Sarpedus : The Death Of Death In The Iliad

There are many lessons that can be learned from reading Homer's The Iliad. One of which is understanding the stages of grief. One can literally watch Achilles go through all five stages when he morns the death of his comrade Patroclus. Achilles moves through Denial and Isolation, Depression, Anger, Bargaining and Acceptance in the short time after his close friends death.

In almost all instances of war the cause has been related to greed, or the gaining of land and possessions. Greed is presented in the very first book of Homer’s “The Iliad.” It isn’t displayed by the cowards, but the “heroes” of the war such as Agamemnon, Achilles, and Pandarus. The entire cause of the Trojan War is the result of the greedy and cowardly behavior of Paris. There are many factors that had sparked the war, including the interference of the gods; however, the main factor to be blamed for the war is greed.

For Greeks, gaining honor while alive that is important, but holding of a proper burial after death is also considered essential to them and their beloveds. In the Iliad, Homer places the emphasis on the retrieval of the body and the burial for both Patroclus and Hector, demonstrating the Greek perception that respect and fame continue after death, and therefore certify the struggle in life to achieve honor. Patroclus is like a brother to Achilles as they grow up together. While Patroclus is alive, he respects Achilles’ decision to remain out of the battle. After he dies, Achilles lays down his individual pride, which has insulted by Agamemnon earlier and returns back to the battle. Achilles successfully kills Hector and exacts his revenge by mutilating the body. Patroclus’ honor is shown in his elaborate ceremonies that Achilles holds for his passing and extends to the mourning shown. (Homer, Iliad 19.325-360, 23.245-280) On the other side, Priam has gone through many difficulties to have his son’s corpse back from Achilles. Hector’s honor also can be seemed from the paramount funeral and the

Portions of modern society believe fate to be concrete and unchanging. However, in ancient times, it was believed to be influenced and guided by the actions of the gods. Similarly, in The Iliad by Homer, the actions of the gods influence the life, death, and fate of each and every individual. Gods such as Zeus, Athena and Apollo take great influence in human affairs in The Iliad. These actions cause life, death, sorrow, and triumph to befall various individuals of the story. Achilles’ fate results, solely, from these actions the gods undertake. In particular, the gods influence on Achilles’ fate shows when the gods keep Achilles from killing Agamemnon, staying out of the war, and holding onto his rage.

Although Achilles was quite outraged at this, he gave a respectful response, stating that he would drop out of the war because Agamemnon had dishonored him. Later, the Trojans killed Patroclus, Achilles’ dearest and most trusted friend. Achilles was overcome with grief, but realized how stubborn and selfish he was being by dropping out of the war. He decided that he had to join the war once again to honor Patroclus. He told his mother, “Enough. Let bygones be bygones. Done is done. Despite my anguish I will beat it down, the fury mounting inside me, down by force. But now I’ll go and meet that murderer head-on, that Hector who destroyed the dearest life I know.” It is clear that he knew that in those ancient times, a real hero avenged the death of a dear friend, and would sacrifice his own life to save the dead body and give it a proper burial.

Patroclos changed the course of the war and the story as he saved the Achaians from certain defeat in battle, and his death provided an incentive for Achilles to aid the Achaians in battle. Patroclos first changed the course of the epic through his actions on the

Another reason why I think Patroclus’ death is crucial to the story, is because it made Achilles angry and revengeful. The passage above not only shows us his feelings, and how much he is suffering and blaming himself for Patroclus’ faith, but it also shows us how revengeful he has become. Achilles believes he does not deserve to be alive, at least not as long as Hector breathes. And that is when he made peace with Agamemnon, rejoined the war and started to seek for Hector. Achilles killed every Trojan who crosses his way, until he found Hector and kills him too. However, it wasn’t simply a death. Achilles keep torturing his body and dragging it around for the next few days and he only stopped doing so, because the Gods made him stop. The Gods

Achilleus recognizes Lykaon, one of Priam’s many offspring, emerging naked from the river (21.27). He had captured Lykaon only twelve days prior and sold him into slavery, but he was ransomed. Unfortunately, he fell back into the hands of his captor. Lykaon, on his knees, begs Achilleus to spare his life, but he shows no mercy this time as he strikes Lykaon with his sword to avenge Patroklos’ death. He then desecrates Lykaon’s body by throwing it into the river, which carries his body to the sea where Achilleus insists he’ll be feasted on by fish (21.34-21.135). The gruesome act of slinging Lykaon’s body into the river and feeding it to the fish portrays the drastic change in Achilleus character.

Patroclus was, as of what we know, one of Achilles' few friends, and his lack of companions gave him little reason to miss out on the war. His lack of close family also may have led him to pursue his true talents. His father Peleus, king of the Myrmidones had already passed away, and his mother's constant protective nature may have only aided in pushing Achilles away. At his passing, the king of the Myrmidones had left Achilles with great wealth and a great legion of men to command, but possessions seemed to mean little to Achilles; his love was being on the battlefield.

The Greeks and Trojans in Homer’s The Iliad are considered to be in a warring society where they are fighting for glory. Although one can claim that dying in battle is dying with honor, there is no honor in war even on the losing side. This situation can be seen when someone is hesitant about fighting which eventually leads to the realization of the true effects of a deadly battle.

The sorrow of the great warrior Patroclus' death continues as his funeral was held last week near the Greek camp following Hector's death. An inside source has revealed that Achilles is devastated over the loss of his great friend and asks that all people may be respectful to his friend in participating in the mourning of him.

Homer’s epic The Iliad, is a great tale of war and glory. It takes place during the last year of the ten year Greek-Trojan war. The Greeks have been fighting with the Trojans for quite some time, and just when peace seemed like a possibility, the youngest prince of Troy, Paris, acts out selfishly and steals the beautiful wife of Menelaus, Helen. This instigates the fighting again. Throughout The Iliad, Homer tells of two heroes, both similar, but also very different in their character; the great and powerful Greek, Achilles, and the strong, loving father, Prince Hector of Troy. In Homer’s The Iliad, Hector and Achilles differ as heroes in regards to pride, duty, and family love, the latter being self-centered and prideful, while the

be looked at as "the wife of Hektor, who was ever the bravest fighter of

“…Apollo knocked the helmet off his head and under his horse’s hooves it tumbled… / Disaster seized him—his fine legs buckling—he stood there, senseless… / Hector… came rushing into him right across the lines and rammed his spearshaft home, stabbing deep in the bowels…” (Homer, 438-439) Patroclus’ death is devastating to the Achaean armies’ morale and, more central to the story, it further disrupts Achilles’ already unbalanced sophrosyne. The torment that Achilles endures here epitomizes the human condition.

Achilles starts fighting for revenge, while Hector fights to defend Trojan. After Patroclus was killed by Hector, Antilochus told Achilles. “A black cloud of sorrow came upon Achilles as he heard”, and tells his mother that Hector must die from his spear, he “must pay for Patroclus’ death”(149-151). Achilles loses all his humanity and has no mercy after his friend had been killed; however Hector holds on to his humanity while fighting. Achilles began killing Trojans mercilessly until he got what he wanted, because the vengeance for his friend mattered more than his humanity. Achilles also did not feel remorse when he slaughtered Hector in front of his entire