Title: Odyssey
Author: Homer
Translator: Barry B. Powell
Book Number: Book 1
Lines: 171-228

This online edition is prepared by Jerry Lee.

Introduction to the passage:

In this passage we see Agamemnon threatening to take away Achilles’s war prize Briseis for himself. This action agitates Achilles to the point where he is considering to murder Agamemnon right on the spot. The goddess Athena appeared from the heavens and persuaded Achilles to stop.
The feud between Agamemnon and Achilles started from Agamemnon refusing to ransom Calchas, a daughter of Apollo’s priests. In retaliation Apollo sent a plague throughout Agamemnon’s army camp. Achilles who wanted to set this right, summoned the Achaean army. When the truth was revealed Agamemnon grew angry and said he will only return Calchas only if Achilles gives him his war prize as compensation.
Agamemnon threatening to take away Achilles’s war prize for himself. According to ancient Greek culture this is extremely offensive towards Achilles. It is like a general asking his lieutenant to give him his medal of honor because he does not have one himself. This display Agamemnon's hubris attitude, which is considered as a tragic flaw in ancient Greek.
Much like the war prize incident, Athena’s appearance reflects another Greek value to readers. Respecting and obeying one’s superior is a highly regarded cultural value among the ancient Greek society.
I find this passage particularly interesting to look closely at is how the feud between Agamemnon and Achilles snowballed into an almost defeat in the Trojan War. Also how the breaking of cultural values and one's hamartia plays a roll in all of this.

Text:
And Agamemnon answered, "Fly if you will, I shall make you no prayers to stay you. I have others here who will do me honour, and above all Jove, the lord of counsel. There is no king here so hateful to me as you are, for you are ever quarrelsome and ill affected. What though you be brave? Was it not heaven that made you so? Go home, then, with your ships and comrades to lord it over the Myrmidons. I care neither for you nor for your anger; and thus will I do: since Phoebus Apollo is taking Chryseis from me, I shall send her with my ship and my followers, but I shall come to your tent and take your own prize Briseis, that you may learn how much stronger I am than you are, and that another may fear to set himself up as equal or comparable with me."

The son of Peleus was furious, and his heart within his shaggy breast was divided whether to draw his sword, push the others aside, and kill the son of Atreus, or to restrain himself and check his anger. While he was thus in two minds, and was drawing his mighty sword from its scabbard, Minerva came down from heaven (for Juno had sent her in the love she bore to them both), and seized the son of Peleus by his yellow hair, visible to him alone, for of the others no man could see her. Achilles turned in amaze, and by the fire that flashed from her eyes at once knew that she was Minerva. "Why are you here," said he, "daughter of aegis-bearing Jove? To see the pride of Agamemnon, son of Atreus? Let me tell you- and it shall surely be- he shall pay for this insolence with his life."

And Minerva said, "I come from heaven, if you will hear me, to bid you stay your anger. Juno has sent me, who cares for both of you alike. Cease, then, this brawling, and do not draw your sword; rail at him if you will, and your railing will not be vain, for I tell you- and it shall surely be- that you shall hereafter receive gifts three times as splendid by reason of this present insult. Hold, therefore, and obey."

"Goddess," answered Achilles, "however angry a man may be, he must do as you two command him. This will be best, for the gods ever hear the prayers of him who has obeyed them."

He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword, and thrust it back into the scabbard as Minerva bade him. Then she went back to Olympus among the other gods, and to the house of aegis-bearing Jove.
Citation:
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/agamemnon/a/Agamemnon.htm
http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/achilles/g/Achilles.htm
http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Athena/athena.html
http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Apollo/apollo.html
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_A.html
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/achilles/g/022111-Myrmidons.htm
http://www.goddess-guide.com/minerva.html
http://www.goddess-guide.com/juno.html