The End of Troy

"He spoke, and pulled the brazen spear from the body, and laid it on the side, and stripped away from the shoulders the bloody armor."

                -The Iliad of Homer

Never in my mortal life have I seen such a rage. Achilles the swift-footed has turned into Achilles the savage monster. I turn to the river and it looks as if it were blood itself, overflowing over the banks because of the log-like bodies that Achilles has thrown into the river. I watched from afar Hektor, Troy's greatest warrior, die a humiliating death. With no one left here to fight against us, surely the walls of Troy have fallen along with their Hektor the breaker of horses. Though Achilles has brought death upon the hands that ended Patroklos, he still hungers for more. As we prepare our troops for battle tomorrow, Achilles has been brought back to sanity once again by King Priam's words, and has granted the people of Troy a mourning period to bury Hektor. Surely, Achilles is as honorable as ever.

We have taken the city! But alas, Achilles has met his bittersweet end by the tip of an arrow to his foot. With the greatest Achaean gone, I have now taken his place. When I return home I will live a peaceful life, lest there be another great war, I will refrain from battle--for my equal has been slain by Achilles. And Achilles has been slain by Paris. There is no mortal alive that can match my strength or surpass it, so I will take my leave. Farewell, until the next time Achaea summons my strength.

The Divine-like Achilles

I watched Achilles return from the body of Patroklos. With fire in his eyes, he first put on the greaves linked with silver fastenings. Quickly and fiercely he girded on the corselet that shined brighter than fire. Slung across his shoulder was the sword with the nails of silver, a bronze sword, and the great heavy shield made by Hephaistos. The shield! Oh the shield! It was absolutely divine! Every single part of the world was on this shield. The longer I gazed at this shield, the more it seemed as though the designs themselves were moving! The helm that he placed on his head shone brighter than any star at the darkest hour of the night. With armor and weapons such as these, who would dare cross the path of Achilles and survive? Not I, of course.

With a godlike warrior on our side, storming the walls of Troy should be of no problem for the Achaean forces! These Trojans stand no fighting chance, for even the titans would have trouble facing him. My eyes see Hector once more. I vowed to him that the next time we meet, it would be his death and not mine. But because Achilles will not stop until the killer of Patroklos is ended by Achilles' hands, I shall refrain from that fight for fear of my life. Instead I will make sport of the weak measly soldiers that flee from me!

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Achilles' Great Entrance!

"But Patroklos, when he had cut away their first battalions, turned back to pin them against the ships, and would not allow them to climb back into their city though they strained for it, but sweeping through the space between the ships, the high wall, and the river, made havoc and exacted from them the blood price for many." -The Iliad of Homer

This man wears the armor of Achilles! Could it really be he that has sworn not to fight with us? His movements are so precise, just like that of Achilles. It must be him. But...his frame is much to small to be Achilles. The form and style is all Achilles. The power. The mercilessness, it's all there. He slays every Trojan without hesitation nor to pause and boast, almost as if he intended to take the city this very moment. Surely this is Achilles but I am not sure. Here approaches Hector! It truly is Achilles! For Hector flees from him as a deer takes flight from the preying lion. But what's this!? That man! Who is he??? He strikes Achilles as if he were some god. Here now Hector has returned from his advancing retreat and--no! Achilles has been...that's not Achilles. That's Patroklos! We must retrieve his body and return it to Achilles!

As I made my way to Patroklos' body, Hector met me halfway and as we fought, suddenly his sword swung harder than before. The strength returned to his legs. Menelaos brought whatever men he could. Allowing the Trojans to take Patroklos was not an option. We pushed them back and brought Patroklos to Achilles.

Brace yourselves! A divine savage prowls amongst the mortals now. Do not get in his way, for mercy is one thing you will not have if you do.

