Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Time for another "important thing to understand when reading the Iliad" post  .
This time we'll talk about the "aristeia". They are a frequent occurence in the Iliad, so it's as well to know what they're about.
An "aristeia" is (literally) a warrior's "finest moment" - it's a "set piece" in which a hero goes into battle, and slaughters innumerable enemies. There are many of them in the Iliad - the first we'll come across is that of the Greek hero Diomedes, in book V. (Trojan heroes get them too!).
An aristeia has a rigid structure, which is thought to be another consequence of the way that oral poetry was composed "on the fly"; the performer simply had to "tick off" in his mind each of the set elements in turn, and fill in the details. The structure of an aristeia is:
1. The hero puts on his armour.
2. We get a description of the magnificent appearance of the hero and his armour.
3. He makes a speech, exhorting his followers to great deeds.
4. He goes into battle.
5. He gets wounded (or suffers some other setback).
6. He is aided by the gods in some way.
7. He goes back into battle with renewed vigour.
8. We get a poetic simile comparing him to some natural phenomenon.
9. A graphic "fight to the death" scene.
10. He taunts and then kills (or vice versa) his opponent.
See if you can spot each of these elements in the various aristeias we'll come across. They are always there, and always in the same order.
The most famous aristeia in the Iliad is that of Achilles in book XXI - that's really the dramatic high of the whole epic. |
Thanks for the additional tip about the “aristeia.” I went back and listened to Book V (
LibriVox recording of Samuel Butler translation) and sure enough.
One thing that I have noticed is the Gods have great power to interfere in the war helping out one side or the other. I have just completed reading Books 8 & 9 where Zeus, keeping his promise to Thetis to punish Agamemnon for his treatment of Achilleus, is assisting the Trojans to the point of impending total destruction of the Achaians. This incites Hera and Athena to want to intercede on behalf of the Achaians, but Zeus warns them off from this. However, it seems that even the most powerful of gods is, as are all gods and men, subject to what fate has decreed. I have read a number of instances where what fate, or the fates, having decreed being unalterable even by the gods. Odysseus at one point in battle wonders if he should engage Hektor in combat or instead just less important Trojans and Athene tells Odysseus that he is not fated to defeat Hektor. Achilleus knows that if he returns to battle the Trojans that he fated to die there at a young age. Even Hektor at one point seems to say that he knows that Troy is fated to be defeated and destroyed. From what I recall learning about Greek mythology regarding the various gods the Fates are often portrayed as gods, or at least as some supernatural beings that rule the future. Accurate and do the Fates supersede Zeus?
What I previously knew about Achilleus was limited to the story of his being made invulnerable by being dipped in the river Styx as an infant except for one heel by which his mother held him, a story I know know came long after the
Iliad. Having now read through Book 9 though it seems that Homer portrayed Achilleus openly as either gay or bisexual? It seems clearest when Agamemnon, in order to make amends to Achilleus, offers him not only one of Agamemnon's daughters, but also his son Orestes. Also how the relationship between Achilleus and his “beloved companion” Patroklos. I known that the ancient Greeks were very open to the idea of men being sexually attracted to and engaging sex with both men and women. So, at least according to the Iliad, was Achilleus always considered bisexual?