, the way the Odysseus and Diomedes kill Dolon after interrogation for his armor, is that really military glory? Diomedes is possibly taking more drastic steps to improve his τιμή. I personally this to be true, but I'm just an old man. What do I know?

This is a picture of what are chariots look like, in case any foreigner weirdos are checking this blog out ;) Cheers, King Priam

Guapo, El. "The Global Citizen-Railroad Tracks." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2013. <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en>.

Interfering Immortals

In the beginning I thought that the Achaeans would finally overwhelm us and it'd all be over. My people had to retreat within our walls or face defeat. Hector comes to my wife, Hecuba, to go and pray for mercy at the temple of Athena. Then he goes with Helen to see Paris. I'm a little embarrassed to call him my son at the moment. He's kind of a pansy even though I love him dearly. Anyway, they generally scorn Paris about not fighting until he puts his armor on and heads for battle with Hector. A duel is called for and Hector volunteers himself, but then he gets put against the Great Ajax! I must say I was more than a little beside myself. The duel is called off by Heralds (Zeus told him to do it...Meddlesome god) and Hector and Ajax end as friends. I tell my people to allow ourselves a day of rest from this battle so that we may bury our dead with the dignity that they deserve. Ugh, Nestor does the same with the Achaeans...copycat.

My advisor Antenor asked of Paris to give up Helen so that we may end this war with no more unnecessary deaths...of course my stubborn son refused but begrudgingly said he'd give up all the loot he took with him in her capture. Not surprisingly, the Achaeans didn't go for the offer, Pity. Zeus had forbade the gods to interfere with the battle while he weighed the fate of the two armies. He found that the Trojans were higher up than the Achaeans. PRAISE THE GODS! This was happy, happy news to me and brought some peace to an old man's heart. Zeus sent lightning to the Achaeans side to turn the battle in the Trojans favor. Haha take that! Hector saw that Nestor was alone and goes to kill him but Diomedes drops in and rescued Nestor. Once more, Hera told Agamemnon to rally his troops, get them all excited and the like and Zeus sends an eagle carrying a fawn to further encourage them to continue the fighting. WHOSE side is he on anyways??? Much fighting and killing went on, especially with the Achaeans Teucer, who killed many of us until Hector was finally able to hurt him. Athena and Hera are about to jump in but Zeus sent Iris to warn them away and also said they'd have their chance to help the next morning. Hector was able to force the Achaeans back to their ships and lit many fires to prevent them from sneaking away unbeknownst to us.

As you can see, much had occurred. Lots of fighting and the battle kept switching favors so fast that it made my head hurt from looking back and forth. Zeus favored the Trojans when he looked at the fates but then he helps inspire the Achaeans to keep fighting...Does Zeus truly have an outcome in mind or is he switching back and forth to continue the battles, and therefore, continuing his amusement? As of right now, I have no clue what he really thinks, but he is a god and I am but a mere mortal. But he does seem to be very fickle.

"The Iliad: Book 6" Google. Chambers30, n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2013. <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en>.

A bunch of Hullabaloo

First of all, Iris really enjoys appearing as other people. First as me earlier, and now as Laodice. Iris comes, disguised, to my home to visit Helen. But for good reason, to watch the battle going on. I asked her if she knew any of the Achaeans fighting. She mentioned several men including Agamemnon and Odysseus. They were magnificent fighters! Ah, what I would give to be young and strong again. I could see Paris fighting, I couldn't bare to see my son killed in this unnecessary war. I believe that there is no future in a trace, just bloodshed that could have been avoided. Apollo is fighting for us, so there may be some hope yet but Athena is fighting against us. What the outcome will be is unclear to me. Then it changed, perhaps for the better. The gods fight ferociously against one another, but many of the gods fight for my home.

Paris plays a large part but he seems to be the exact opposite of his brother, Hector. As much as I am happy to have him for a son, he's acting like a big baby and Hector actually calls him out on it, which is the only reason why Paris agreed to duel Menelaus. The gods definitely have a hand in this because Aphrodite rescues Paris from getting killed by Menelaus' hand and takes him to Paris' home.

This image is of Aphrodite, she saves Paris, and perhaps will be a large part of The Iliad.

"Demigods and Greek Gods and Goddesses Aphrodite." Aphrodite. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sep. 2013. <http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/demigods-and-greek-gods-and-goddesses/images/25375369/title/aphrodite-photo>.

Hail! Much has gone on lately

Hail! Much has gone on lately. The Achaians trashed this town and kidnapped Chryseis and Briseis. Apollo got involved and sent a plague on the Greeks, that lasted for days. Not that I'm complaining, it sounds all right to me. Agamemnon and Achilles argue over returning the silly girls to stop the plague. But I am so glad that Zeus is on our side! He sent a dream to Agamemnon that it was a good idea to have the Achaians attack. He tells them to go on their ships, to head home after 9 years (clever trick to see who was faithful) but Odysseus stops them because Athene orders him to do so. Odysseus convinces Agamemnon to let the soldiers who want to go home leave and let the ones that want to fight, stay. The best part of the situation is that Iris disguised herself as me, and convinced my people to keep fighting.I felt that we were so close to being done with this big mess! But thank the gods that the Greeks can't get over my mighty walls!!

What still amazes me, is that this has all started with Helen. She is beautiful, and I treat her kindly but I am aghast that one woman is the cause of this. From what I have seen, Odysseus and Nestor prove to be invaluable to the Greeks, which is starting to make me worried. Odysseus is very persuasive and Nestor convinces Agamemnon to let friends fight beside each other so that they would fight harder to be successful. Genius, really. If it hadn't been for Odysseus, the Achaians would have been heading home, showing how little loyalty they feel towards Agamemnon. I think that the quote below sums up quite nicely what will happen to us by the end of the war, even when I didn't know it yet.


" Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son Achilleus and its devastation, which put pains thousandfold upon the Achaians hurled in their multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls of heroes..."

Lattimore, Richard. "The Iliad of Homer." Lines 1-4. Book 1. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2011. Print.

Lattimore, Richmond, andLattimore, Richmond, and Richard P. Martin. Book 24, Lines 486-487. The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2011. 510. Print.Lattimore, Richmond, and Richard P. Martin. Book 24, Lines 486-487. The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2011. 510. Lattimore, Richmond, and Richard P. Martin. Book 24, Lines 486-487. The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: Univ. Martin. Book 24, Lines 486-487. The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2011. 510. Print.Lattimore, Richmond, and Richard P. Martin. Book 24, Lines 486-487. The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2011. 510. Print.

The life of a King

Greetings!

I am King Priam of Troy, and as such, consider myself a great and noble leader. I am the son of Laomedon and Strymo. I am married to Hecabe who has blessed me with many sons. But I am a king, and therefore needed more sons, so I had mistresses on the side. Before the Greeks made war against my home, I supported the Phrygians war with the Amazons. During the war, my son Hector died. I had to go to the tent of Achilles to ransom his body so that he could have a noble and proper burial. Hermes went with me, delightful fellow. I was slain in my temple by that murderous cur Pyrrhus who was chasing my son, Polites.


Retrieved from here

"Troas." Wikipedia. N.p., 4 Dec. 2004. Web. 4 Sept. 2013. <http://www.wikipedia.com/>.