Iliad Book II English Translation | Summary | Major Figures | Notes | Iliad Study Guide
Zeus decides to send a lying dream, wearing the face of Nestor, to Agamemnon to tell him all will go well if they set out at once for Troy. When he awakes, Agamemnon summons the Greek (NB: Homer refers to them mostly as Achaeans, and sometimes Argives or Danaans; Greek is our term) leaders to tell them that according to the god speaking in his dream, the gods are now united and the Greeks will take Troy. The real Nestor, who is prince of Pylos, urges the men to arm. Agamemnon then gathers the men and says Zeus lied to him and since they have been gone 9 years, it's time to go home.
Athena determines to prevent their return home, so she talks with Odysseus. Odysseus obliges by telling the men that Agamemnon did not mean what he said; that he was testing them.
Thersites complains about Agamemnon -- including Agamemnon's treatment of Achilles. Odysseus beats him up.
Athena in the guise of a herald speaks to the people, saying it would be shameful to return empty-handed after 9 years. She recounts their dawdling at Aulis and reminds them of Calchas' prophesy that they would take Troy in the 10th year.
Agamemnon offers sacrifice to Zeus and prays that he should kill Hector and defeat the Trojans.
With Athena giving them courage, the men pour out of their ships onto the plain of Scamander to charge the Trojans.
Homer then lists the captains of the fleets, their ships, and horses. While the throng gathers, Iris goes to tell the Trojans the Greeks are about to attack. The Trojans fly to arms. There is then a list of the leaders of Trojans and their allies.
Next: Major Characters in Iliad Book II and Index of Summaries of the 24 Books of the Iliad, Notes on Book II of the Iliad
