Category Archives: Retelling

Book 24: Achilles and Priam Now that the funeral games for Patroclus were over, the Greeks returned to their camps. They thought of the evening meal and sleep. Achilles still mourned Patroclus. He could not sleep. He lay on his … Continue reading →

Book 23: Funeral Games for Patroclus The Greeks took Hector’s body to the ships. Most of the Greeks went to their camps, but Achilles commanded his Myrmidons, “Let us honor Patroclus. Drive your chariots three times around the corpse of … Continue reading →

Book 22: Hector Fights Achilles In Troy, the warriors who had fled like fawns away from Achilles drank to quench their thirst. Outside the walls, the Greek troops approached the city. Still outside Troy’s walls was Hector, standing by the … Continue reading →

Book 21: Achilles Fights the River Achilles continued attacking Trojans, and he split their army into two parts at the ford of the river Xanthus. One half of the Trojans ran across the plain toward Troy. The previous day the … Continue reading →

Book 20: Achilles Returns to Battle As the Greeks prepared for war, Zeus on Mount Olympus ordered the goddess Themis to call a council of the gods. She summoned all gods and all goddesses to the halls of Zeus. Every … Continue reading →

Book 19: Achilles Arms for Battle Dawn arrived, and Thetis reached Achilles’ camp. Achilles was still lying facedown, mourning Patroclus’ death. The other Greeks also were mourning Patroclus’ death. Thetis held Achilles’ hand and said to him, “Achilles, get up … Continue reading →

Book 18: The Shield and Weapons of Achilles Pursued by Trojans and protected by the two Ajaxes, Menelaus and Meriones carried the corpse of Patroclus to the ships as Antilochus arrived at Achilles’ camp. Achilles was worried. He said to … Continue reading →

Book 17: The Fight Over Patroclus’ Corpse Red-haired Menelaus saw that the Trojans had slain Patroclus. He ran to the corpse and stood over it to protect it like a mother cow protects her first-born calf. Menelaus stood over the … Continue reading →

Book 16: Patroclus Fights and Dies As Greeks and Trojans fought and killed each other, Patroclus reached Achilles’ camp. Patroclus was crying, and his tears ran down his face like water runs down the face of a rock. Achilles saw … Continue reading →

Book 15: The Battle at the Ships The Trojans fled, and the Greeks pursued and killed them. Zeus woke up and looked down at the battle. He sprang to his feet. This was not how the battle was supposed to … Continue reading →