General:

This passage is from The Iliad, which was written by Homer. The translator of the text is Samuel Butler and this particular version comes from the Internet Archives of MIT. This passage is from book XVIII, lines 19 to 67.

This online edition was prepared by Harsha Guntupalli.

Introduction:

In this passage, Achilles learns about the death of Patroclus from Antilochus. Also in this passage, Thetis is talking to her nymphs about the state of her son. This passage fits into the overall story because it provides a changing point in the protagonist of the poem, Achilles. Throughout the poem Achilles is portrayed in a certain light as a tough, ruthless warrior that will stop at nothing to get what he wants and deserves. This passage shows another side of Achilles. Another reason that this passage is interesting to look at is due to the death of Patroclus. Homer shows the audience the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. This friendship is not really shown anywhere else in the poem and also further casts a light on the character of Achilles. Another relationship that is particularly interesting is between Achilles and his mother, Thetis. This is expanded on later in Book XVIII but this passage helps sets the foundation between Achilles and Thetis. Another important role that this passage plays is that one can argue that it is the passage that leads up to the climax of the entire epic and is the reason that Achilles is able to get the motivation for the Greek to beat the Trojans.

Passage:

As he was thus pondering, the son of Nestor came up to him and told his sad tale, weeping bitterly the while. "Alas," he cried, "son of noble Peleus, I bring you bad tidings, would indeed that they were untrue. Patroclus has fallen, and a fight is raging about his naked body- for Hector holds his armour."

A dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened. He filled both hands with dust from off the ground, and poured it over his head, disfiguring his comely face, and letting the refuse settle over his shirt so fair and new. He flung himself down all huge and hugely at full length, and tore his hair with his hands. The bondswomen whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken captive screamed aloud for grief, beating their breasts, and with their limbs failing them for sorrow. Antilochus bent over him the while, weeping and holding both his hands as he lay groaning for he feared that he might plunge a knife into his own throat.

Then Achilles gave a loud cry

And his mother heard him as she was sitting in the depths of the sea by the old man her father, whereon she screamed, and all the goddesses daughters of Nereus that dwelt at the bottom of the sea, came gatheringround her. There were Glauce, Thalia and Cymodoce, Nesaia, Speo, thoe and dark-eyed Halie, Cymothoe, Actaea and Limnorea, Melite, Iaera, Amphithoe and Agave, Doto and Proto, Pherusa and Dynamene, Dexamene, Amphinome and Callianeira, Doris, Panope, and the famous sea-nymph Galatea, Nemertes, Apseudes and Callianassa. There were also Clymene, Ianeira and Ianassa, Maera, Oreithuia and Amatheia of the lovely locks, with other Nereids who dwell in the depths of the sea.

The crystal cave was filled with their multitude and they all beat their breasts while Thetis led them in their lament.

"Listen," she cried, "sisters, daughters of Nereus, that you may hear the burden of my sorrows. Alas, woe is me, woe in that I have borne the most glorious of offspring. I bore him fair and strong, hero among heroes, and he shot up as a sapling; I tended him as a plant in a goodly garden, and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the Trojans, butnever shall I welcome him back to the house of Peleus. So long as he lives to look upon the light of the sun he is in heaviness, and though I go to him I cannot help him. Nevertheless I will go, that I may see my dear son and learn what sorrow has befallen him though he is still holding aloof from battle."

Works Cited
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"Homer's Iliad and the Catalog of Ships." Hellenicaworld. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.

Stickley, Patrick R., "Grief in the Iliad" (2014). Undergraduate Honors Theses. Paper 205. http://dc.etsu.edu/honors/205

"The Greatest Warrior of All Time." Mythagora. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.

"The Iliad." LitCharts. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. .

"The Iliad." The Internet Classic Archives. MIT. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. .

"The Oral Dimension of Homer." Pittsburgh University. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. .

"Thetis and Her Impact on Greek Art and Culture." The Role of Women in the Art of Ancient Greece. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. .