All books

Book 18

Chapter 18

48 passages69 observations · 10 observed placesSHA d3ec8c211051

Passage 1

Lines 45

Canonical text · read-only

Source text

THUS then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. Meanwhile the fleet runner Antilochus, who had been sent as messenger, reached Achilles, and found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that which was indeed too surely true. ‘Alas,’ said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart, ‘why are the Achaeans again scouring the plain and flocking towards the ships? Heaven grant the gods be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis spoke, saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the Myrmidons should fall before the Trojans, and see the light of the sun no longer. I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen through his own daring and yet I bade him return to the ships as soon as he had driven back those that were bringing fire against them, and not join battle with Hector.’

Location presence

3
·Direct

The Achaeans are moving across the plain of Troy.

See evidence text
why are the Achaeans again scouring the plain and flocking towards the ships?
·Direct

Achilles is found sitting beside his tall ships.

See evidence text
Meanwhile the fleet runner Antilochus, who had been sent as messenger, reached Achilles, and found him sitting by his tall ships
·Direct

Antilochus reaches Achilles beside the tall ships.

See evidence text
Meanwhile the fleet runner Antilochus, who had been sent as messenger, reached Achilles, and found him sitting by his tall ships

Claims for this passage

3
Achilles·Character·Direct

Achilles sits by his tall ships, foreboding what is in fact true.

See evidence text
found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that which was indeed too surely true
Antilochus·Character·Direct

Antilochus serves as a fleet messenger and reaches Achilles at the ships.

See evidence text
fleet runner Antilochus, who had been sent as messenger, reached Achilles
Patroclus·Character·Uncertain

Achilles fears that Patroclus, identified through Thetis’s warning as the bravest Myrmidon, has fallen through his own daring.

See evidence text
the bravest of the Myrmidons should fall before the Trojans, and see the light of the sun no longer. I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen through his own daring

Published summary

As the fighters clash like flaming fire, Antilochus reaches Achilles, who fears that Patroclus has fallen through his own daring despite being ordered to return after driving the fire from the ships.

Passage preview

Book 18 · Passage 1

THUS then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. Meanwhile the fleet runner Antilochus, who had been sent as messenger, reached Achilles, and found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that which was indeed too surely true. ‘Alas,’ said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart, ‘why are the Achaeans again scouring the plain and flocking towards the ships? Heaven grant the gods be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis spoke, saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the Myrmidons should fall before the Trojans, and see the light of the sun no longer. I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen through his own daring and yet I bade him return to the ships as soon as he had driven back those that were bringing fire against them, and not join battle with Hector.’