Achilles and Agamemnon. Achilles is a hero of ancient Greek mythology

How Achilles' consciousness split in two After this, attacks of madness began to recur with Achilles. Sometimes Achilles ran away from home, ran through the fields and hid in the forest. There he was found in a state of extreme fear. Often he would sneak into the cemetery and sleep on some grave.

The Greeks had been besieging Troy for nine years. The tenth year of the great struggle has arrived. At the beginning of this year, the priest of the archer Apollo, Chris, arrived in the Greek camp. He begged all the Greeks, and above all their leaders, to return his daughter Chryseis to him for a rich ransom. After listening to Chryses, everyone agreed to accept a rich ransom for Chryseis and give her to her father. But the mighty king Agamemnon was angry and said to Chris

Old man, go away and never dare to show yourself here near our ships, otherwise the fact that you are a priest of the god Apollo will not save you. I will not return Chryseis to you. No, she will languish in captivity all her life. Be careful not to anger me if you want to return home unharmed.

In fear, Chris left the Greek camp and went saddened to the seashore. There, raising his hands to the sky, he prayed to the great son of Latona, the god Apollo:

O silver-bowed god, listen to me, your faithful servant! Take revenge on the Greeks with your arrows for my grief and insult.

Apollo heard the complaint of his priest Chryses. He quickly rushed from the bright Olympus with a bow and quiver over his shoulders. The golden arrows rattled menacingly in the quiver. Apollo rushed to the camp of the Greeks, blazing with anger; His face was darker than the night. Rushing to the Achaean camp, he took an arrow from his quiver and sent it into the camp. The string of Apollo's bow rang menacingly. After the first arrow, Apollo sent a second, a third - arrows rained down into the Greek camp, bringing death with them. A terrible pestilence struck the Greeks. Many Greeks died. Funeral pyres were burning everywhere. It seemed that the hour of death had come for the Greeks.

The pestilence had already raged for nine days. On the tenth day, on the advice given by Hero, the great hero Achilles convened a national meeting of all the Greeks to decide what to do, how to appease the gods. When all the warriors had gathered, Achilles was the first to address Agamemnon:

“We will have to sail back to our homeland, son of Atreus,” said Achilles, “you see that warriors are dying both in battles and from pestilence. But perhaps we will first ask the fortune-tellers: they will tell us how we angered the silver-bowed Apollo, for which he sent a disastrous pestilence on our army.

As soon as Achilles said this, the soothsayer Calchas stood up, having already revealed the will of the gods to the Greeks many times. He said that he was ready to reveal why the far-flung god was angry, but he would reveal this only if Achilles protected him from the wrath of King Agamemnon. Achilles promised his protection to Calchas and swore this by Apollo. Then only Calchas said:

The great son of Latona is angry because King Agamemnon dishonored his priest Chryses and drove him out of the camp without accepting a rich ransom from him for his daughter. We can appease God only by returning black-eyed Chryseis to her father and sacrificing a hundred calves to God.

Hearing what Calchas said, Agamemnon flared up with terrible anger at him and Achilles, but seeing that he would still have to return Chryseis to his father, he finally agreed, but demanded only himself a reward for her return. Achilles reproached Agamemnon for his greed. This angered Agamemnon even more. He began to threaten that with his power he would take the reward for Chryseis from what fell to Achilles, or Ajax, or Odysseus.

Shameless, insidious self-seeker! - Achilles cried, - you threaten us that you will take our rewards from us, although none of us has ever had an equal share in the rewards with you. But we didn’t come to fight for our own cause; we came here to help Menelaus and you. You want to take away from me part of the spoils that came to me for the great deeds I performed. So it’s better for me to return back to my native Phthia, I don’t want to increase your booty and treasures.

Well, run to Phthia! - Agamemnon shouted back to Achilles, - I hate you more than all the kings! You are the only one who starts discord. I'm not afraid of your anger. I'll tell you what! I will return Chryseis to her father, since this is the desire of the god Apollo, but for this I will take away your captive Briseis. You will find out how much more power I have! Let everyone be afraid to consider himself equal in power to me!

A terrible anger seized Achilles when he heard this threat from Agamemnon. The son of Thetis grabbed his sword; he had already pulled it halfway out of its sheath and was ready to rush at Agamemnon. Suddenly Achilles felt a light touch on his hair. He turned around and recoiled in horror. Before him, invisible to others, stood the great daughter of the thunderer, Pallas Athena. Hera sent Athena. The wife of Zeus did not want the death of either of the heroes; both of them - Achilles and Agamemnon - were equally dear to her. Achilles asked the goddess Athena with trepidation:

Oh, daughter of the thunderer Zeus, why did you come down from high Olympus? Have you really come here to see how Agamemnon rages? Oh, he will soon destroy himself with his pride!

No, mighty Achilles, answered the bright-eyed Pallas, I did not come for that. I have come to tame your anger, if only you obey the will of the Olympian gods. Do not draw your sword, be content with only words, with them you scourge Agamemnon. Trust me! Soon here, in this same place, they will pay you for your offense with gifts that will be many times richer. Humble yourself and submit to the will of the immortal gods. Achilles submitted to the will of the gods: he sheathed his sword, and Athena again ascended to the bright Olympus in the host of the gods.

Achilles also said many angry words to Agamemnon, calling him a devourer of the people, a drunkard, a coward, and a dog. Achilles threw his scepter to the ground and swore with it that the time would come when his help would be needed against the Trojans, but Agamemnon would beg for it in vain, since he had offended him so seriously. In vain did the wise king of Pylos, Elder Nestor, try to reconcile the warring parties. Agamemnon did not listen to Nestor, and Achilles did not humble himself. The great son of Peleus went angry with his friend Patroclus and the brave Myrmidons to their tents. Anger against Agamemnon, who had insulted him, raged furiously in his chest. Meanwhile, King Agamemnon ordered a fast ship to be lowered to the sea, sacrifices to the god Apollo were brought to it, and the beautiful daughter of the priest Chryses was taken. This ship was to sail under the command of the cunning Odysseus to Thebes, the city of Estion, and the Greeks in the camp, at the command of Agamemnon, were to make rich sacrifices to Apollo in order to appease him.

