- Source
- Homer. Homeri Opera, Volumes 1-2. Monro, D. B. (David Binning), editor; Allen, Thomas W. (Thomas William), editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908-1920.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:13.142-13.212
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-30
Hector is halted by the dense Achaean phalanxes, turning the battle into a fierce melee. After several champions fall, Poseidon, angered by the death of his grandson Amphimachus, decides to intervene further on behalf of the Achaeans.
ἰσόπεδον,1 τότε δʼ οὔ τι κυλίνδεται ἐσσύμενός περ·
until it reaches the level plain, but then it rolls no more, though rushing eagerly.
ὣς Ἕκτωρ εἷος μὲν ἀπείλει μέχρι θαλάσσης
So Hector for a time threatened even to the sea
ῥέα διελεύσεσθαι κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
to pass easily through the huts and ships of the Achaeans, slaying;
κτείνων· ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πυκινῇς ἐνέκυρσε φάλαγξι
but when indeed he encountered the dense phalanxes,
στῆ ῥα μάλʼ ἐγχριμφθείς· οἳ δʼ ἀντίοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
he stopped, though pressing close; and they, the opposing sons of the Achaeans,
νύσσοντες ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν
thrusting with swords and double-pointed spears,
ὦσαν ἀπὸ σφείων· ὃ δὲ χασσάμενος πελεμίχθη.
pushed him away from themselves; and he, giving way, was shaken.
ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Τρώεσσι γεγωνώς·
And he shouted aloud, calling to the Trojans:
Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ
”Trojans and Lycians and Dardanian close-fighters,
παρμένετʼ· οὔ τοι δηρὸν ἐμὲ σχήσουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ
stand fast; the Achaeans will not hold me back for long,
καὶ μάλα πυργηδὸν σφέας αὐτοὺς ἀρτύναντες,2
even though they have arrayed themselves in very tower-like fashion,
ἀλλʼ ὀΐω χάσσονται ὑπʼ ἔγχεος, εἰ ἐτεόν με
but I think they will give way before my spear, if indeed in truth
ὦρσε θεῶν ὤριστος, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.
the best of gods, the loud-thundering husband of Hera, has aroused me.”
ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
So saying, he aroused the strength and heart of each.
Δηΐφοβος δʼ ἐν τοῖσι μέγα φρονέων ἐβεβήκει
And among them Deiphobus, Priam’s son, strode with high thoughts,
Πριαμίδης, πρόσθεν δʼ ἔχεν ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην
and before him he held his shield, equal on all sides,
κοῦφα ποσὶ προβιβὰς καὶ ὑπασπίδια3 προποδίζων.
stepping lightly with his feet, and advancing under cover of his shield.
Μηριόνης δʼ αὐτοῖο τιτύσκετο δουρὶ φαεινῷ
And Meriones aimed at him with his shining spear,
καὶ βάλεν, οὐδʼ ἀφάμαρτε, κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην
and cast it, nor did he miss, but struck the shield, equal on all sides,
ταυρείην· τῆς4 δʼ οὔ τι διήλασεν, ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶν
of bull’s hide; yet he did not drive it through, but far before that
ἐν καυλῷ ἐάγη δολιχὸν δόρυ· Δηΐφοβος δὲ
the long spear was broken in the shaft; and Deiphobus
ἀσπίδα ταυρείην σχέθʼ ἀπὸ ἕο, δεῖσε δὲ θυμῷ
held the bull’s hide shield away from him, and feared in his heart
ἔγχος Μηριόναο δαΐφρονος· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως
the spear of warlike Meriones; but that hero
ἂψ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο, χώσατο δʼ αἰνῶς
shrank back into the throng of his comrades, and was wondrously angered
ἀμφότερον, νίκης τε καὶ ἔγχεος ὃ ξυνέαξε.
for both reasons: for the loss of victory, and for the spear which he had broken.
