·Direct
Achilles is at the ford of Xanthus when he divides the opposing forces.
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“when they came to the ford of the full-flowing river Xanthus, begotten of immortal Jove, Achilles cut their forces in two”
Book 21
Chapter 21
39 passages85 observations · 12 observed placesSHA 7e81d1cadaa2…
Passage 1
Lines 4–5
Source text
NOW when they came to the ford of the full-flowing river Xanthus, begotten of immortal Jove, Achilles cut their forces in two: one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the Achaeans had taken when flying panic-stricken on the preceding day with Hector in full triumph; this way did they fly pell-mell, and Juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them. The other half were hemmed in by the deep silver-eddying stream, and fell into it with a great uproar. The waters resounded, and the banks rang again, as they swam hither and thither with loud cries amid the whirling eddies. As locusts flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire—the flame comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they huddle into the water—even so was the eddying stream of Xanthus filled with the uproar of men and horses, all struggling in confusion before Achilles.
Location presence
2
Location presence
Claims for this passage
4
Claims for this passage
Achilles splits the Trojan forces and chases one half panic-stricken across the plain toward the city.
See evidence text
“Achilles cut their forces in two: one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the Achaeans had taken when flying panic-stricken on the preceding day with Hector in full triumph; this way did they fly pell-mell”
Juno sends a thick mist before the fleeing Trojans to impede them.
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“Juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them.”
The Trojans flee pell-mell toward the city or are hemmed into the river, where they swim amid cries and whirling eddies.
See evidence text
“one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the Achaeans had taken when flying panic-stricken on the preceding day with Hector in full triumph; this way did they fly pell-mell, and Juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them. The other half were hemmed in by the deep silver-eddying stream, and fell into it with a great uproar. The waters resounded, and the banks rang again, as they swam hither and thither with loud cries amid the whirling eddies.”
Xanthus is a full-flowing, deep, silver-eddying river.
See evidence text
“full-flowing river Xanthus, begotten of immortal Jove, Achilles cut their forces in two: one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the Achaeans had taken when flying panic-stricken on the preceding day with Hector in full triumph; this way did they fly pell-mell, and Juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them. The other half were hemmed in by the deep silver-eddying stream”
Published summary
At the ford of Xanthus, Achilles divides the routed Trojans, chasing one group toward the city under a mist sent by Juno while the other struggles amid the river's eddies like locusts driven into water by fire.