The Iliad - Book 15 - The Achaean armies at bay

• Reading time:

• Resume reading at 404

• Hector storms the ships.

• We left off at the end of Book 12 with Hector making a breach in the wall. God Apollo finishes the job and knocks the wall down (425). The situation seems desperate for the Achaeans. So much so that Patroclus makes the fateful move–he decides to go to ask Achilles to join the battle.
• The switching back and forth from the Achaean side focussed on Ajax to the Trojan side focussed on Hector makes us feel the stalemate of the situation as each side grinds the them down but neither side making significant progress.
• The book ends with an ironic contrast.
  • On the one hand, Hector's death is set: (710) “And high in the clear sky Zeus himself defended his champion—Hector alone he prized and glorified among hordes of men for Hector's life would be cut short so soon.”
  • On the other hand, Hector’s forces are making significant inroads against the Achaeans as the Trojans get ready to torch the Achaean ships: (832) “‘Bring fire! Up with the war cries, all together! Now Zeus hands us a day worth all the rest. Today we seize these ships.’” Victory seems at hand for Hector.