Book Four

BOOK FOUR

The Gods Convene

“Let us consider then how these things shall be accomplished, whether again to stir up grim warfare and the terrible fighting, or cast down love and make them friend with each other.”

– Zeus

Curiously, it is the women who bridle at the proposed peace. Athene and Hera were sitting apart stirring up trouble for the Trojans while Zeus was contemplating peace. Hera claims to have put in to much sweat and worn out her horses bringing evil ato Priam and his children. Like many men, Zeus gives in to Hera in order to avoid a domestic row. But, also like may men, Zeus claims tit for tat and tells Hera that the next time he wants to destroy a city in which there are people for whom she cares about, she better keep her mouth shut.

Has the relationship between men and women, husband and wife, progressed so little in over twenty-eight centuries?

Zeus sends Athene down to stir up trouble, making it look like the Trojan’s were at fault. Athene whispered to Pandaros the son of Lykaon and convinced him to shoot an arrow into Menalaos. She spoke on “winged word” and “persuaded the fool’s heart in him.”

The description of Pandaros’ bow is interesting. It is made from the horns of a goat that he had killed. They bound the horns together and strung it with a golden string.

The arrow flew, but Athene deflected it into the thickest part of Menalaos’ armor at the last second. The tip arrow still went into Menalaos’ belly and his “shapely thighs were stained with the colour of blood. . . .”

Agamemnon thinks Menalaos is dying and swears revenge. When Menalaos tells him he isn’t dying, they send for the doctor, Asklepios. As Menaloas is being treated, the Trojans rise up. Agamemnon rallies the troops. This is the first time that Agamemnon is shown as a true leader of soldiers in combat. Perhaps this is to demonstrate his true concern for his brother.

Next is described Agamemnon’s muster of the troops. There is Idomeneus, leader of the Kretans; Nester of Pylos; the Aiantes; Pelagon, Haimon the powerful; and Bias, shepherd of the people.

Here is how they dealt with the cowards. They would line up the chariots, the cavalry, and the brave foot soldiers, then they would drive the cowards into the centre “so that a man might be forced to fight even though unwilling.”

Agamemnon tries to chide Odysseus for holding back in the rear, but “darkly resourceful Odysseus would have none of it and politely told Agamemnon to go screw himself. Agamemnon, true to form, backed down again.

Finally, the armies advance and meet. Apollo urges the Trojans forward, as Athene protects the Achaians. “For on that day many men of the Achaians and Trojans lay sprawled in the dust face downward beside one another.”