Day 60: The Black Ship Returns

Lines 480-89
οἱ δ' ἱστὸν στήσαντ' ἀνά θ' ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν·
ἐν δ' ἄνεμος πρῆσεν μέσον ἱστίον, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα
στείρῃ παρφύρεον μεγάλ' ἴαχε νηὸς ἰούσης·
ἡ δ' ἔθεεν κατὰ κῦμα διαπρήσσουσα κέλευθον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἵκοντο κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν,
νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἐπ' ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν
ὑψοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ὑπὸ δ' ἕρματα μακρὰ τάννσσαν,
αὐτοὶ δ' ἐσκίδαντο κατὰ κλισίας τε νέας τε.

αὐτὰρ ὁ μήνιε νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροισιν
διογενὴς Πηλῆος υἱός, πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς.

So they stood up the sail, and thereon unfurled the shining cloth;
Then the breeze blew up its center and dark waves roared about
The stem of that sailing ship which sped over the waves,
Passing on its way. But when they came to the broad camp of the Achaeans,
They first drew the black ship upon the continent,
High up on the sandy beach, then placed it under the beams,
And the men scattered among the ships and shelters.

But he raged on sitting by the swift sailing ships,
That Zeus born son of Peleus, swift footed Achilles.



This is a gorgeous scene with the Achaeans returning to their camp from Chrysa, a fair wind from the Archer god at their back, then pulling their ship onto the beach and returning to their lives with that wretched plague now a memory. But there is that ominous picture of Achilles, raging beside the ships, which is a portent of troubles to come.

Day 59: Early, Rosy Fingered Dawn

Lines 471-79
νώμησαν δ' ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν,
οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι μολπῇ θεὸν ἱλάσκοντο,
καλὸν ἀείδοντες παιήονα, κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,
μέλποντες ἑκάερτον· ὁ δὲ φρένα τέρπετ' ἀκούων.
ἦμος δ' ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,
δὴ τότε κοιμήσαντο παρὰ πρυνήσια νηός.
ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠως,
καὶ τότ' ἔπειτ' ἀνάγοντο μετὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν·
τοῖσιν δ' ἴκυμενον οὖρον ἵει ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων.

Then they apportioned it to all and each let fall
A drop of wine from their cup, and all day
They propitiated the god with their dance,
Singing well the Striker's hymn, the Achaean youths,
And dancing the dance of that far stiking god;
And this delighted his spirit that hearkened to it.
Then when the sun set and the gloom of night came on,
They fell to slumber along the stern of their ship.
And when early, rosy fingered dawn appeared,
They set out for the broad camp of the Achaeans;
And far striking Apollo sent a fair wind for them.


So this is the end of the Chryseis drama with her being returned to her beloved father and the Achaeans spending the day in Chrysa feasting in honor of Apollo. His anger now appeased he puts the wind at Odysseus' back so that he can return to the war. I find this last part a little incredulous since Apollo was firmly in the camp of the Trojans. But, I suppose that if one honors a god sufficiently then his favor can be won.

My favorite Homeric epithet makes its first appearance here: early, rosy fingered dawn. These were the first words that stuck in my memory on reading the Iliad, or attempting to read the Iliad, for the first time several years ago. These epithets are the key I think to the resiliency
of the Homeric epics throughout the millenia. They have the feel of some sort of magic charm to them. Fast ships sailing on a wine dark sea...

Day 58: To Pour Out Shimmering Wine For the Deathless Gods

Lines 462-70
καῖε δ' ἐπὶ σχίζῃς ὁ γέρων, ἐπὶ δ'αἴθοπα οἶον
λεῖβε· έοι δὲ παρ' αὐτὸν ἔχον πεμπώβολα χερσίν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρα κάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,
μίστυλλον τ' ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφ' ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,
ὤπτησάν τε περιφραραδέως, ἐρύσαντο τε πάντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκαντό τε δαῖτα
δαίνυντ', οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐίσης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
κοῦροι μὲν κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,

Then the old man burned them on split wood,
And poured out shimmering wine as libation;
Then the youths held forks in hand alongside him.
So when the thighs were consumed they fed on the organs,
They sliced them up and pierced both ends of the spit,
Then they roasted them with great care, and drew them all up.
But when they ceased their work and the banquet was made
They feasted, nor did any spirt want for this well portioned feast.
But when they stayed the desire for food and drink
The young men filled the mixing bowls full of drink,


A beautiful portait of an ancient feast. Two former enemies making peace with the god as a witness and devouring meat and drinking wine together at table. A bit of relaxation ensues after the tragedy between Achilles and Agamemnon.