The ship sent by Agamemnon rushed quickly along the waves of the boundless sea. Finally, the ship entered the harbor of Thebes. The Greeks lowered their sails and moored to the pier. Odysseus got off the ship at the head of a detachment of warriors ashore, took the beautiful Chryseis to his father and addressed him with the following greeting:

O servant of Apollo! I came here by the will of Agamemnon to return your daughter. We also brought a hundred bulls to appease the great god Apollo, who sent a grave disaster on the Greeks, with these sacrifices.

Elder Chris rejoiced at the return of his daughter and tenderly hugged her. They immediately began to sacrifice to Apollo. Chris prayed to the arrow god:

O silver-bowed god! Listen to me! And before you listened to my pleas. Hear me now too! Turn away the great disaster from the Greeks, stop the disastrous pestilence!

The god Apollo heard the prayer of Chris and stopped the pestilence in the Greek camp. When Chris made sacrifices to Apollo, a luxurious feast was arranged. The Greeks feasted merrily in Thebes. The young men carried wine, filling the cups of those feasting with it to the top. The majestic sounds of the hymn in honor of Apollo, sung by Greek youths, were heard loudly. The feast continued until sunset, and in the morning, refreshed by sleep, Odysseus and his squad set off on their way back to the vast camp. Apollo sent them a fair wind. Like a seagull, the ship rushed across the sea waves. The ship quickly reached the camp. The swimmers pulled him ashore and went to their tents.

While Odysseus was sailing to Thebes, Agamemnon also fulfilled what he threatened Achilles with. He called the heralds Talthybius and Eurybates and sent them after Briseis. Reluctantly, Agamemnon's messengers went to Achilles' tent. They found him sitting in deep thought near the tent. The ambassadors approached the mighty hero, but in embarrassment they could not utter a word. Then the son of Peleus said to them:

Hello, heralds. I know that you are not guilty of anything, only Agamemnon is guilty. You have come for Briseis. My friend, Patroclus, give them Briseis. But let them themselves be witnesses that the hour will come when I will be needed to save the Greeks from destruction. Then Agamemnon, who has lost his mind, will not be able to save the Greeks!

Shedding bitter tears, Achilles left his friends, went to the deserted shore, stretched out his hands to the sea and loudly called on his mother, the goddess Thetis:

My mother, if you have already given birth to me doomed to a short life, why then does the thunderer Zeus deprive me of glory! No, he didn’t give me fame! King Agamemnon dishonored me by taking away my reward for my exploits. My mother, hear me!

The goddess Thetis heard the call of Achilles. She left the depths of the sea and the marvelous palace of the god Nereus. Quickly, like a light cloud, she emerged from the foaming sea waves. Thetis came ashore and, sitting down next to her dearly beloved son, hugged him.

Why are you crying so bitterly, my son? - she asked. - Tell me your grief.

Achilles told his mother how seriously Agamemnon had insulted him. He began to ask his mother to ascend to the bright Olympus and there to pray to Zeus to punish Agamemnon. Let Zeus help the Trojans, let them drive the Greeks away to the very ships. Let Agamemnon understand how foolishly he acted in insulting the bravest of the Greeks. Achilles assured his mother that Zeus would not refuse her request. All she has to do is remind Zeus how she once helped him when the gods of Olympus plotted to overthrow Zeus by shackling him. Then Thetis called the hundred-armed giant Briareus to help Zeus; Seeing him, all the gods were embarrassed and did not dare raise their hands against Zeus. Let Thetis remind the great Zeus the Thunderer of this, and he will not refuse her her request. This is how Achilles prayed to his mother Thetis.

“Oh, my beloved son,” Thetis exclaimed, crying bitterly, “why did I give birth to you for so many disasters!” Yes, your life will not be long, your end is already near. And now you are short-lived and the most unhappy of all! Oh no, don't mourn like that! I will rise to the bright Olympus, there I will beg the thunderer Zeus to help me. You stay in your tent and do not take part in battles anymore. Now Zeus has left Olympus, he and all the immortals went to a feast with the Ethiopians. But when Zeus returns in twelve days, then I will fall at his feet and, I hope, beg him!

Thetis left her sad son, and he went to the tents of his brave Myrmidons. From that day on, Achilles did not participate in meetings of leaders or in battles. He sat sadly in his tent, although he longed for military glory.

Eleven days have passed. On the twelfth day, early in the morning, along with the gray fog, the goddess Thetis ascended from the depths of the sea to bright Olympus. There she fell at the feet of Zeus, hugged his knees and with a prayer stretched out her hands to him, touching his beard.

O our father! - Thetis prayed, - I pray you, help me avenge my son! Fulfill my request if I ever do you a favor. Send victory to the Trojans until the Greeks begin to beg my son to help them, until they give him great honors.

The cloud suppressor Zeus did not answer Thetis for a long time. But Thetis persistently begged him. Finally, taking a deep breath, the thunderer said:

Know, Thetis! With your request you provoke the wrath of Hera, she will be angry with me. She already constantly reproaches me for helping the Trojans in battles. But now you have escaped from high Olympus so that Hera does not see you. I promise to fulfill your request. Here is a sign for you that I will fulfill my promise.

Having said this, Zeus frowned menacingly, the hair on his head rose, and all of Olympus shook. Thetis calmed down. She quickly rushed from high Olympus and plunged into the abyss of the sea.

Zeus went to the feast where the gods had gathered. They all stood up to meet Zeus; not one dared to greet him while sitting. When the king of gods and men sat on his golden throne, Hera turned to him. She saw that Thetis came to Zeus.

Tell me, treacherous one,” Hera said to Zeus, “with which of the immortals did you have secret council?” You always hide your thoughts and thoughts from me, “Hera,” Zeus answered her, “don’t expect that you will ever know everything I’m thinking about.” What you can know, you will know before all the gods, but do not try to find out all my secrets and do not ask about them.

“Oh, cloud suppressor,” answered Hera, “you know that I never tried to learn your secrets. You always decide everything without me. But I am afraid that today Thetis persuaded you to avenge her son Achilles and destroy many Greeks. I know that you promised to fulfill her request.

Zeus looked at Hera menacingly; he was angry with his wife for always watching everything he did. Zeus angrily ordered her to sit silently and obey him if she did not want him to punish her. Hera was afraid of Zeus's wrath. She sat silently on her golden throne. The gods were also frightened by this quarrel between Zeus and Hera. Then the lame god Hephaestus stood up; he reproached the gods for starting quarrels over mortals.

