Iliad - Public domain English translationZeus no longer concerns himself with the war, but Poseidon is angry with Zeus and pities the overwhelmed Greeks (NB: Homer refers to them mostly as Achaeans, and sometimes Argives or Danaans; Greek is our term). He takes his chariots and comes up among the Greeks in the guise of Calchas.
Poseidon-Calchas speaks to the two Ajaxes who are fending off Hector and the Trojans. Poseidon-Calchas tells them that they must not be daunted, if they want to win, because Hector is the main challenge the Trojans have. Poseidon strikes them with his scepter to make them bold and fast. Then he leaves, and Ajax son of Oileus figures out who has addressed them. Poseidon then rouses the other Greeks. Thus incited, the leading Greek heroes line up as a living fence to brave the assault of Hector and his followers.
Hector encourages these followers, Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, who are pressing on the Greeks with him, by saying that Zeus, the mightiest of the gods, is on his side.
Teucer is first to kill, and as he bends to remove his victim's armor, Hector throws a spear at him. Teucer ducks and so the weapon kills another Greek, Amphimachus. Hector then goes to remove his victim's armor. While he does so, Ajax throws a spear, that hits Hector but does not penetrate his armor. It only pushes him away, enabling the Greeks to recover their bodies. Poseidon is enraged by the killing of his grandson Amphimachus, and further incites the Greeks. In the guise of Thoas, Poseidon meets Idomeneus, and challenges him, asking what happened to the boasts and threats the Greeks made against the Trojans? Idomeneus answers that the Greeks are fighting, but Zeus has seen fit to make them fail. If "Thoas" sees anyone remiss, he should exhort them on Idomeneus' say-so. Poseidon-Thoas says he and Idomeneus should go back to the battle, which they do. Idomeneus' squire, Meriones, meets them and explains he is going the wrong direction because he is looking for a new spear. Meriones gets his spear and asks where they should head. The Ajaxes and the archer Teucer are defending the center where Hector is fighting, so since he is not needed there, Idomeneus picks the left side. The Trojans see them and are eager for fight.
A small digression re-explains that Zeus is letting Hector win because in this way he will give honor to Achilles and appease Thetis. Zeus is not trying to make the Trojans win. Poseidon is furious and wants to help the Greeks, but doesn't want to disobey Zeus openly.
Idomeneus kills Othryoneus, whom he drags off. Asius comes up to protect the body, with his horses behind him, but Idomeneus kills him. Antilochus, son of Nestor, kills Asius' charioteer, and drives the Trojan horses over to the Greek side. Deiphobus tries unsuccessfully to kill Idomeneus. Idomeneus, with the help of Poseidon, kills Alcathous, son-in-law of Anchises and bravest man in Troy. Deiphobus goes back to get Aeneas to help. Aeneas is annoyed because Priam hasn't given him due honor. Deiphobus asks him to come help defend his sister's husband's body from Idomeneus. Aeneas comes, but Idomeneus will not yield and summons other Greeks to help him. Aeneas and Deiphobus enlist the help of other Trojans and they fight over the body of Alcathous. Eventually Idomeneus wears out and Deiphobus aims a spear at him as he retreats, but misses and hits, instead, Ascalaphus, son of Ares. Ares does not yet know his son is dead. Fighting over his body ensues. As Deiphobus tears the helmet, Meriones stabs him with a spear. Deiphobus' brother Polites draws him away.
Helenus and Menelaus fight -- the Trojan, with a bow, and the Greek, with a spear. Menelaus injures the bow-wielding hand of Helenus. Agenor draws out the spear, while Pisander goes after Menelaus. The Greek wins and complains about how the Trojans stole his wife and other goods, while stripping the enemy's armor. Harpalion, son of King Pylaemenes, next attacks Menelaus. Meriones kills him with an arrow, which upsets Paris, who shoots another Greek from Corinth.
Meanwhile, at the center, Hector is oblivious to what is going on at the left side. Against Hector are the two Ajaxes, the Locrians, Ionians, Phthians, Boeotians, and Epeans. The Trojans are almost overwhelmed, but Hector continues until Polydamas tells him he needs to call a meeting of all his chief men. Hector tries to find some of the Trojan warriors who have been killed or wounded and (rudely) asks Paris about them. The royal brothers then go back to fight the Greeks. Hector and Ajax have a shouting match. Both sides raise battle cries.
Next: Major Characters in Iliad Book XIII
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 XIII.
