A point or two about Achilles

As expected by many, a video from Hisarlik, or 'Troy' as the tourist signposts call it.

This one is about aspects of the character of Achilles.

www.LloydianAspects.co.uk

Category:

Education

Tags:

• achilles
• homer
• troy
• hisarlik
• turkey
• ancient
• legend
• iliad
• ilium
• trojan
• war
• patroclus
• patroklos
• briseis

[EsraYmssik1]

First line of the Iliad, "Sing, Hera, of the wrath of Achilles."

The lad threw a major mardy (or got a massive cob on, depending on your preference) and jeopardised the whole war over Briseis. Having Brad, sorry ACHILLES running after Briseis was possibly the least unbelievable part of the film for me.

[lindybeige]

@EsraYmssik1 Briseis in the film combines many characters. She is the slave girl whom Agamemnon takes from Achilles (Briseis). She is also the priestess of Apollo and daughter of Priam (Kassandra). She is the killer of Agamemnon (Klytaimnestra). She is the bed-mate of Achilles (Diomede). She is Priam’s young and beautiful virgin daughter (Polyxena). The Briseis of legend did not come from Troy at all, but was captured on the way there. "Rescue" does not equate to "capture".

[godofimagination]

It seems weird that they bribed him after drafting him.

[lindybeige]

@godofimagination They didn't draft him. In the legend, he wanted to go.

[godofimagination]

@lindybeige I heard that Odysseus pretended to be insane to resist the draft, but the king didn't fall for it. The king then recruited Odysseus to find Achilles (who his mother changed into a woman as a disguise and hid him in a brothel). Odysseus dressed up as a peddler giving an assortment of goods to the prostitutes. When Achilles reached for the sword (among the goods), Odysseus knew who he really was. Maybe this was a different version? Or a different work altogether and I forgot the names?

[lindybeige]

@godofimagination There are many versions. Often Achilles in housed with the king of Skyros. Often it is told that Odysseus got his men to fake an attack, and Achilles grabbed a weapon to join the fight. Yes, one legend tells of men sent to persuade Odysseus to join the campaign and his feigning madness by ploughing with an unmatched span. There was no 'draft' though, just a serious of social norms and obligations which could be awkward to dodge.

[lindybeige]

@Polymarkos Actually I thought his casting was fine. A big blond pretty petulant boy. That's Achilles.

[lindybeige]

@firewishes I can't talk fast enough.

[oarfrost]

@EsraYmssik1 "Having Brad, sorry ACHILLES running after Briseis was possibly the least unbelievable part of the film for me."

Dunno. After all, the Trojan war was fought because Mrs Menelaus ran off with someone else. Afterwards Odysseus spent 10 years trying to get home to his wife and at one point in the story Zeus forgets matters of state because Hera told him it was his lucky night. Overall, most of the heroes and heroines in the Illiad appear to have their brains somewhere between their ..

[EsraYmssik1]

@lindybeige As I said, LEAST UNBELIEVABLE part of the movie. :)

As for the rest of it, I think just about every video you've posted essentially debunks this move. Even the one where the horse kicks you in the vineyard (that sounds REALLY painful).

[legendsofgrine]

I agree that Achilles was dead and all that stuff before the horse, but I don't think Achilles rushing in to save Briseis is that inconcievable. After all, Briseis was his prize, he gets into a big arguement with Agamemnon when Agamemnon says he'll try to take Briseis away. He wouldn't be going in after Briseis for love, but he would be defening his honour and saving his property.

[Hyland0r]

@lindybeige Mother of God! I may be descending from Greeks? I wonder why I've grown up thinking black is the original colour, or the most normal from that part of the world. I'm Swedish btw :)