After all, if we quarrel over mortals, then the feasts of the gods will always be deprived of fun, - so said the god Hephaestus and begged his mother Hera to submit to the power of Zeus, since he is formidable in anger and can overthrow all the Olympian gods from their thrones.

Hephaestus reminded Hera how Zeus threw him to the ground because he hastened to help his mother when Zeus, who threw lightning, was angry with her. Hephaestus took the cup and, filling it with nectar, presented it to Hera. Hera smiled. Hephaestus, limping, began to scoop nectar from the bowl with a goblet and distribute it to the gods. All the gods laughed, seeing how lame Hephaestus hobbled through the banquet hall. Again, fun reigned at the feast of the gods, and they feasted serenely until sunset to the sounds of Apollo's golden lyre and the singing of the muses. When the feast ended, the gods went to their chambers, and all of Olympus fell into a peaceful sleep.

Ethiopians - A mythical people who lived, according to the Greeks, in the very southern region land.

The Greeks had been besieging Troy for nine years. The tenth year of the great struggle has arrived. At the beginning of this year, the priest of the archer Apollo, Chris, arrived in the Greek camp. He begged all the Greeks, and above all their leaders, to return his daughter Chryseis to him for a rich ransom. After listening to Chryse, everyone agreed to accept a rich ransom for Chryseis and give her to her father. But the mighty king Agamemnon became angry and said to Chris:

“Old man, go away and never dare to show yourself here near our ships, otherwise the fact that you are a priest of the god Apollo will not save you.” I will not return Chryseis to you. No, she will languish in captivity all her life. Be careful not to anger me if you want to return home unharmed.

In fear, Chris left the Greek camp and went saddened to the seashore. There, raising his hands to the sky, he prayed to the great son of Latona, the god Apollo:

- Oh, silver-bowed god, listen to me, your faithful servant! Take revenge on the Greeks with your arrows for my grief and insult.

Apollo heard the complaint of his priest Chryses. He quickly rushed from the bright Olympus with a bow and quiver over his shoulders. The golden arrows rattled menacingly in the quiver. Apollo rushed to the camp of the Greeks, blazing with anger; His face was darker than the night. Rushing to the Achaean camp, he took an arrow from his quiver and sent it into the camp. The string of Apollo's bow rang menacingly. After the first arrow, Apollo sent a second, a third - arrows rained down in hail into the Greek camp, bringing death with them. A terrible pestilence struck the Greeks. Many Greeks died. Funeral pyres were burning everywhere. It seemed that the hour of death had come for the Greeks.

The pestilence had already raged for nine days. On the tenth day, on the advice given by Hero, the great hero Achilles convened a national meeting of all the Greeks to decide what to do, how to appease the gods. When all the warriors had gathered, Achilles was the first to address Agamemnon:

“We will have to sail back to our homeland, son of Atreus,” said Achilles, “you see that warriors are dying both in battles and from pestilence.” But perhaps we will first ask the fortune-tellers: they will tell us how we angered the silver-bowed Apollo, for which he sent a disastrous pestilence on our army.

As soon as Achilles said this, the soothsayer Calchas stood up, having already revealed the will of the gods to the Greeks many times. He said that he was ready to reveal why the far-flung god was angry, but he would reveal this only if Achilles protected him from the wrath of King Agamemnon. Achilles promised his protection to Calchas and swore this by Apollo. Then only Calchas said:

“The great son of Latona is angry because King Agamemnon dishonored his priest Chryses and drove him out of the camp without accepting a rich ransom from him for his daughter. We can appease God only by returning black-eyed Chryseis to her father and sacrificing a hundred calves to God.

Hearing what Calchas said, Agamemnon flared up with terrible anger at him and Achilles, but seeing that he would still have to return Chryseis to his father, he finally agreed, but demanded only himself a reward for her return. Achilles reproached Agamemnon for his greed. This angered Agamemnon even more. He began to threaten that with his power he would take the reward for Chryseis from what fell to Achilles, or Ajax, or Odysseus.

- Shameless, insidious greedy man! - Achilles cried, - you threaten us that you will take our rewards from us, although none of us has ever had an equal share in the rewards with you. But we didn’t come to fight for our own cause; we came here to help Menelaus and you. You want to take away from me part of the spoils that came to me for the great deeds I performed. So it’s better for me to return back to my native Phthia, I don’t want to increase your booty and treasures.

- Well, run to Phthia! - Agamemnon shouted back to Achilles, - I hate you more than all the kings! You are the only one who starts discord. I'm not afraid of your anger. I'll tell you what! I will return Chryseis to her father, since this is the desire of the god Apollo, but for this I will take away your captive Briseis. You will find out how much more power I have! Let everyone be afraid to consider himself equal in power to me!

A terrible anger seized Achilles when he heard this threat from Agamemnon. The son of Thetis grabbed his sword; he had already pulled it halfway out of its sheath and was ready to rush at Agamemnon. Suddenly Achilles felt a light touch on his hair. He turned around and recoiled in horror. Before him, invisible to others, stood the great daughter of the Thunderer, Pallas Athena. Hera sent Athena. The wife of Zeus did not want the death of either of the heroes; both of them - Achilles and Agamemnon - were equally dear to her. Achilles asked the goddess Athena with trepidation:

- Oh, daughter of the thunderer Zeus, why did you come down from high Olympus? Have you really come here to see how Agamemnon rages? Oh, he will soon destroy himself with his pride!

“No, mighty Achilles,” answered the bright-eyed Pallas, “that’s not what I came for.” I have come to tame your anger, if only you obey the will of the Olympian gods. Do not draw your sword, be content with only words, with them you scourge Agamemnon. Trust me! Soon here, in this same place, they will pay you for your offense with gifts that will be many times richer. Humble yourself and submit to the will of the immortal gods. Achilles submitted to the will of the gods: he sheathed his sword, and Athena again ascended to the bright Olympus in the host of the gods.

