Delahoyde & Hughes Orpheus HOMER'S ILIAD: BOOK IV

Questions for Book IV:

• What gods are on what side in the war and why?
• What formulaic phrases are becoming repetitive regarding death?

Zeus intentionally irks Hera about events below. After some bickering, Zeus sends Athena down to manipulate a Trojan breaking of the truce. Athena tempts Pandarus to take a pot-shot at Menelaus. It's an attractive moment. I'd have tried it too. But the gods cheat. Athena deflects the arrow so that it only wounds Menelaus.

So the melee is back on. Agamemnon rallies his troops and old Nestor gives some advice about using spears when you're in chariots. Agamemnon taunts Odysseus, possibly during another flare-up of his wrath, but Odysseus calls him on this and Agamemnon backpedals quickly. Then a lot of guys get butchered on the battlefield.

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Iliad: Book V
Iliad Index
Orpheus: Greek Mythology