Book 9
The Embassy
• The Trojans, favoured by Zeus, are pushing back the Greeks and bringing the battle
closer and closer to the Greek camp
• Agamemnon regrets angering Achilles and wants to make amends and ask for his
assistance
• He sends an embassy to try and convince Achilles to return to battle. The
embassy is comprised of:
• Odysseus: the wisest
• Greater Ajax (son of Telamon): the leader warrior
• Phoenix: old advisor and not basileus
• Phoenix is not a basileus, but an old advisor and caretaker of Achilles
• Childhood educator for Achilles
• find Achilles at his tent, playing his lyre while his beloved companion Patroclus
listens
• Patroclus (guide and mentor for Achilles), son of Menoetius: exiled from his
birth kingdom to send to achilles’s place
• Best Friend & romantic partner(?)
• SOCIETY: Homosexuality was quite accepted
• Achilles welcomes the embassy and oNers them hospitality
• Follows Homeric codes of xenia
• Sit on purple dyed -> super expensive dye
Odysseus’s Speech
• After feasting, Odysseus speaks first and appeals to Achilles with logic: fight now
or else you may regret the choices you have made
• Makes reference to Achilles’ father, Peleus
• Knows Achilles is easily moved by references to his father
• Only child and feels concerned w his father
, • Tries to warn him to control his proud spirit: sense of pride/hubris
• Dangers of hubris: Check your anger
• You’ll loose your honor if you have hubris
• Lists all the gifts that Agamemnon will oNer Achilles
• Includes important marriage connections + alliance – shows how alliances
were negotiated between elite families in ancient Greece
Achilles’ refusal
• Achilles is not persuaded by Odysseus’ speech and responds bluntly to him, saying
he hates dissemblers
• Still bitter that despite his hard fighting, he receives only the same share of
honour as others who achieve less in war
1) Importance in having equal share – the only thing Achilles got was Briseis
• Refuses the gifts and marriage oNers of Agamemnon: “every gift sucks!”
• Reveals the prophecy about his fate
1) Stay at troy & die early -> Glory will be everlasting
2) Leave & live long -> no glory
• Makes a very unheroic statement that riches (and the honour they
represent) are not worth his life
• Achilles, despite being obsessed with honour and glory, at times reveals a
sense of hesitation and doubt about facing death
§ Relation between mortal and fate is unclear
§ Debate over two diNerent life he could live (glory vs living
life)
• However, his drive for glory overpowers these anxieties
Phoenix’s Speech
• Phoenix now makes his appeal to Achilles, and reminds him of their past history
together and his love for Achilles
• Tries to convince Achilles that he has his best interests at heart
The Embassy
• The Trojans, favoured by Zeus, are pushing back the Greeks and bringing the battle
closer and closer to the Greek camp
• Agamemnon regrets angering Achilles and wants to make amends and ask for his
assistance
• He sends an embassy to try and convince Achilles to return to battle. The
embassy is comprised of:
• Odysseus: the wisest
• Greater Ajax (son of Telamon): the leader warrior
• Phoenix: old advisor and not basileus
• Phoenix is not a basileus, but an old advisor and caretaker of Achilles
• Childhood educator for Achilles
• find Achilles at his tent, playing his lyre while his beloved companion Patroclus
listens
• Patroclus (guide and mentor for Achilles), son of Menoetius: exiled from his
birth kingdom to send to achilles’s place
• Best Friend & romantic partner(?)
• SOCIETY: Homosexuality was quite accepted
• Achilles welcomes the embassy and oNers them hospitality
• Follows Homeric codes of xenia
• Sit on purple dyed -> super expensive dye
Odysseus’s Speech
• After feasting, Odysseus speaks first and appeals to Achilles with logic: fight now
or else you may regret the choices you have made
• Makes reference to Achilles’ father, Peleus
• Knows Achilles is easily moved by references to his father
• Only child and feels concerned w his father
, • Tries to warn him to control his proud spirit: sense of pride/hubris
• Dangers of hubris: Check your anger
• You’ll loose your honor if you have hubris
• Lists all the gifts that Agamemnon will oNer Achilles
• Includes important marriage connections + alliance – shows how alliances
were negotiated between elite families in ancient Greece
Achilles’ refusal
• Achilles is not persuaded by Odysseus’ speech and responds bluntly to him, saying
he hates dissemblers
• Still bitter that despite his hard fighting, he receives only the same share of
honour as others who achieve less in war
1) Importance in having equal share – the only thing Achilles got was Briseis
• Refuses the gifts and marriage oNers of Agamemnon: “every gift sucks!”
• Reveals the prophecy about his fate
1) Stay at troy & die early -> Glory will be everlasting
2) Leave & live long -> no glory
• Makes a very unheroic statement that riches (and the honour they
represent) are not worth his life
• Achilles, despite being obsessed with honour and glory, at times reveals a
sense of hesitation and doubt about facing death
§ Relation between mortal and fate is unclear
§ Debate over two diNerent life he could live (glory vs living
life)
• However, his drive for glory overpowers these anxieties
Phoenix’s Speech
• Phoenix now makes his appeal to Achilles, and reminds him of their past history
together and his love for Achilles
• Tries to convince Achilles that he has his best interests at heart