Achilles also said many angry words to Agamemnon, calling him a devourer of the people, a drunkard, a coward, and a dog. Achilles threw his scepter to the ground and swore with it that the time would come when his help would be needed against the Trojans, but Agamemnon would beg for it in vain, since he had offended him so seriously. In vain did the wise king of Pylos, Elder Nestor, try to reconcile the warring parties. Agamemnon did not listen to Nestor, and Achilles did not humble himself. The great son of Peleus went angry with his friend Patroclus and the brave Myrmidons to their tents. Anger against Agamemnon, who had insulted him, raged furiously in his chest. Meanwhile, King Agamemnon ordered a fast ship to be lowered to the sea, sacrifices to the god Apollo were brought to it, and the beautiful daughter of the priest Chryses was taken. This ship was to sail under the command of the cunning Odysseus to Thebes, the city of Estion, and the Greeks in the camp, at the command of Agamemnon, were to make rich sacrifices to Apollo in order to appease him.

The ship sent by Agamemnon rushed quickly along the waves of the boundless sea. Finally, the ship entered the harbor of Thebes. The Greeks lowered their sails and moored to the pier. Odysseus got off the ship at the head of a detachment of warriors ashore, took the beautiful Chryseis to his father and addressed him with the following greeting:

- Oh, servant of Apollo! I came here by the will of Agamemnon to return your daughter. We also brought a hundred bulls to appease the great god Apollo, who sent a grave disaster on the Greeks, with these sacrifices.

Elder Chris rejoiced at the return of his daughter and tenderly hugged her. They immediately began to sacrifice to Apollo. Chris prayed to the arrow god:

- O silver-bowed god! Listen to me! And before you listened to my pleas. Hear me now too! Turn away the great disaster from the Greeks, stop the disastrous pestilence!

The god Apollo heard the prayer of Chris and stopped the pestilence in the Greek camp. When Chris made sacrifices to Apollo, a luxurious feast was arranged. The Greeks feasted merrily in Thebes. The young men carried wine, filling the cups of those feasting with it to the top. The majestic sounds of the hymn in honor of Apollo, sung by Greek youths, were heard loudly. The feast continued until sunset, and in the morning, refreshed by sleep, Odysseus and his squad set off on their way back to the vast camp. Apollo sent them a fair wind. Like a seagull, the ship rushed across the sea waves. The ship quickly reached the camp. The swimmers pulled him ashore and went to their tents.

While Odysseus was sailing to Thebes, Agamemnon also fulfilled what he threatened Achilles with. He called the heralds Talthybius and Eurybates and sent them after Briseis. Reluctantly, Agamemnon's messengers went to Achilles' tent. They found him sitting in deep thought near the tent. The ambassadors approached the mighty hero, but in embarrassment they could not utter a word. Then the son of Peleus said to them:

- Greetings, heralds. I know that you are not guilty of anything, only Agamemnon is guilty. You have come for Briseis. My friend, Patroclus, give them Briseis. But let them themselves be witnesses that the hour will come when I will be needed to save the Greeks from destruction. Then Agamemnon, who has lost his mind, will not be able to save the Greeks!

Shedding bitter tears, Achilles left his friends, went to the deserted shore, stretched out his hands to the sea and loudly called on his mother, the goddess Thetis:

“My mother, if you have already given birth to me doomed to a short life, why then does the thunderer Zeus deprive me of glory!” No, he didn’t give me fame! King Agamemnon dishonored me by taking away my reward for my exploits. My mother, hear me!

The goddess Thetis heard the call of Achilles. She left the depths of the sea and the marvelous palace of the god Nereus. Quickly, like a light cloud, she emerged from the foaming sea waves. Thetis came ashore and, sitting down next to her dearly beloved son, hugged him.

“Why are you crying so bitterly, my son?” – she asked. - Tell me your grief.

Achilles told his mother how seriously Agamemnon had insulted him. He began to ask his mother to ascend to the bright Olympus and there to pray to Zeus to punish Agamemnon. Let Zeus help the Trojans, let them drive the Greeks away to the very ships. Let Agamemnon understand how foolishly he acted in insulting the bravest of the Greeks. Achilles assured his mother that Zeus would not refuse her request. All she has to do is remind Zeus how she once helped him when the gods of Olympus plotted to overthrow Zeus by shackling him. Then Thetis called the hundred-armed giant Briareus to help Zeus; Seeing him, all the gods were embarrassed and did not dare raise their hands against Zeus. Let Thetis remind the great Zeus the Thunderer of this, and he will not refuse her her request. This is how Achilles prayed to his mother Thetis.

“Oh, my beloved son,” Thetis exclaimed, crying bitterly, “why did I give birth to you for so many disasters!” Yes, your life will not be long, your end is already near. And now you are short-lived and the most unhappy of all! Oh no, don't mourn like that! I will rise to the bright Olympus, there I will beg the thunderer Zeus to help me. You stay in your tent and do not take part in battles anymore. Now Zeus has left Olympus, he and all the immortals went to a feast with the Ethiopians. But when Zeus returns in twelve days, then I will fall at his feet and, I hope, beg him!

Thetis left her sad son, and he went to the tents of his brave Myrmidons. From that day on, Achilles did not participate in meetings of leaders or in battles. He sat sadly in his tent, although he longed for military glory.

Eleven days have passed. On the twelfth day, early in the morning, along with the gray fog, the goddess Thetis ascended from the depths of the sea to bright Olympus. There she fell at the feet of Zeus, hugged his knees and with a prayer stretched out her hands to him, touching his beard.

- Oh, our father! - Thetis prayed, - I pray you, help me avenge my son! Fulfill my request if I have ever done you a favor. Send victory to the Trojans until the Greeks begin to beg my son to help them, until they give him great honors.

The cloud suppressor Zeus did not answer Thetis for a long time. But Thetis persistently begged him. Finally, taking a deep breath, the thunderer said:

- Know, Thetis! With your request you provoke the wrath of Hera, she will be angry with me. She already constantly reproaches me for helping the Trojans in battles. But now you have escaped from high Olympus so that Hera does not see you. I promise to fulfill your request. Here is a sign for you that I will fulfill my promise.

Having said this, Zeus frowned menacingly, the hair on his head rose, and all of Olympus shook. Thetis calmed down. She quickly rushed from high Olympus and plunged into the abyss of the sea.

Zeus went to the feast where the gods had gathered. They all stood up to meet Zeus; not one dared to greet him while sitting. When the king of gods and men sat on his golden throne, Hera turned to him. She saw that Thetis came to Zeus.

“Tell me, treacherous one,” Hera said to Zeus, “with which of the immortals did you have secret council?” You always hide your thoughts and thoughts from me,

“Hera,” Zeus answered her, “don’t expect that you will ever know everything I think about.” What you can know, you will know before all the gods, but do not try to find out all my secrets and do not ask about them.