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
And he went to go along the huts and ships of the Achaeans
οἰσόμενος δόρυ μακρόν, ὅ οἱ κλισίηφι λέλειπτο.
to fetch a long spear which had been left in his hut.
οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι μάρναντο, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.
But the others fought on, and an unquenchable cry arose.
Τεῦκρος δὲ πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος ἄνδρα κατέκτα
And Teucer son of Telamon was the first to slay a man,
Ἴμβριον αἰχμητὴν πολυΐππου Μέντορος υἱόν·
the spearman Imbrius, son of Mentor rich in horses;
ναῖε δὲ Πήδαιον πρὶν ἐλθεῖν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,
and he dwelt in Pedaeum before the sons of the Achaeans came,
κούρην δὲ Πριάμοιο νόθην ἔχε, Μηδεσικάστην·
and had as wife a daughter of Priam, born out of wedlock, Medesicaste.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Δαναῶν νέες ἤλυθον ἀμφιέλισσαι,
But when the curved ships of the Danaans came,
ἂψ ἐς Ἴλιον ἦλθε, μετέπρεπε δὲ Τρώεσσι,
he came back to Ilium, and was distinguished among the Trojans,
ναῖε δὲ πὰρ Πριάμῳ· ὃ δέ μιν τίεν ἶσα τέκεσσι.
and dwelt with Priam; and he honored him equally with his own children.
τόν ῥʼ υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ὑπʼ οὔατος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ
Him did the son of Telamon pierce beneath the ear with his long spear,
νύξʼ, ἐκ δʼ ἔσπασεν ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ αὖτʼ ἔπεσεν μελίη ὣς
and drew out the spear; and he fell like an ash tree
ἥ τʼ ὄρεος κορυφῇ ἕκαθεν περιφαινομένοιο
which on the crest of a mountain seen from afar
χαλκῷ ταμνομένη τέρενα χθονὶ φύλλα πελάσσῃ·
cut down by bronze, brings its tender leaves to the ground;
ὣς πέσεν, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ βράχε τεύχεα ποικίλα χαλκῷ.
so he fell, and around him clanged his armour, daintily wrought with bronze.
Τεῦκρος δʼ ὁρμήθη μεμαὼς ἀπὸ τεύχεα δῦσαι·
And Teucer rushed forward, eager to strip his armour;
Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὁρμηθέντος5 ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.
but Hector cast at him as he rushed with his shining spear.
ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος
Yet he, looking straight at it, avoided the bronze spear
τυτθόν· ὃ δʼ Ἀμφίμαχον Κτεάτου υἷʼ Ἀκτορίωνος
by a little; but Hector struck Amphimachus, son of Cteatus, Actor’s son,
νισόμενον πόλεμον δὲ κατὰ στῆθος βάλε δουρί·
in the breast with his spear as he was coming to the war;
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.
and he fell with a thud, and his armour clanged upon him.
Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὁρμήθη κόρυθα κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖαν
Then Hector rushed to snatch the helmet, fitted to the temples,
κρατὸς ἀφαρπάξαι μεγαλήτορος Ἀμφιμάχοιο·
from the head of great-hearted Amphimachus;
Αἴας δʼ ὁρμηθέντος ὀρέξατο δουρὶ φαεινῷ
but Ajax lunged with his shining spear at Hector as he rushed;
Ἕκτορος· ἀλλʼ οὔ πῃ χροὸς εἴσατο, πᾶς δʼ ἄρα χαλκῷ
yet nowhere did it reach his flesh, for he was all covered in terrible
σμερδαλέῳ κεκάλυφθʼ· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλὸν οὖτα,
bronze; but Ajax struck the boss of his shield,
ὦσε δέ μιν σθένεϊ μεγάλῳ· ὃ δὲ χάσσατʼ ὀπίσσω
and pushed him back with great strength; and he retreated backward
νεκρῶν ἀμφοτέρων, τοὺς δʼ ἐξείρυσσαν Ἀχαιοί.
from both the dead bodies, and the Achaeans dragged them away.
