Character · Individual
Read-only identity and editorial metadata.
noble Polydamas
Epithet · Direct
son of Panthous
Descriptive reference · Direct
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Polydamas was among the party physically gathered on the rising slope of the plain of Troy.
“The Trojans, on the other side upon the rising slope of the plain, were gathered round great Hector, noble Polydamas, Aeneas who was honoured by the Trojans like an immortal, and the three sons of Antenor, Polybus, Agenor, and young Acamas beauteous as a god.”
Polydamas calls a mounted crossing madness and advises leaving the horses with squires while the force follows Hector on foot in full armour, conditionally predicting success if Achaean doom is at hand.
“Then Polydamas went up to Hector and said, ‘Hector, and you other captains of the Trojans and allies, it is madness for us to try and drive our horses across the trench; it will be very hard to cross, for it is full of sharp stakes, and beyond these there is the wall. Our horses therefore cannot get down into it, and would be of no use if they did; moreover it is a narrow place and we should come to harm. If, indeed, great Jove is minded to help the Trojans, and in his anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans, I would myself gladly see them perish now and here far from Argos; but if they should rally and we are driven back from the ships pellmell into the trench there will be not so much as a man get back to the city to tell the tale. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let our squires hold our horses by the trench, but let us follow Hector in a body on foot, clad in full armour, and if the day of their doom is at hand the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us”
Polydamas challenges Hector’s habitual rebukes and interprets the omen as warning that even a breach would cost many lives and prevent an orderly return.
“Polydamas went up to Hector and said, ‘Hector, at our councils of war you are ever given to rebuke me, even when I speak wisely, as though it were not well, forsooth, that one of the people should cross your will either in the field or at the council board; you would have them support you always: nevertheless I will say what I think will be best; let us not now go on to fight the Danaans at their ships, for I know what will happen if this soaring eagle which skirted the left wing of our host with a monstrous blood-red snake in its talons (the snake being still alive) was really sent as an omen to the Trojans on their essaying to cross the trench. The eagle let go her hold; she did not succeed in taking it home to her little ones, and so will it be—with ourselves; even though by a mighty effort we break through the gates and wall of the Achaeans, and they give way before us, still we shall not return in good order by the way we came, but shall leave many a man behind us whom the Achaeans will do to death in defence of their ships. Thus would any seer who was expert in these matters, and was trusted by the people, read the portent”
Hector accuses Polydamas of fear and of lacking steadfastness and courage.
“Why are you so fearful? Though we be all of us slain at the ships of the Argives you are not likely to be killed yourself, for you are not steadfast nor courageous”
Polydamas distinguishes Hector’s war skill from counsel, diagnoses scattered forces, and advises a council and possible retreat.
“Polydamas presently said to Hector, ‘Hector, there is no persuading you to take advice. Because heaven has so richly endowed you with the arts of war, you think that you must therefore excel others in counsel; but you cannot thus claim preeminence in all things. Heaven has made one man an excellent soldier; of another it has made a dancer or a singer and player on the lyre; while yet in another Jove has implanted a wise understanding of which men reap fruit to the saving of many, and he himself knows more about it than any one; therefore I will say what I think will be best. The fight has hemmed you in as with a circle of fire, and even now that the Trojans are within the wall some of them stand aloof in full armour, while others are fighting scattered and outnumbered near the ships. Draw back, therefore, and call your chieftains round you, that we may advise together whether to fall now upon the ships in the hope that heaven may vouchsafe us victory, or to beat a retreat while we can yet safely do so. I greatly fear that the Achaeans will pay us their debt of yesterday in full, for there is one abiding at their ships who is never weary of battle”
Polydamas is among the named princes who surround fallen Hector and cover him with round shields before his evacuation.
“he was surrounded and covered by the princes Polydamas, Aeneas, Agenor, Sarpedon captain of the Lycians, and noble Glaucus. Of the others, too, there was not one who was unmindful of him, and they held their round shields over him to cover him.”
Polydamas advances to avenge Satnius, drives his spear through Prothoenor’s right shoulder, and boasts that the embedded weapon will serve the falling Argive as a staff to Hades.
“Polydamas son of Panthous drew near to avenge him, and wounded Prothoenor son of Areilycus on the right shoulder; the terrible spear went right through his shoulder, and he clutched the earth as he fell in the dust. Polydamas vaunted loudly over him saying, ‘Again I take it that the spear has not sped in vain from the strong hand of the son of Panthous; an Argive has caught it in his body, and it will serve him for a staff as he goes down into the house of Hades.”
Polydamas saves himself from Ajax’s spear by swerving aside, leaving Archelochus to be struck.
“Polydamas saved himself by swerving aside and the spear struck Archelochus”
Polydamas kills Mecisteus.
“Polydamas killed Mecisteus”
Polydamas promptly reaches Cleitus’s swerving horses, entrusts them to Astynous with orders to watch and keep them near, then returns to the front ranks.
“King Polydamas saw what had happened, and was the first to come up to the horses; he gave them in charge to Astynous son of Protiaon, and ordered him to look on, and to keep the horses near at hand. He then went back and took his place in the front ranks”
Polydamas kills Otus of Cyllene, companion of Meges and chief of the proud Epeans.
“Polydamas killed Otus of Cyllene a comrade of the son of Phyleus and chief of the proud Epeans”
Polydamas is Hector’s same-aged comrade and a far-seeing man of judgment who addresses the Trojans sincerely and with goodwill.
“Polydamas son of Panthous was first to speak, a man of judgement, who alone among them could look both before and after. He was comrade to Hector, and they had been born upon the same night; with all sincerity and goodwill”
Polydamas urges retreat to Troy rather than waiting by the ships because the Trojans are far from their walls.
“I would urge you to go back now to your city and not wait here by the ships till morning, for we are far from our walls”
Polydamas’s wise counsel goes unheeded.
“the wise words of Polydamas no man would heed”
Hector recalls that Polydamas urged a retreat to the city and admits he should have listened.
“Polydamas will be the first to heap reproach upon me, for it was he that urged me to lead the Trojans back to the city on that awful night when Achilles again came forth against us. I would not listen, but it would have been indeed better if I had done so”
Evidence records not already represented by a claim.
“noble Polydamas”
“Polydamas”
“princes Polydamas”
“Polydamas son of Panthous”
“Polydamas the noble son of Panthous”
“a spear thrown by Polydamas”
“Polydamas will be the first to heap reproach upon me, for it was he that urged me to lead the Trojans back to the city”