Day 57: The Sacrifice of the Bulls

Lines 450-61
τοῖσιν δὲ Χρύσης μεγάλ' εὔχετο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·
"κλῦθί μευ ἀργυροτοξ' ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας
Κίλλαν τε ζαθέην, Τενέδοιο τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις·
ἠμὲν δή ποτ' ἐμεῦ πάρος ἔκλυες εὐξαμένοιο,
τίμησας μὲν ἐμέ, μέγα δ' ἴψαο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·
ἠδ' ἔτι καὶ νῦν μοι τόδ' ἐπικρήνον ἐέλδωρ·
ἤδη νῦν Δαναοῖσιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἄμυνον."

ὧς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο
αὐέρυσαν μὲν πρῶτα καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,
μηρούς τ' ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν
δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπ' αὐτῶν δ' ὠμοθέτησαν.

Then Chryses prayed aloud, raising his hands up before them:
"Hear me O god of the silver bow, you who shield Chrysa
And most sacred Cilla, and rule over Tenedos in power:
Truly you heard my prayer in that troubled time,
You have surely honored me, and greatly afflicted the Achaean host;
Now fulfill yet one more request for me:
Drive away from the Danaans this grievous destruction."

Thus he spoke the prayer and Phoebus Apollo heard him.
Then, when they had thrown down the barley corn,
They first raised up the victim, and cut their throats,
Then flayed them, and from below cut out the thigh pieces,
And enveloped them in rich fat, making them doubly fatted,
And put the flesh upon the thigh bones.



A sad end for the hundred head of cattle brought from the Achaean camp, but happiness for the Achaeans themselves. As Chryses repeats his invocation of the god he thanks Apollo for causing the Danaans all this trouble, and since his daughter has been safely returned he kindly requests the plague be lifted. All this trouble because Agamemnon couldn't part with a pretty face...

Day 56: Chryses' Moment of Supreme Satisfaction

Lines 436-49
ἐκ δ' εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσι' ἔδησαν·
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης,
ἐκ δ' ἑκατόμβην βῆσαν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι·
ἐκ δὲ Χρυσηὶς νηὸς βῆ ποντοπόροιο.
τὴν μὲν ἔπειτ' ἐπὶ βωμὸν ἄγων πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεὺς
πατρὶ φίλῳ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, καί μιν προσέειπεν·
"ὦ Χρύση, πρό μ' ἔπεμψεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
παῖδα τε σοὶ ἀγέμεν, Φοίβῳ θ' ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην
ῥέξαι ὑπὲρ Δαναῶν, ὄφρ' ἱλασόμεθα ἄνακτα
ὅς νῦν Ἀργείοισι πολύσονα κήδε ἐφῆκεν."

ὧς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὁ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων
παῖδα φίλην. τοὶ δ' ὦκα θεῷ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην
ἐξείης ἔστησαν ἐύδμητον περὶ βωμόν,
χερνίψαντο δ' ἔπειτα καὶ οὐλοκύτας ἀνέλοντο.


Then they hurled forth the anchorstone
And tied down the stern cable,
And they themselves went upon the shore of the sea,
And moved out the hecatomb for farshooting Apollo;
And Chryseis went out from the sea going ship.
Threupon wise Odysseus, leading her to the altar
And her dear father, placed her in his hands
And addressed him: "O Chryses, Agamemnon
The lord of men sends me before you to bring the child
To you, and a sacred hecatomb for Phoebus
To sacrifice for the sake of the Danaans,
So that we might appease the high lord,
Who sends woes upon the Argives
Causing many groans."

Thus speaking, he placed her in his arms,
and the man accepted his dear child rejoicing.
Then in turn they quickly stood the god's sacred hecatomb
Around the well built altar, and purified themselves with water,
Then took up even the poured out barley corn.



The smile on Chryses' face must have been incredible here. I think that it is interesting to note that the entire theme of the Iliad is of the losses that a mortal man must suffer, leading up to the loss of his own life. Chryses is the only significant character in the poem to avert the pain of loss by getting his daughter back with the help of a god by causing great harm to the Achaeans. It almost seems like black magic. I doubt that this is a coincidence and I often wonder what was in the poet's mind as he constructed this passage.