Ἀμφίμαχον μὲν ἄρα Στιχίος δῖός τε Μενεσθεὺς
Then Amphimachus did Stichius and noble Menestheus,
ἀρχοὶ Ἀθηναίων κόμισαν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·
leaders of the Athenians, carry to the host of the Achaeans;
Ἴμβριον αὖτʼ Αἴαντε μεμαότε θούριδος ἀλκῆς
while Imbrius did the two Ajaxes, eager in impetuous valour,
ὥς τε δύʼ αἶγα λέοντε6 κυνῶν ὕπο καρχαροδόντων
as when two lions from beneath the sharp-toothed dogs
ἁρπάξαντε φέρητον ἀνὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνὰ
snatching a goat carry it through the thick brushwood,
ὑψοῦ ὑπὲρ γαίης μετὰ γαμφηλῇσιν ἔχοντε,
holding it high above the earth in their jaws,
ὥς ῥα τὸν ὑψοῦ ἔχοντε δύω Αἴαντε κορυστὰ
so the two warrior Ajaxes held him on high and
τεύχεα συλήτην· κεφαλὴν δʼ ἁπαλῆς ἀπὸ δειρῆς
stripped his armour; and his head from his tender neck
κόψεν Ὀϊλιάδης κεχολωμένος Ἀμφιμάχοιο,
did the son of Oïleus cut off, angered for Amphimachus’ sake,
ἧκε δέ μιν σφαιρηδὸν ἑλιξάμενος διʼ ὁμίλου·
and sent it rolling like a ball through the throng;
Ἕκτορι δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν πέσεν ἐν κονίῃσι.
and it fell in the dust before Hector’s feet.
καὶ τότε δὴ περὶ κῆρι Ποσειδάων ἐχολώθη
And then indeed Poseidon was angered at heart,
υἱωνοῖο πεσόντος ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,
because his grandson had fallen in the terrible conflict;
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
and he went along the huts and ships of the Achaeans
ὀτρυνέων Δαναούς, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεα τεῦχεν.
to urge on the Danaans, and he devised woes for the Trojans.
Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἄρα οἱ δουρικλυτὸς ἀντεβόλησεν
And Idomeneus, famous for his spear, met him,
ἐρχόμενος παρʼ ἑταίρου, ὅ οἱ νέον ἐκ πολέμοιο
as he was coming from his comrade, who had newly come to him from the war
ἦλθε κατʼ ἰγνύην βεβλημένος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ.
wounded in the knee with the sharp bronze.
- 13.142ἰσόπεδον
This word marks the logical destination of the subordinate clause ἕως ἵκηται (until it reaches...) from the preceding verse (§13.141). The main contrast then begins with τότε (then).
- 13.152ἀρτύναντες
An aorist participle. Accompanied by the preceding καὶ μάλα πυργηδὸν (very much in the manner of a tower), it functions as a concessive participle ('even though they have arrayed...').
- 13.158ὑπασπίδια
A neuter plural accusative used adverbially. A characteristic Homeric expression depicting the tactical movement of advancing while keeping oneself crouched under the protection of one's own shield.
- 13.161τῆς
A feminine singular genitive demonstrative pronoun referring to the shield (ἀσπίδα). The verb διελαύνω (drive through) takes a genitive object to denote the part affected or the material through which it passes.
- 13.183ὁρμηθέντος
A genitive participle referring to Teucer. It can be interpreted either as a genitive of aim/direction governed by the verb of throwing ἀκόντισε, or as a genitive absolute ('as he rushed'). In this context, it primarily functions to denote the target of the spear-cast.
- 13.198ὥς τε δύʼ αἶγα λέοντε
In this extended simile comparing the two Ajaxes to lions (§13.198-201), the dual number is consistently used for the subject, verbs, and participles (φέρητον, ἔχοντε, συλήτην), highlighting their close, synchronized actions in battle through the syntactic structure itself.