The Iliad

The plot starts at the camp on the shores of Troy during the ninth year of its siege. Agamemnon, the highest king, is forced to give up his war prize concubine to please the gods. In return, he takes Achilles’ concubine Briseis. Enraged and dishonored, Achilles promises to never return to battle until the fighting reaches his ships. He asks his goddess mother Thetis to ask Zeus to help the Trojans bring an end to the Achaeans in revenge. Zeus obliges and the Trojans beat the Achaeans back through the course of several battles, causing Agamemnon to grow desperate. He sends an embassy to convince Achilles to return to war in exchange for a great deal of rewards and the safe return of Briseis. Achilles still refuses.

Only the death of his closest companion, Patroclus, changes Achilles’ mind. Patroclus requests to wear Achilles’ armor and pose as him to boost the morale of the Achaeans and frighten the Trojans. Hektor, the greatest warrior and prince of Troy, kills Patroclus on the battlefield and takes Achilles’ armor. Thetis brings Achilles new armor fashioned from Hephaestus’ forge and he slaughters the Trojans mercilessly with new fervor. The Trojans retreat behind the Trojan walls, but Hektor remains outside. After a great pursuit and battle, Achilles slays Hektor, ties his body to his chariot, and drags him through the dirt to the Greek camps. Finally, after the funeral games for Patroclus, King Priam of Troy, father of Hektor, supplicates to Achilles for the body of his son. Achilles agrees and returns the body to be buried before the war may continue.