Day 55: A Sojourn Among the Ethiopians and a Voyage to Chrysa

Lines 425-35
δωδεκάτῃ δέ τοι αὖτις ἐλεύσεται Οὐλυμπόνδε,
καὶ τοτ' ἔπειτά τοι εἶμι Διὸς ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ,
καί μιν γουνάσομαι, καί μιν πείσεσθαι ὀίω."

ὧς ἄρα φωνήσας' ἀπεβήσετο, τὸν δὲ λίπ' αὐτοῦ
χωόμενον κατὰ θυμὸν ἐυζώνοιο γυναίκος,
τήν ῥα βίῃ ἀέκοντος ἀπηύρων. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἐς Χρύσην ἵκανεν ἄγων ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην.

οἱ δ' ὅτε δὴ λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντὸς ἵκοντο,
ἱστία μὲν στείλαντο, θέσαν δ' ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
ἱστὸν δ' ἱστοδόκῃ πέλασαν προτόνοισιν ὑφέντες
καρπαλίμως, τὴν δ' εἰς ὅρμον προέρεσσαν ἐρετμοῖς.


Then on the twelfth day I will go anew to Olympus for you,
And I go thereupon to the house of Zeus paved with bronze,
Then I shall grasp his knees, and I think this will persuade him."

Thus she spoke and then departed, and left him there,
Enraged at heart over a wasp waisted woman,
Whom they took from him by force,
Against his will. Then Odysseus came to Chrysa
Leading a sacred hecatomb.

And when they came within a harbor so very deep,
They furled the sail, and put it in the black ship,
Then drew it into its receiver, quickly letting down the sail
With rope, and rowed the oars on to anchor.



Homer has a great way of putting everything into perspective here when he gives voice to Achilles thoughts as his goddess mother heads off to Olympus. All this trouble over a pretty girl that they took from him by force...

Day 54: A Goddess Lets Fall a Tear

Lines 413-24
τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα Θέτις κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα·
"ὤ μοι, τέκνον ἐμον, τί νύ ς' ἔτρεφον αἰνὰ τεκοῦσα;
αἵθ' ὄφελες παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀδάκρυτος καὶ ἀπήμων
ἧσθαι, ἐπεί νύ τοι αἶσα μίννυνθά περ, οὔ τι μάλα δήν·
νῦν δ' ἅμα τ' ὠκύμορος καὶ ὀιζυρὸς περὶ πάντων
ἔπλεο· τῶ σε κακῇ αἶσῃ τέκον ἐν μεγάροισιν.
τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέουσα ἔπος Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
εἶμ' αὐτὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἀγάννιφον, οἴ κε πίθηται.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροισιν
μήνι' Ἀχαιοῖσιν, πολέμου δ' ἀποπαύεο πάμπαν·
Ζεὺς γὰρ ἐς Ὠκεανὸν μετ' ἀμύνονας Αἰθιοπῆας
χθιζὸς ἔβη κατὰ δαῖτα, θεοὶ δ' ἅμα παντες ἕποντο·



And Thetis answered him, letting a tear stream down:
"O my dear child, why indeed did I bring you up,
Raising you to a dreadful end? Would that you were sitting
By the ships, without tears and without pain,
Since for you time is so terribly short, there is not a long while.
Now then it is swift fated and piteous for all men along with you;
Therefore I bore you to evil dread in that palace.
So I go myself to the snowy heights of Olympus
To speak a word of this to Zeus who hurls the thunderbolt,
If he should heed me. But you now restrain yourself from war
Entirely, and rage against the Achaeans sitting by
The fast sailing ships; For Zeus yesterday went to Oceanus,
To a feast with the noble Ethiopians, and all the gods went with;



This I think is the first mention of the Ethiopians in western literature. There are other poems in the epic cycle that mention a hero that fights on the Trojan side named Memnon who is Ethiopian. I think that Ethiopians were probably to the Greeks all the dark skinned peoples who lived to the south of Upper Egypt along the Nile, and therefore at world's end. It is kind of amusing to consider that Achilles' request here cannot be fulfilled right away because the gods are all on vacation. Kind of makes you wonder...