A Scandalous Act

 
 
 
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deception_of_Zeus
What's this? Last night I received a vision of some sort, though I almost went mad. In the dream, the gods were having their own type of warfare, only they warred over the humans. They war over our war. HA-HA! Hera, the wife of Zeus, is with the Achaeans whereas Zeus sides with the Trojans--for now. Hera plots against Zeus! She has made herself so beautiful with intentions of making love to Zeus. If only I could sleep with Hera! Surely her plan worked, for a human like me has found her irresistible as well. After Hera wore the enchanted breastband that she received from Aphrodite, Zeus made love to her. Then Sleep came and put Zeus into a death like coma. From there Poseidon will come down and stir the Achaean forces to advanced toward the city. Quite a peculiar dream but no matter. Although Zeus may be upset, we will exclaim our might and pursue victory!

Divine Favor

Though the Trojans have seen ill omen against their charge, they continue toward our ships. It's as though they have been filled with some kind of will that is not their own. Something drives these soldiers with such affirmation that they do not fear their own death because they know they will destroy our ships. But alas, what is this!? We the Aeantes appear to have been stirred by some divine being. Our wills rage against the Trojans just as a lioness is surrounded by a pack of hyenas. We have even stopped the advance made by Hector and have actually managed to drive the Trojans back! Out of desperation Hektor has thrown a lance which has slew the grandson of Poseidon, Amphimocus! But now suddenly Idomeneus has been filled with great strength. Though the Hector's men continue to advance, the Achaean forces have seen our strength and they gain strength from our own. We may just have a chance now! The gods are on our side! On this day we fight!

After my encounter with Hektor, I saw him retreat but now he returns with Paris. The fool! Does he think that will do much for the Trojans? What!? Agamemnon proposes to leave back home like a dog with its tail between its legs? Coward! We have the favor of the gods in our swords and shields! Push forward and we shall see victory this day!

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=church&book=iliad&story=ships

Miracle Work

Alas! It's been too long that Diomedes and Odysseus' reconnaissance scheme is taking too long! We should go out and find them in the night in case they have been captured and killed! It is nearly morning and--OI! There they are! HA-HA! They made it back safely! They've also managed to find some valuable information by the tongue of Dolon. Although we have been pushed back to our ships, I just know that with their mission, we will now have the upper hand in battle!

As we wake in the next morning for battle, Zeus has rained down blood upon our lines. May this be some sort of ill omen against us? With every soldier we strike down, they continue to advance closer and closer to our ships! Brace yourselves! They charge for our ships! But look! An eagle! Surely this is good omen for us! Though we are pushed back into a corner like a stray dog, even the dog will fight for his life. Fight now my brethren! Though they break through our fortifications, they will not break through the hulls of our ships!

http://stefanosskarmintzos.wordpress.com/2012/05/20/the-death-of-king-rhesus-of-thrace/

My Time to Shine

It appears as though the dog Paris and his protector Hektor have returned to the battlefield. Though the battle has ended this day, Hektor still wishes for a duel with the best. Our best was Achilles but the stubborn fool is nowhere near the battlefield. Everyone knows that Hector is the best of the Trojans. Our confidence in having victory over this duel is little. Menelaos appears to be the only Achaean that has spirit to accept but Agamemnon has intercepted and exempt Menelaos of his eagerness. Alas, I have won the right to this battle. Hektor proves as a worthy opponent for me. Our exchanges seem to be almost equal. If only the day was longer, I am sure I could have won! Regardless, I have made a friend this day.

"Aias, seeing that God has given you strength, stature and wisdom also, and with the spear you surpass the other Achaians, let us now give over this fighting and hostility for today; we shall fight again, until the divinity chooses between us, and gives victory to one or the other." -Hektor

The battle came to a tie for Hektor was a formidable warrior. Regardless, Zeus must be angered at me by the sight of our exchange of intellect. Anything that is not a victory, is a loss and Zeus punishes the Achaeans for my battle. I should have fought with greater spirit and might. I vow I will win next time. And next time no longer will Zeus rain down lightning on my men! Run! With this signal from Zeus as a sign of which army he has chosen to aid, all Achaeans must retreat back to the fortifications!