The Death of Alcathous and Confrontation with Aeneas — Homer, Iliad Book 13 (lines 421–489), Greek & English

421

τὸν μὲν ἔπειθʼ ὑποδύντε δύω ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι

Then two trusty companions, supporting him from beneath,

Μηκιστεὺς Ἐχίοιο πάϊς καὶ δῖος Ἀλάστωρ,

Mecisteus, son of Echius, and noble Alastor,

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς φερέτην βαρέα στενάχοντα.

carried him, groaning heavily, to the hollow ships.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ οὐ λῆγε μένος μέγα, ἵετο δʼ αἰεὶ

But Idomeneus did not cease from his great fury, but was always eager

425

ἠέ τινα Τρώων ἐρεβεννῇ νυκτὶ καλύψαι

either to cover some Trojan with dark night,

ἢ αὐτὸς δουπῆσαι ἀμύνων λοιγὸν Ἀχαιοῖς.

or to fall with a thud himself, warding off destruction from the Achaeans.

ἔνθʼ Αἰσυήταο διοτρεφέος φίλον υἱὸν

There [he slew] the dear son of Zeus-nurtured Aesyetes,

ἥρωʼ Ἀλκάθοον, γαμβρὸς δʼ ἦν Ἀγχίσαο,

the hero Alcathous, who was the son-in-law of Anchises,

πρεσβυτάτην δʼ ὤπυιε θυγατρῶν Ἱπποδάμειαν

and had married the eldest of his daughters, Hippodameia,

430

τὴν περὶ κῆρι φίλησε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ

whom her father and lady mother loved from their hearts in their hall;

ἐν μεγάρῳ· πᾶσαν γὰρ ὁμηλικίην ἐκέκαστο

for she excelled all those of her own age in beauty,

κάλλεϊ καὶ ἔργοισιν ἰδὲ φρεσί· τοὔνεκα καί μιν

and handiwork, and mind; wherefore also

γῆμεν ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ·

the best man in wide Troy married her.

τὸν τόθʼ ὑπʼ Ἰδομενῆϊ Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσε

Him did Poseidon then subdue under Idomeneus,

435

θέλξας ὄσσε φαεινά, πέδησε δὲ φαίδιμα γυῖα·

having cast a spell over his shining eyes, and fettered his glorious limbs;

οὔτε γὰρ ἐξοπίσω φυγέειν δύνατʼ οὔτʼ ἀλέασθαι,

for he was neither able to flee backward nor to escape,

ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στήλην ἢ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον

but like a pillar or a high-foliaged tree,

ἀτρέμας ἑσταότα στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρὶ

standing motionless, the hero Idomeneus struck him with his spear right in the breast,

ἥρως Ἰδομενεύς, ῥῆξεν δέ οἱ ἀμφὶ χιτῶνα

and rent the bronze tunic about him,

440

χάλκεον, ὅς οἱ πρόσθεν ἀπὸ χροὸς ἤρκει ὄλεθρον·

which before had warded off destruction from his body;

δὴ τότε γʼ αὖον ἄϋσεν ἐρεικόμενος περὶ δουρί.

and then indeed it rang out dryly as it was rent around the spear.

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, δόρυ δʼ ἐν κραδίῃ ἐπεπήγει,

And he fell with a thud, and the spear was fixed in his heart,

ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀσπαίρουσα καὶ οὐρίαχον πελέμιζεν

which, panting, shook even the butt-end of the spear;

ἔγχεος· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης·¹

and there then did mighty Ares let go its fury;

445

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἔκπαγλον ἐπεύξατο μακρὸν ἀΰσας

and Idomeneus exulted terribly, shouting aloud:

Δηΐφοβʼ ἦ ἄρα δή τι ἐΐσκομεν ἄξιον εἶναι

”Deiphobus, do we then deem it to be something equal, that three should be slain instead of one?

τρεῖς ἑνὸς ἀντὶ πεφάσθαι; ἐπεὶ σύ περ εὔχεαι οὕτω.

Since you boast so.

δαιμόνιʼ ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐναντίον ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖο,

Strange man, but stand yourself also against me,

ὄφρα ἴδῃ οἷος Ζηνὸς γόνος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω,

so that you may see what kind of offspring of Zeus I am who have come hither,

450

ὃς πρῶτον Μίνωα τέκε Κρήτῃ ἐπίουρον·

who first begat Minos, guardian over Crete;

Μίνως δʼ αὖ τέκεθʼ υἱὸν ἀμύμονα Δευκαλίωνα,

and Minos in turn begat a blameless son, Deucalion,

Δευκαλίων δʼ ἐμὲ τίκτε πολέσσʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἄνακτα

and Deucalion begat me, lord over many men

Κρήτῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ· νῦν δʼ ἐνθάδε νῆες ἔνεικαν

in wide Crete; and now ships have brought me hither,

σοί τε κακὸν καὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοισι Τρώεσσιν.

a bane to you and to your father and to the other Trojans.”

455

ὣς φάτο, Δηΐφοβος δὲ διάνδιχα μερμήριξεν

So he spoke, and Deiphobus was divided in counsel,

ἤ τινά που Τρώων ἑταρίσσαιτο μεγαθύμων

whether he should associate with him some of the great-hearted Trojans, falling back,

ἂψ ἀναχωρήσας, ἦ πειρήσαιτο καὶ οἶος.

or make trial even alone.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι

And as he thought thus, it seemed to him to be better

βῆναι ἐπʼ Αἰνείαν· τὸν δʼ ὕστατον εὗρεν ὁμίλου

to go after Aeneas; and he found him standing last of the throng;

460

ἑσταότʼ· αἰεὶ γὰρ Πριάμῳ ἐπεμήνιε δίῳ²

for he was always angry with noble Priam,

οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα μετʼ ἀνδράσιν οὔ τι τίεσκεν.

because, though he was noble among men, Priam honored him not at all.

