Simply brilliant. In the second half of Homer's epic The Iliad we see the wrath (incidentally, "wrath" is the very first word that opens the epic-poem) of Achilles on full display - and indeed it is mighty and many a knee it will have a-quaking.
After Hector slays many an Achaean, especially Achilles' dearly beloved Patroclus, the son of Peleus (Achilles) is stirred into action and the whole tide of the war turns against the Trojans. For example, towards the end of the tale, Achilles says, “….but Hector, son of Priam, I will not give to the fire to feed on, but to dogs.” (Homer. The Iliad: p. 507). It becomes a story of one man's revenge for the slaying of his dear friend. Up until that point, Achilles refused to take part in the war because of his disagreements with Agamemnon.
Fortunately, the gods protect Hector's body from decay and his father, King Priam, can retrieve the body by paying Achilles a hefty ransom.
Achilles is one guy you would not want to piss off. Here he is in full fury - Achilles to Hector: “Implore me not, dog, by knees or parents. I wish that somehow wrath and fury might drive me to carve your flesh and myself eat it raw because of what you have done……” (Homer. The Iliad: p. 479)
What was interesting to see was why Zeus would let Hector, a mortal he loved more dearly than any other, die at the hands of Achilles? Achilles' mother, Thetis, is a goddess loved by both Zeus and Poseidon. She was given to Peleus by the two male gods, and by wedding Peleus, Achilles was born. Zeus promised Thetis he would give Achilles glory, even though he was fated to die at the hands of Paris' bow at Troy. The logic used by the Greek gods was not always clear to follow. There are so many soldiers in this war who are partly or strongly related to one of the gods and therefore some come under their protection or 'aegis' (a word often used throughout The Iliad referring to some form of divine shield), while other mere mortals have to fend for themselves.
It is not revealed until the end that Helen was abducted by Paris 20 years ago! And that the war was now in its 10th year. Why did it take the Achaeans 10 years to reach Troy? (Apparently there was an earlier abandoned voyage).
The war is incredibly bloody and like any battle, brings countless sorrow, as it produces many widows and orphans. As Achilles says to King Priam (after slaying Hector and after Priam comes to reclaim his body): "For so have the gods spun the thread for wretched mortals, that they should live among sorrows; and they themselves are without care." (Homer. The Iliad: p. 601) I can hear the self-righteous atheists somewhere in the background screeching "hear! hear!"
What is interesting was how some of the gods like Pallas Athene (who reappears in the Odyssey as well - she just LOVES Odysseus) would come down onto the battlefield and assist by either protecting certain figures (deflecting thrusts of spears or breaking them) or rallying their strength and courage to do battle. The Greek gods were quite bloodthirsty it seems or "insatiate of war" to borrow a phrase Homer often uses - enjoying the spectacle of men slaughtering each other and at the end of the day, having various sheep and cattle and other livestock slaughtered in their honour. I wonder what they would have thought of animal rights groups or pacifists?
All in all, this is a fantastically spun tale by Homer, one of the most amazing storytellers of all time. The true greats of literature of ALL TIME!!!! are Shakespeare, Dante and Homer (plus a few others - Catullus is a potential candidate and maybe dare I say Joyce?).
If I had to choose one of Homer's epics over the other, I would have to say that in terms of language, they are equally beautiful but I slightly preferred the Odyssey, but only because of the amount of variety in the tale and the various vicissitudes and adventures of Odysseus never ceased to impress, surprise or amaze. I read the Odyssey first but I really should have started with The Iliad (Odysseus appears in this epic too although not as prominently as some of the other figures), then read The Aeneid (because Aeneas survives the sacking of Troy to go and found the great city of Rome) and then finally the Odyssey.
I plan to read The Aeneid sometime next month - it was written by the Latin poet Virgil, a completely different poet who came many, many years after Homer's time, but I am curious to see what happened to the sons of Troy after its fall.
Fantastic epic book - read it, read it, read it, goddamn read it!
PS - There were a couple of surprises in this story - there is NO mention WHATSOEVER of the Trojan Horse anywhere in this tale....? It must appear in another story - perhaps The Aeneid?
PPS - The death of Achilles is not mentioned either, although it is prophesied in several parts, including by his own mother Thetis.
The epic comes to a close, quite appropriately and in a dignified manner, with the burial of Hector among the Trojans.