The Iliad Book 2 The Great Gathering of Armies
The second book reinforces how important the social hierarchy is to these Achaeans. Agamemnon's authority seems to derive from Zeus, symbolized by the scepter passed down through his family, not from any merit on his part. Even when he comes up with a bizarre and pointless plan to test his troops, his commanders, even the crafty Odysseus, support him. When a common soldier taunts Agamemnon for the wrong Agamemnon has done Achilles (and no one seems to disagree with his assessment, even Agamemnon is starting to wonder if his treatment of Achilles is going to cost him), Odysseus verbally and physically abuses him. In particular, Odysseus beats him with Agamemnon's scepter (not exactly subtle). Knowing one's place in the hierarchy is more important than being right.
[Spoiler (click to open)]Zeus can't sleep as he considers the question of how to exalt Achilles and slaughter Achaeans. Eventually he decides to send a deceitful dream to Agamemnon that will assure him (in the form of Nestor) that his armies can take Troy now. Agamemnon wakes and gathers his ranking chiefs to describe his dream. Nestor remarks that the dream would be unbelievable if it weren't related by the bravest and best Achaean. Is Nestor sassing Agamemnon? It seems not.
Bizarrely Agamemnon opts to test his armies by declaring the war hopeless and advising them to cut and run. The ranks seem eager to retreat and start to run to their ships without hesitation. I've yet to find a commentary that explains why he does this.
Grudge-bearing goddesses - Hera orders Athena to go rally the retreating Greeks since Troy can't go unpunished. Athena spurs on one of her favorites, Odysseus. To the ranking chiefs Odyssey advises them to keep their ranks in check, reminding them of Agamemnon's secret council.
God forbid his anger destroy the army he commands.
The rage of kings is strong, they're nursed by the gods,
their honor comes from Zeus-
they're dear to Zeus, the god who rules the world.
Again kings are powerful because of their position and are not expected to be just. In contrast to his conciliatory tone with his peers, Odysseus verbally abuses the ranks to keep them in line.
Thersites (apparently hated by Achilles and Odysseus) taunts Agamemnon for his greed about prizes and the wrong he's done Achilles. He urges his fellows to return to their ships. Nothing he says seems unreasonable to the modern ear, but Odysseus beats him with Agamemnon's scepter to the cheers of the crowd. Status quo must be maintained at all costs.
Odysseus exhorts them to stay true to the cause-reminding them of their promises, threatening them with humiliation, and referring to a divine omen of victory. The omen's symbolism was ambiguous though: Greeks as the snake who swallow the Trojan nestlings. Nestor seconds his advice and adds that any man who refuses to fight will be put to death (control/rule by fear and force). Agamemnon finally chimes in with a pep talk and seems to realize that his quarrel with Achilles is holding them back from sacking Troy.
Preparing for battle the troops sacrifice to the gods asking to be spared from death and the grind of war while their commanders pray for victory. Athena walks through the assembled troops rousing them to battle fury so that war enflames them more than the idea of going home.
The armies muster and are described as bees, wild fire, birds - natural forces:
As ravening fire rips through big stands of timber
high on a mountain ridge and the blaze flares miles away,
so from the marching troops the blaze of bronze armor,
splendid and superhuman, flared across the earth,
flashing into the air to hit the skies.
Suddenly Agamemnon is described in terms of an epic hero. Tedious listing and tally of the commanders and their troops on both sides. This probably meant a lot to the ancient Greeks listening. References to broken-hearted Achilles and his troops who are sporting at leisure.
Helen's husband Menelaus arrives uninvited at councils. The ostensible aggrieved party hasn't had a line yet. He doesn't seem to have a leadership role and seems weak.
Something so unsettling about a world view in which the supreme god is uncertain and doesn't know everything, including the future. Gods give both good and bad-Agamemnon's god-given sleep interrupted by a god-given lying dream.
[Spoiler (click to open)]Zeus can't sleep as he considers the question of how to exalt Achilles and slaughter Achaeans. Eventually he decides to send a deceitful dream to Agamemnon that will assure him (in the form of Nestor) that his armies can take Troy now. Agamemnon wakes and gathers his ranking chiefs to describe his dream. Nestor remarks that the dream would be unbelievable if it weren't related by the bravest and best Achaean. Is Nestor sassing Agamemnon? It seems not.
Bizarrely Agamemnon opts to test his armies by declaring the war hopeless and advising them to cut and run. The ranks seem eager to retreat and start to run to their ships without hesitation. I've yet to find a commentary that explains why he does this.
Grudge-bearing goddesses - Hera orders Athena to go rally the retreating Greeks since Troy can't go unpunished. Athena spurs on one of her favorites, Odysseus. To the ranking chiefs Odyssey advises them to keep their ranks in check, reminding them of Agamemnon's secret council.
God forbid his anger destroy the army he commands.
The rage of kings is strong, they're nursed by the gods,
their honor comes from Zeus-
they're dear to Zeus, the god who rules the world.
Again kings are powerful because of their position and are not expected to be just. In contrast to his conciliatory tone with his peers, Odysseus verbally abuses the ranks to keep them in line.
Thersites (apparently hated by Achilles and Odysseus) taunts Agamemnon for his greed about prizes and the wrong he's done Achilles. He urges his fellows to return to their ships. Nothing he says seems unreasonable to the modern ear, but Odysseus beats him with Agamemnon's scepter to the cheers of the crowd. Status quo must be maintained at all costs.
Odysseus exhorts them to stay true to the cause-reminding them of their promises, threatening them with humiliation, and referring to a divine omen of victory. The omen's symbolism was ambiguous though: Greeks as the snake who swallow the Trojan nestlings. Nestor seconds his advice and adds that any man who refuses to fight will be put to death (control/rule by fear and force). Agamemnon finally chimes in with a pep talk and seems to realize that his quarrel with Achilles is holding them back from sacking Troy.
Preparing for battle the troops sacrifice to the gods asking to be spared from death and the grind of war while their commanders pray for victory. Athena walks through the assembled troops rousing them to battle fury so that war enflames them more than the idea of going home.
The armies muster and are described as bees, wild fire, birds - natural forces:
As ravening fire rips through big stands of timber
high on a mountain ridge and the blaze flares miles away,
so from the marching troops the blaze of bronze armor,
splendid and superhuman, flared across the earth,
flashing into the air to hit the skies.
Suddenly Agamemnon is described in terms of an epic hero. Tedious listing and tally of the commanders and their troops on both sides. This probably meant a lot to the ancient Greeks listening. References to broken-hearted Achilles and his troops who are sporting at leisure.
Helen's husband Menelaus arrives uninvited at councils. The ostensible aggrieved party hasn't had a line yet. He doesn't seem to have a leadership role and seems weak.
Something so unsettling about a world view in which the supreme god is uncertain and doesn't know everything, including the future. Gods give both good and bad-Agamemnon's god-given sleep interrupted by a god-given lying dream.