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

And standing near, he spoke winged words to him:

Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε νῦν σε μάλα χρὴ

”Aeneas, counselor of the Trojans, now there is great need for you

γαμβρῷ ἀμυνέμεναι, εἴ πέρ τί σε κῆδος ἱκάνει.

to defend your brother-in-law, if indeed any grief comes upon you.

465

ἀλλʼ ἕπευ Ἀλκαθόῳ ἐπαμύνομεν, ὅς σε πάρος γε

But follow, let us defend Alcathous, who formerly,

γαμβρὸς ἐὼν ἔθρεψε δόμοις ἔνι τυτθὸν ἐόντα·

being your brother-in-law, reared you in his halls when you were little;

τὸν δέ τοι Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἐξενάριξεν.

him has spear-famed Idomeneus despoiled.”

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε,

So he spoke, and stirred the heart within Aeneas’ breast,

βῆ δὲ μετʼ Ἰδομενῆα μέγα πτολέμοιο μεμηλώς.

and he went after Idomeneus, greatly eager for battle.

470

ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἰδομενῆα φόβος λάβε τηλύγετον ὥς,

But fear did not seize Idomeneus like some tender child,

ἀλλʼ ἔμενʼ ὡς ὅτε τις σῦς οὔρεσιν ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,

but he remained even as a wild boar in the mountains, trusting in his strength,

ὅς τε μένει κολοσυρτὸν ἐπερχόμενον πολὺν ἀνδρῶν

who awaits a great, oncoming rabble of men in a lonely place,

χώρῳ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ, φρίσσει δέ τε νῶτον ὕπερθεν·

and bristles his back above;

ὀφθαλμὼ δʼ ἄρα οἱ πυρὶ λάμπετον· αὐτὰρ ὀδόντας

and his eyes flash with fire; and he whets his tusks,

475

θήγει, ἀλέξασθαι μεμαὼς κύνας ἠδὲ καὶ ἄνδρας·

eager to ward off dogs and men;

ὣς μένεν Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτός, οὐδʼ ὑπεχώρει,

so remained spear-famed Idomeneus, and retreated not,

Αἰνείαν ἐπιόντα βοηθόον· αὖε δʼ ἑταίρους

before Aeneas coming to the rescue; and he called aloud to his companions,

Ἀσκάλαφόν τʼ ἐσορῶν Ἀφαρῆά τε Δηΐπυρόν τε

looking toward Ascalaphus and Aphareus and Deipyrus,

Μηριόνην τε καὶ Ἀντίλοχον μήστωρας ἀϋτῆς·

and Meriones and Antilochus, counselors of the battle-cry;

480

τοὺς ὅ γʼ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

spurring them on, he spoke winged words to them:

δεῦτε φίλοι, καί μʼ οἴῳ ἀμύνετε· δείδια δʼ αἰνῶς

”Come hither, friends, and defend me, who am alone; and I fear terribly

Αἰνείαν ἐπιόντα πόδας ταχύν, ὅς μοι ἔπεισιν,

swift-footed Aeneas, who is coming against me,

ὃς μάλα καρτερός ἐστι μάχῃ ἔνι φῶτας ἐναίρειν·

who is very strong to slay men in battle;

καὶ δʼ ἔχει ἥβης ἄνθος, ὅ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.

and moreover he has the flower of youth, which is the greatest strength.

485

εἰ γὰρ ὁμηλικίη γε γενοίμεθα³ τῷδʼ ἐπὶ θυμῷ

For if we were of like age, with this spirit,

αἶψά κεν ἠὲ φέροιτο μέγα κράτος, ἠὲ φεροίμην.

quickly either he would win great victory, or I would.”

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἕνα φρεσὶ θυμὸν ἔχοντες

So he spoke, and they all, having one mind in their breasts,

πλησίοι ἔστησαν, σάκεʼ ὤμοισι κλίναντες.

stood close together, leaning their shields against their shoulders.

Αἰνείας δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκέκλετο οἷς ἑτάροισι

And Aeneas on the other side called to his companions...

Syntax notes3 items

13.444ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης
The phrase "there then did mighty Ares let go its fury" uses Ares as a metonymy for the spear or the force of war, describing how the spear's penetration and kinetic energy finally spent itself. Alternatively, "μένος" can be interpreted as the life force of Alcathous being released/taken away by Ares, but the interpretation of the weapon losing its impetus aligns best with the preceding vivid description of the dying heart shaking the butt-end of the spear (lines 442-443).
13.460αἰεὶ γὰρ Πριάμῳ ἐπεμήνιε δίῳ
The causal clause explaining why Aeneas was angry with Priam. The participle "ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα" in line 461 is interpreted concessively ("although he was noble"), modifying the omitted personal pronoun referring to Aeneas himself. This syntactically points to the mythological background where Priam did not afford Aeneas his due honor despite his excellence, owing to his lineage from a different branch of the Dardanian house.
13.485εἰ γὰρ ὁμηλικίη γε γενοίμεθα
The construction "εἰ γάρ" with the optative "γενοίμεθα" originally expresses an unattainable wish ("would that we were of the same age"). However, combined with the potential optative with "κεν" ("φέροιτο... φεροίμην") in the apodosis (line 486), it functions as a contrary-to-fact conditional sentence, expressing what would happen if they were indeed of the same age.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — translation 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:13.421-13.489