The Struggle over Alcathous' Body — Homer, Iliad Book 13 (lines 490–558), Greek & English

490

Δηΐφοβόν τε Πάριν τʼ ἐσορῶν¹ καὶ Ἀγήνορα δῖον,

looking toward Deiphobus and Paris and noble Agenor,

οἵ οἱ ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνες Τρώων ἔσαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

who were leaders of the Trojans along with him; and then

λαοὶ ἕπονθʼ, ὡς εἴ τε μετὰ κτίλον ἕσπετο μῆλα

the forces followed, as when sheep follow after the ram

πιόμενʼ ἐκ βοτάνης· γάνυται δʼ ἄρα τε φρένα ποιμήν·

to drink from the pasture; and the shepherd rejoices in his heart;

ὣς Αἰνείᾳ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γεγήθει

so Aeneas’ heart in his breast rejoiced

495

ὡς ἴδε λαῶν ἔθνος ἐπισπόμενον ἑοῖ αὐτῷ.

when he saw the host of people following himself.

οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀλκαθόῳ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν

And they rushed close together around Alcathous

μακροῖσι ξυστοῖσι· περὶ στήθεσσι δὲ χαλκὸς

with long spears; and about their breasts the bronze

σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε τιτυσκομένων καθʼ ὅμιλον

rang terribly as they aimed at one another in the throng;

ἀλλήλων· δύο δʼ ἄνδρες ἀρήϊοι ἔξοχον ἄλλων

and two warlike men, pre-eminent above the others,

500

Αἰνείας τε καὶ Ἰδομενεὺς ἀτάλαντοι Ἄρηϊ

Aeneas and Idomeneus, peers of Ares,

ἵεντʼ ἀλλήλων ταμέειν χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.

were eager to cleave each other’s flesh with ruthless bronze.

Αἰνείας δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισεν Ἰδομενῆος·

And Aeneas first cast his spear at Idomeneus;

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

but he, looking straight at it, avoided the bronze spear,

αἰχμὴ δʼ Αἰνείαο κραδαινομένη κατὰ γαίης

and the spear-point of Aeneas went quivering into the ground,

505

ᾤχετʼ, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἅλιον στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὄρουσεν.

since it had leapt in vain from his sturdy hand.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἄρα Οἰνόμαον βάλε γαστέρα μέσσην,

But Idomeneus struck Oenomaus right in the middle of his belly,

ῥῆξε δὲ θώρηκος γύαλον, διὰ δʼ ἔντερα χαλκὸς

and shattered the plate of his corselet, and the bronze let out

ἤφυσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.

his bowels; and falling in the dust, he clutched the earth with his palm.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἐκ μὲν νέκυος δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

And Idomeneus drew out his far-shadowing spear from the corpse,

510

ἐσπάσατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἄλλα δυνήσατο τεύχεα καλὰ

but he was not able to strip off his other beautiful armor

ὤμοιιν ἀφελέσθαι· ἐπείγετο γὰρ βελέεσσιν.

from his shoulders; for he was hard pressed by missiles.

οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμπεδα γυῖα ποδῶν ἦν ὁρμηθέντι,²

For his limbs were no longer firm in his feet when he made a rush,

οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐπαΐξαι μεθʼ ἑὸν· βέλος οὔτʼ ἀλέασθαι.

neither to spring forward after his own spear nor to avoid a blow.

τώ ῥα καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ μὲν ἀμύνετο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,

Therefore, standing close, he warded off the ruthless day of death,

515

τρέσσαι δʼ οὐκ ἔτι ῥίμφα πόδες φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο.

but his feet no longer bore him swiftly to flee from battle.

τοῦ δὲ βάδην ἀπιόντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

And as he was slowly retreating, Deiphobus cast at him with his shining spear;

Δηΐφοβος· δὴ γάρ οἱ ἔχεν κότον ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.

for indeed he had a constant grudge against him.