“Oh, cloud suppressor,” answered Hera, “you know that I never tried to learn your secrets.” You always decide everything without me. But I am afraid that today Thetis persuaded you to avenge her son Achilles and destroy many Greeks. I know that you promised to fulfill her request.

Zeus looked at Hera menacingly; he was angry with his wife for always watching everything he did. Zeus angrily ordered her to sit silently and obey him if she did not want him to punish her. Hera was afraid of Zeus's wrath. She sat silently on her golden throne. The gods were also frightened by this quarrel between Zeus and Hera. Then the lame god Hephaestus stood up; he reproached the gods for starting quarrels over mortals.

“After all, if we quarrel over mortals, then the feasts of the gods will always be deprived of fun,” said the god Hephaestus and begged his mother Hera to submit to the power of Zeus, since he is formidable in anger and can overthrow all the Olympian gods from their thrones.

Hephaestus reminded Hera how Zeus threw him to the ground because he hastened to help his mother when Zeus, who threw lightning, was angry with her. Hephaestus took the cup and, filling it with nectar, presented it to Hera. Hera smiled. Hephaestus, limping, began to scoop nectar from the bowl with a goblet and distribute it to the gods. All the gods laughed, seeing how lame Hephaestus hobbled through the banquet hall. Again, fun reigned at the feast of the gods, and they feasted serenely until sunset to the sounds of Apollo's golden lyre and the singing of the muses. When the feast ended, the gods went to their chambers, and all of Olympus fell into a peaceful sleep.

People's Assembly.

Thersites

Based on Homer's poem "The Iliad".

The immortal gods slept serenely on bright Olympus. Both the Greek camp and the great Troy were immersed in deep sleep. But Zeus the Thunderer did not close his eyes to sleep - he was thinking about how to take revenge for the insult to Achilles. Finally, the cloud suppressor Zeus decided to send a false dream to Agamemnon. He called the god of sleep and sent him to the camp of the Greeks to Agamemnon, telling him:

- Rush on swift wings, deceptive dream, and appear before Agamemnon. Tell him to lead the Greeks into battle. Tell him that today he will take possession of the great Troy, since Hera begged all the gods not to help the Trojans. Troy now faces destruction.

The god of sleep quickly rushed to earth, and taking the form of the elder Nestor, whom Agamemnon so revered, appeared to him in a dream and told him everything that the great thunderer had commanded. Agamemnon woke up, but it still seemed to him that the words he had heard in his sleep were still being heard. The king of Mycenae stood up and quickly dressed himself in rich clothes, took the golden scepter in his hand and went to where the Greek ships were pulled ashore. At this time, the dawn had already flared up brightly, foreshadowing the rise of the great sun god Helios into the sky. Agamemnon called the heralds and ordered them to call all the soldiers to a public meeting. The mighty king of Mycenae gathered all the leaders to the ship of the elder Nestor and told them what dream Zeus the Thunderer had sent him.

The leaders decided to prepare for battle. But before leading troops into the field under the walls of Troy, Agamemnon wanted to test them; he decided to invite the people's assembly to return to their homeland. While the leaders were conferring, the warriors were going to the meeting. Countless crowds of warriors gathered like swarms of bees flying out of mountain caves. The people's assembly was worried. With difficulty, the heralds established silence so that the kings, the pets of Zeus, could address the people. Finally, crowds of people settled in and silence reigned. Agamemnon was the first to address the people, rising from his place with a scepter in his hands. He spoke about the hardships of war, about the fact that the Greeks fought fruitlessly at Troy; that they would obviously not be able to take the impregnable Troy and would have to return back to their homeland with nothing. Apparently, the gods themselves want the Greeks to return to their homeland. This is what Agamemnon said. The Greeks listened to Agamemnon's speech. The whole people shook, like the sea, when the winds of Noth and Eurus, having flown in, raised high waves on it, everyone rushed to the ships with loud cries. The earth trembled from the stomping of running crowds of warriors rushing towards the ships. Clouds of dust rose. Screams rang out throughout the camp. Everyone is in a hurry to launch ships as soon as possible, everyone is eager to sail to their homeland.

The screams of the soldiers reached the great Olympus. Hera, fearing that the Greeks would abandon the siege of Troy, sent Pallas Athena to their camp to stop them. Like a storm, Athena rushed to the camp of the Greeks from Olympus. There she appeared to Odysseus and told him.

“Noble son of Laertes, have you really all decided to flee from here to your homeland?” Will you really leave the beautiful Helen here for the joy of Priam and all the Trojans? Go quickly and convince everyone not to leave Troy! Hearing the menacing voice of the goddess, Odysseus ran, throwing off his cloak, towards the ships. Taking the scepter, a sign of supreme power, from Agamemnon, who met him, he began to convince everyone, both leaders and ordinary warriors, not to launch ships and called everyone back to the people's assembly. Odysseus struck with his scepter those warriors who were especially noisy and in a hurry to quickly leave the shores of Troy. Again everyone rushed to where the people usually gathered. Crowds of people walked with loud shouts, like the waves of an incessantly roaring sea, which beat against the rocky shore with a thunderous noise. Finally, everyone again took their places and fell silent. Only Thersites continued to scream. Thersites constantly allowed himself to boldly oppose the kings. He especially hated Odysseus and the great son of Thetis, Achilles. Now Thersites shouted shrilly and reviled Agamemnon. He shouted that Agamemnon had received enough booty and slaves, he had enough rich ransoms for noble Trojans who were taken captive by ordinary soldiers. Thersites called on everyone to hurry quickly to their homeland, and advised Agamemnon to be left alone near Troy. Let the son of Atreus find out whether the soldiers helped him in battle, whether they were faithful servants or not. He reviled Thersites Agamemnon as best he could. He also reproached him for insulting Achilles, but Achilles also called Thersites cowardly. The cunning Odysseus also heard this cry of Thersites. He approached Thersites and exclaimed menacingly:

“Don’t you dare, fool, to vilify the kings, don’t you dare talk about returning to your homeland!” Who knows how the work we started will end. Listen and remember that I will do what I say! If I once again hear you, madman, blaspheme King Agamemnon, then let them take my head off my mighty shoulders, let them not call me the father of Telemachus, unless I grab you, tear off all your clothes and, having beaten you, I will drive you away from the people's assembly to the ships, crying in pain.

