Iliad - Public domain English translationAt the start of Iliad Book 7, Hector and his brother Paris go out the Scaean Gates to rejoin the battle. Then Apollo and Athena have a meeting. The deities are on opposing sides, but both agree that there has been enough fighting for one day, so they should find some way to put an end to it. It is suggested that Hector shame one of the Greeks (NB: Homer refers to them mostly as Achaeans, and sometimes Argives or Danaans; Greek is our term) into fighting him in one-to-one combat. The will of the gods is made known the Hector's brother, who tells Hector what he must do. Hector tells the Trojans to settle down, and Agamemnon, seeing that something is going on, tells his men to do the same. Then Hector pronounces his challenge.
At first none of the Greeks comes forward to fight against the Trojan, but finally Menelaus does. His brother Agamemnon tells him not to be foolish. He is no match for Hector, so Menelaus removes his armor. Then the aged Nestor derides the Trojans for their cowardice until 9 Greeks step forward, including Agamemnon (note: Agamemnon did not volunteer when his brother Menelaus had presented himself as a highly unsuitable candidate), Diomedes, Ajax, and Odysseus. They decide to draw lots and the people favor one of the first three, so when Ajax wins the lot, they are pleased.
Ajax and Hector are both somewhat fearful of the other, but they also respect each other. Hector throws the first spear and then Ajax does. After the throw, they tackle each other with spears, then stones, and finally swords. They keep at it until heralds from either side and from the gods come to put an end to the single combat, since night is approaching. Hector and Ajax agree to stop for the night, but first they exchange gifts as friends. (This gift exchange provides the means by which each man dies.) Hector gets a belt and Ajax a sword. Both sides were elated to see their champion.
At the feast Agamemnon gives in honor of Hector, Nestor suggests they pack up their dead and head home. At Priam's palace similar advice is given by Antenor, that Helen should be returned and with her her wealth. Paris is not willing to give her up, though. Priam backs up his son, telling Idaeus to go to the Greek ships and ask for a burial respite and an offer of the return of Helen's wealth to end the war.
Diomedes advises against taking the Trojan offer because as everyone can see, the Trojans will soon lose. Agamemnon backs Diomedes, but agrees to the burial truce.
The two sides create their funeral pyres in silence.
Poseidon is upset by the great wall that the Greeks have built without an offering to the gods. He thinks it will minimize the great work Apollo and he had done for Laomedon. Zeus annoyed, tells him to fling it into the sea himself when the Greeks leave. Still, Zeus thunders at the Greeks until they offer him a sacrifice.
Next: Major Characters in Iliad Book VII
For information on people and places mentioned in Book I of the Iliad, see Iliad Book I - Who? What? Where?Read a public domain translation of Homer's Iliad Book VII.
