Lecture on Achilles and Agamemnon's Conflict from The Iliad

Key Characters

• Achilles: Son of Peleus, a Greek hero and central character.
• Agamemnon: King and leader of the Greek forces.
• Apollo: God angry with the Greeks due to Agamemnon's actions.
• Chryses: Priest of Apollo, father of Chryseis.
• Chryseis: Daughter of Chryses, taken by Agamemnon.
• Thetis: Mother of Achilles, a sea goddess.
• Zeus: King of the gods.
• Hera: Wife of Zeus, involved in Olympus dynamics.
• Calchas: Seer who interprets Apollo’s anger.

Background

• The Greeks sacked Thebes, leading to conflict involving Achilles and Agamemnon.
• Agamemnon took Chryseis, leading to Apollo's wrath against the Greeks.

Main Conflict

• Apollo's Anger: Initiates a plague on the Greeks due to Agamemnon dishonoring Chryses.
• Achilles vs. Agamemnon: Achilles angry at Agamemnon for taking his prize, Briseis.
• Agamemnon's Threat: Agamemnon threatens to take Briseis from Achilles as compensation.

Key Events

• Chryses' Plea: Chryses begs for his daughter’s return; Agamemnon refuses.
• Plague on Greeks: Apollo sends a plague; Greeks suffer and die.
• Achilles' Proposal: Suggests consulting an oracle to understand Apollo's wrath.
• Calchas’ Revelation: Reveals Agamemnon's slight causes Apollo's anger.

Achilles' Reaction

• Anger at Agamemnon: Achilles feels dishonored and refuses to fight.
• Withdrawal from Battle: Leaves the battlefield, impacting Greek forces.

Divine Interventions

• Thetis' Plea to Zeus: Thetis appeals to Zeus for Achilles' honor.
• Zeus’ Concession: Zeus agrees to favor the Trojans temporarily.

Olympus Dynamics

• Hera's Suspicion: Argues with Zeus about his secretive dealings.
• Hephaestus’ Mediation: Attempts to calm Hera and maintain peace among gods.

Consequences

• Achilles' Absence: Weakens Greek position against Trojans.
• Zeus' Influence: Strengthens Trojans until Greeks honor Achilles.

Themes

• Honor and Pride: Central to the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon.
• Divine Influence: Gods actively shape the events of the mortal world.
• Fate and Mortality: Achilles' destiny is foreshadowed as short and tragic.

Conclusion

• The conflict sets the stage for further Greek struggles and highlights Achilles' critical role in the Trojan War saga.