So Odysseus shouted menacingly. He waved his scepter and hit Thersites on the back. From the pain, tears rolled down from Thersites' eyes. A crimson stripe swelled on his back from the blow. He himself, trembling with fear, wrinkled his face and wiped away the rolling tears with his hand. Everyone laughed loudly, looking at Thersites, and said:

– Odysseus accomplished many glorious deeds both in council and in battle, but this is the most glorious of his exploits. How he curbed the screamer! Now he will no longer dare to insult the kings beloved by Zeus.

Odysseus addressed the people with a speech, I stood next to him, taking on the appearance of a messenger, Pallas Athena. Odysseus convinced the Greeks not to leave the siege of Troy, he said that if they returned to their homeland without taking Troy, they would cover both Agamemnon and themselves with shame. Will they, like weak children or widowed women, leave for their homeland out of cowardice? Have they really forgotten Calchas’s predictions that they must wait? Has everyone really forgotten the sign that Zeus sent in Aulis? After all, only in the tenth year of the siege were the Greeks destined to take Troy. With his speech, Odysseus again inspired everyone with a thirst for exploits. The Greeks greeted Odysseus' speech with loud shouts, and the surrounding area responded to these shouts with loud echoes. But then the divine elder Nestor stood up, and everything became quiet again. And Nestor advised to stay and fight the Trojans. During the battle, he advised building troops according to tribes and clans, so that the tribe would be helped by the tribe, and the clan by the clan. Then it will be clear which of the leaders or members of the tribe is timid and which is courageous. Then it will be clear why Troy has not yet been taken - either at the behest of the immortal gods or because the leaders do not know the art of war. Agamemnon agreed to this. He ordered the soldiers to go to dinner, and then prepare for a bloody battle, in which no one would be given rest for a single moment, and woe to anyone who remains with the ships and avoids the battle: he will be thrown into prey for dogs and birds of prey. All the warriors exclaimed loudly, as loudly as the sea roars in a strong storm, when the wind drives waves high as mountains. The people's assembly quickly dispersed. Everyone hurried to the tents. The fires began to smoke throughout the camp. The Greeks fortified themselves with food before the battle. Everyone made a sacrifice to God and prayed to save him during the bloody battle. Agamemnon made a sacrifice to Zeus. He slain a fat bull at the altar, around which the most famous heroes of the Greeks stood, and prayed to Zeus to give him victory; prayed to help him capture impregnable Troy and the palace of King Priam before night fell on the ground; He prayed to let him throw Hector into the dust, piercing his armor with a spear. But the great Zeus the Thunderer did not heed Agamemnon’s pleas; he prepared many failures for the king of Mycenae that day. When the sacrifice was made and the sacrificial feast was over, Elder Nestor began to hurry the leaders to lead the troops to the battlefield.

The leaders hurried to their squads. The messengers began to call the soldiers in a loud voice. The leaders formed squads into battle formation and led them to the walls of Troy. The earth groaned from the trampling of warriors and horses. The troops occupied the entire Scamander valley. All the troops were eager to fight the Trojans. Pallas Athena rushed wildly among the troops. She excited warriors to fight, inspiring them with unshakable courage. The leaders rode in chariots in front of the troops. King Agamemnon, like the thunderer Zeus, surpassed all of them with his formidable appearance. The soldiers marched orderly, row after row, towards the walls of Troy.

(Based on Homer's poem "The Iliad")

The Greeks had been besieging Troy for nine years. The tenth year of the great struggle has arrived. At the beginning of this year, the priest of the archer Apollo, Chris, arrived in the Greek camp. He begged all the Greeks, and above all their leaders, to return his daughter Chryseis to him for a rich ransom. After listening to the priest, everyone agreed to accept a rich ransom for Chryseis and give her to her father. But King Agamemnon became angry and said to Chris:

Old man, go away and never dare to show yourself here near our ships; Otherwise, the fact that you are a priest of the god Apollo will not save you. I will not return Chryseis to you. No, she will languish in captivity all her life. Be careful not to anger me if you want to return home unharmed.

In fear, Chris left the Greek camp and went, saddened, to the seashore. There, raising his hands to the sky, he prayed to the great son of Latona, the god Apollo:

O silver-bowed god! Hearken to me, your faithful servant! Take revenge on the Greeks with your arrows for my grief and insult.

Apollo heard the complaint of his priest Chryses. He quickly rushed from Olympus with a bow and quiver over his shoulders. The golden arrows rattled menacingly in the quiver. Apollo rushed to the camp of the Greeks, blazing with anger; His face was darker than night. Rushing to the Achaean camp, he took an arrow from his quiver and sent it into the camp. The string of Apollo's bow rang menacingly. After the first arrow, Apollo sent a second, a third - arrows rained down into the Greek camp, bringing death with them. A terrible pestilence struck the warriors. Many Greeks died. Funeral pyres were burning everywhere. It seemed that the hour of death had come for the Greeks.

The pestilence raged for nine days. On the tenth day, on the advice given by Hero, Achilles convened a national meeting of the Greeks to decide what to do, how to appease the gods. When all the warriors had gathered, Achilles addressed Agamemnon with a speech:

“We will have to sail back to our homeland, son of Atreus,” said Achilles, “you see that warriors are dying both in battles and from pestilence. But perhaps we will first ask the fortune-tellers: they will tell us how we angered the silver-bowed Apollo, for which he sent a disastrous pestilence on our army.

As soon as Achilles said this, the soothsayer Calchas stood up, having already revealed the will of the gods to the Greeks many times. He said that he was ready to reveal why the far-flung god was angry, but he would reveal this only if Achilles protected him from the wrath of King Agamemnon. Achilles promised his protection to Calchas and swore this by Apollo. Then Calchas said:

The great son of Latona is angry because King Agamemnon dishonored his priest Chryses and drove him out of the camp without accepting a rich ransom from him for his daughter. We can appease God only by returning black-eyed Chryseis to her father and sacrificing a hundred calves to God.

Hearing the words of Calchas, Agamemnon flared up with terrible anger at him and Achilles; however, seeing that he would still have to return Chryseis to her father, he finally agreed, but demanded a reward for her return. Achilles reproached Agamemnon for his greed. This angered Agamemnon even more. He began to threaten that with his power he would take the reward for Chryseis from what fell to Achilles, or Ajax, or Odysseus.

Shameless, insidious self-seeker! - Achilles screamed. “You threaten us that you will take away our rewards, although none of us have ever had an equal share in the rewards with you.” But we didn’t come to fight for our own cause; we came here to help Menelaus and you. You want to take away from me part of the spoils that I got for my great exploits. So it’s better for me to return back to my native Phthia, I don’t want to increase your booty and treasures.

Well, run to Phthia! - Agamemnon shouted back to Achilles. - I hate you more than all the kings! You are the only one who starts discord. I'm not afraid of your anger. I'll tell you what! I will return Chryseis to her father, since this is the desire of the god Apollo, but for this I will take away your captive Briseis. You will find out how much more power I have! Let everyone be afraid to consider himself equal in power to me!

A terrible anger seized Achilles when he heard this threat from Agamemnon. The son of Thetis grabbed his sword; he had already pulled it halfway out of its sheath and was ready to rush at Agamemnon. Suddenly Achilles felt a light touch on his hair. He turned around and recoiled in horror. Before him, invisible to others, stood the daughter of the thunderer, Pallas Athena. Hera sent Athena. Zeus's wife did not want the death of either hero; both of them - Achilles and Agamemnon - were equally dear to her. Achilles asked the goddess Athena with trepidation:

Oh, daughter of the thunderer Zeus, why did you come down from high Olympus? Have you really come here to see how Agamemnon rages? Oh, he will soon destroy himself with his pride!

“No, mighty Achilles,” answered the bright-eyed Pallas, “that’s not why I came.” I have come to tame your anger, if only you obey the will of the Olympian gods. Do not draw your sword, be content with only words, with them you scourge Agamemnon. Believe me: soon here, in this same place, they will pay you for your insult with gifts that will be many times richer. Humble yourself and submit to the will of the immortal gods.

Achilles submitted to the will of the gods: he sheathed his sword, and Athena again ascended to Olympus.

Achilles said many angry words to Agamemnon, calling him a devourer of the people, a drunkard, a coward, and a dog. Achilles threw his scepter to the ground and swore that the time would come when his help would be needed against the Trojans, but Agamemnon would beg for it in vain, since he had so gravely offended Achilles. In vain did the wise king of Pylos, Elder Nestor, try to reconcile the warring parties. Agamemnon did not listen to Nestor, and Achilles did not humble himself. Angry, the great son of Peleus went with his friend Patroclus and the brave Myrmidons to their tents. Anger against Agamemnon, who had insulted him, raged furiously in his chest.

Meanwhile, King Agamemnon ordered a fast ship to be lowered to the sea, sacrifices to the god Apollo were brought to it, and the beautiful daughter of the priest Chryses was taken. This ship was to sail under the leadership of the cunning Odysseus to Thebes, the city of Estion, and the Greeks in the camp, at the command of Agamemnon, were to make rich sacrifices to Apollo in order to appease him. The ship sent by Agamemnon rushed quickly along the waves of the boundless sea. Finally, the ship entered the harbor of Thebes. The Greeks lowered their sails and moored to the pier. Odysseus got off the ship at the head of a detachment of warriors, took the beautiful Chryseis to his father and addressed him with the following greeting:

O servant of Apollo! I came here by the will of Agamemnon to return your daughter. We also brought a hundred bulls to appease the great god Apollo, who sent a grave disaster on the Greeks, with these sacrifices.

Elder Chris rejoiced at the return of his daughter and tenderly hugged her. They immediately began to sacrifice to Apollo. Chris prayed to the arrow god:

O silver-bowed god! Listen to me! And before you listened to my pleas. Hear me now too! Turn away the great disaster from the Greeks, stop the disastrous pestilence!

The god Apollo heard the prayer of Chris and stopped the pestilence in the Greek camp. When Chris brought sacrifices to Apollo, a luxurious feast was arranged. The Greeks feasted merrily in Thebes. The young men carried wine, filling the cups of those feasting with it to the top. The majestic sounds of the hymn in honor of Apollo, sung by the Greek youths, were heard loudly. The feast continued until sunset, and in the morning, refreshed by sleep, Odysseus and his squad set off on the return journey. Apollo sent them a fair wind. Like a seagull, the ship rushed across the sea waves. The ship quickly reached the Greek camp. The Greeks pulled the ship ashore and went to their tents.

While Odysseus was sailing to Thebes, Agamemnon fulfilled what he threatened Achilles with. He called the heralds Talthybius and Eurybates and sent them after Briseis. Reluctantly, Agamemnon's messengers went to Achilles' tent. They found him sitting in deep thought near the tent. The ambassadors approached the mighty hero, but in embarrassment they could not utter a word. Then the son of Peleus said to them:

Hello, heralds. I know that you are not guilty of anything, only Agamemnon is guilty. You have come for Briseis. My friend, Patroclus, give them Briseis. But let them themselves be witnesses that the hour will come when I will be needed to save the Greeks from destruction. Then Agamemnon, who has lost his mind, will not be able to save the Greeks!

Shedding bitter tears, Achilles left his friends, went to the deserted shore, stretched out his hands to the sea and loudly called on his mother, the goddess Thetis:

My mother, if you gave birth to me doomed to a short life, why then does the thunderer Zeus deprive me of glory! No, he didn’t give me fame! King Agamemnon dishonored me by taking away my reward for my exploits. My mother, hear me!

The goddess Thetis heard the call of Achilles. She left the depths of the sea and the marvelous palace of the god Nereus. Quickly, like a light cloud, she emerged from the foaming sea waves. Thetis came ashore and, sitting down next to her dearly beloved son, hugged him.

Why are you crying so bitterly, my son? - she asked. - Tell me your grief.

Achilles told his mother how seriously Agamemnon had insulted him. He began to ask his mother to ascend to the bright Olympus and there to pray to Zeus to punish Agamemnon. Let Zeus help the Trojans, let them drive the Greeks away to the very ships. Let Agamemnon understand how unreasonably he acted in insulting the bravest of warriors. Achilles assured his mother that Zeus would not refuse her request. She only has to remind Zeus how she once helped him when the gods of Olympus plotted to overthrow Zeus by shackling him. Then Thetis called the hundred-armed giant Briareus to help Zeus; Seeing him, all the gods were embarrassed and did not dare raise their hands against Zeus. Let Thetis remind the great Zeus the Thunderer of this, and he will not refuse her her request. This is how Achilles prayed to his mother Thetis.

O my beloved son! - Thetis exclaimed, crying bitterly. - Why did I give birth to you for so many disasters? Yes, your life will not be long, your end is already near. And now you are short-lived and the most unhappy of all! Oh no, don't mourn like that! I will ascend to the bright Olympus, there I will beg the thunderer Zeus to help me. You stay in your tent and do not take part in battles anymore. Now Zeus has left Olympus, he went to a feast with the Ethiopians ( Ethiopians are a mythical people who, according to the Greeks, lived on the southernmost edge of the Earth). But when Zeus returns in twelve days, then I will fall at his feet and, I hope, beg him!

Thetis left her sad son, and he went to the tents of his brave Myrmidons. From that day on, Achilles did not participate in meetings of leaders or in battles. Sad, he sat in his tent, although he longed for military glory.

Eleven days have passed. On the twelfth day, early in the morning, the goddess Thetis ascended from the depths of the sea to Olympus along with the gray fog. There she fell at the feet of Zeus, hugged his knees and with a prayer stretched out her hands to him, touching his beard.

O our father! - Thetis prayed. - Help me avenge my son! Fulfill my request if I ever do you a favor. Send victory to the Trojans until the Greeks begin to beg my son to help them, until they give him great honors.

The cloud suppressor Zeus did not answer Thetis for a long time. But she persistently begged him. Finally, taking a deep breath, the thunderer said:

Know, Thetis! With your request you will provoke the wrath of Hera, she will be angry with me. She already constantly reproaches me for helping the Trojans in battles. But now you have escaped from high Olympus so that Hera does not see you. I promise to fulfill your request. Here is a sign for you that I will fulfill my promise.

Having said this, Zeus frowned menacingly, the hair on his head rose, and all of Olympus shook. Thetis calmed down. She quickly rushed from high Olympus and plunged into the abyss of the sea.

Zeus went to the feast where the gods had gathered. They all rose to meet Zeus, not one of them dared to greet him while sitting. When the king of gods and men sat on his golden throne, Hera turned to him. She saw that Thetis came to Zeus.

Tell me, treacherous one,” Hera said to Zeus, “with which of the immortals did you have secret council?” You always hide your thoughts and thoughts from me.

Hera,” Zeus answered her, “don’t expect that you will ever know everything I’m thinking about.” What you can know, you will know before all the gods, but do not try to find out all my secrets and do not ask about them.

“Oh, cloud suppressor,” answered Hera, “you know that I never tried to learn your secrets. You always decide everything without me. But I am afraid that today Thetis persuaded you to avenge her son Achilles and destroy many Greeks. I know that you promised to fulfill her request.

Zeus looked menacingly at Hera; he was angry with his wife because she was watching everything he did. Zeus angrily ordered her to sit silently and obey him if she did not want him to punish her. Hera was afraid of Zeus's wrath. She sat silently on her golden throne. The gods were also frightened by this quarrel. Then the lame god Hephaestus stood up; he reproached the gods for starting quarrels over mortals.

After all, if we begin to quarrel over mortals, then the feasts of the gods will always be deprived of fun, - so said the god Hephaestus and begged his mother Hera to submit to the power of Zeus, since he is formidable in anger and can overthrow all the Olympian gods from their thrones.

Hephaestus reminded Hera how Zeus threw him to the ground because he hastened to help his mother when Zeus, who threw lightning, was angry with her. Hephaestus took the cup and, filling it with nectar, presented it to Hera. Hera smiled. Hephaestus began to scoop nectar from the bowl with a goblet and distribute it to the gods. The gods laughed, seeing how lame Hephaestus hobbled through the banquet hall. Again, fun reigned at the feast of the gods, and they feasted serenely until sunset to the sounds of Apollo's golden cithara and the singing of the muses. When the feast ended, the gods went to their chambers, and all of Olympus fell into a peaceful sleep.

Myths about Achilles

Achilles, or Achilles - in the heroic tales of the ancient Greeks, the bravest of
heroes who undertook a campaign against Troy under the leadership of Agamemnon.

Michel Martin Drolling the Elder (1789-1851)-"The wrath of Achilles"
- 1810 Paris-École Nationale Superior des Beaux-Arts

Achilles' destiny was to die in Troy, so his mother did not want him to take part in the beginning
in war. But Agamemnon, who was the commander-in-chief of all the troops, did everything possible to
so that Achilles and his mermidons go to Troy. During the nine years of the siege of Troy, Achilles ravaged and
conquered many cities that were in the neighborhood. Many trophies and many women were taken away
to the camp of the Greeks. Achilles gave many worthy women to Agamemnon. For himself, he kept the slave Diomede.
But in the first place for the hero was the beautiful Briseis, the daughter of Briseus, whom he wanted to marry,
when I would return to Phthia. Briseis, as well as Chryseis, were captured after the capture of Thebes
(city of the same name in Moesia). The beautiful daughter of the priest Apollo Chryse, Chryseis was also beautiful,
like Briseis and had the same noble origin. The Greeks promised to give it to Agamemnon.

Charles-Antoine Coypel (1694-1752) - "The wrath of Achilles" - 1737

On the island of Chryse there was a temple of Apollo, where the priest Chrys served. There he learned that his daughter had been taken
captured Chris put on his holy clothes, arrived at the Greek camp and begged them to return him for a rich ransom.
daughter of Chryseis. But Agamemnon did not want to lose Chryseis, he insulted the old priest and kicked him out, and in
As a result, he angered Apollo.
The arrows of the silver-bowed Apollo rained down in hail into the camp of the Greeks, bringing with them death. Terrible pestilence
struck first the animals, and then the warriors. Then the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon began.
Achilles tried to convince Agamemnon to release Chryseis in order to ward off the deadly pestilence.
The commander-in-chief of the Greeks was forced to give the slave to her father, but for this he kidnapped Briseis from Achilles,
because he believed that he should have been compensated for the damage.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770) - "The wrath of Achilles"
-fresco-1757 Vicenza-Villa Valmarana

Achilles said many angry words to Agamemnon after the injustice. The great son has passed away
Peleus and his brave Myrmidons to their tents. On the other hand, the Trojans, seeing discord among
The Greek armies began to win subsequent battles.