ἀλλʼ ὅ γε καὶ τόθʼ ἅμαρτεν, ὃ δʼ Ἀσκάλαφον βάλε δουρὶ

But he missed him even then, and struck Ascalaphus with his spear,

υἱὸν Ἐνυαλίοιο· διʼ ὤμου δʼ ὄβριμον ἔγχος

the son of Enyalius; and the heavy spear held through

520

ἔσχεν· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.

his shoulder; and falling in the dust, he clutched the earth with his palm.

οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ τι πέπυστο βριήπυος ὄβριμος Ἄρης

But loud-voiced, mighty Ares had not yet heard at all

υἷος ἑοῖο πεσόντος³ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,

that his son had fallen in the fierce combat;

ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἄκρῳ Ὀλύμπῳ ὑπὸ χρυσέοισι νέφεσσιν

but he sat on the peak of Olympus beneath golden clouds,

ἧστο Διὸς βουλῇσιν ἐελμένος, ἔνθά περ ἄλλοι

held fast by the counsels of Zeus, where also the other

525

ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἦσαν ἐεργόμενοι πολέμοιο.

immortal gods were kept away from the war.

οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀσκαλάφῳ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν·

And they rushed close together around Ascalaphus;

Δηΐφοβος μὲν ἀπʼ Ἀσκαλάφου πήληκα φαεινὴν

Deiphobus snatched the shining helmet from Ascalaphus,

ἥρπασε, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

but Meriones, peer of swift Ares,

δουρὶ βραχίονα τύψεν ἐπάλμενος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρὸς

leapt forward and struck him on the arm with his spear, and from his hand

530

αὐλῶπις τρυφάλεια χαμαὶ βόμβησε πεσοῦσα.

the crested helmet fell clattering to the ground.

Μηριόνης δʼ ἐξ αὖτις ἐπάλμενος αἰγυπιὸς ὣς

And Meriones, springing forward again like a vulture,

ἐξέρυσε πρυμνοῖο βραχίονος ὄβριμον ἔγχος,

drew out the heavy spear from the upper arm,

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο. τὸν δὲ Πολίτης

and shrank back into the throng of his companions. And Polites,

αὐτοκασίγνητος περὶ μέσσῳ χεῖρε τιτήνας

his own brother, stretching his arms around his waist,

535

ἐξῆγεν πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, ὄφρʼ ἵκεθʼ ἵππους

led him out of the ill-sounding battle until he came to his swift horses,

ὠκέας, οἵ οἱ ὄπισθε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο

which stood for him behind the fight and the war,

ἕστασαν ἡνίοχόν τε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔχοντες·

having their charioteer and elaborate chariot;

οἳ τόν γε προτὶ ἄστυ φέρον βαρέα στενάχοντα

these carried him toward the city, groaning heavily

τειρόμενον· κατὰ δʼ αἷμα νεουτάτου ἔρρεε χειρός.

and in pain; and the blood flowed down from his newly wounded hand.

540

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι μάρναντο, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.

But the others fought on, and an unquenchable battle-cry arose.

ἔνθʼ Αἰνέας Ἀφαρῆα Καλητορίδην ἐπορούσας

There Aeneas, rushing upon Aphareus, son of Caletor,

λαιμὸν τύψʼ ἐπὶ οἷ τετραμμένον ὀξέϊ δουρί·

struck him with his sharp spear on his neck turned toward him;

ἐκλίνθη δʼ ἑτέρωσε κάρη, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀσπὶς ἑάφθη

and his head sank to one side, and his shield was pressed upon him,

καὶ κόρυς, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.

and his helmet also, and death that slays the spirit was poured about him.

545

Ἀντίλοχος δὲ Θόωνα μεταστρεφθέντα δοκεύσας

And Antilochus, watching Thoas as he turned away,

οὔτασʼ ἐπαΐξας, ἀπὸ δὲ φλέβα πᾶσαν ἔκερσεν,

sprang upon him and wounded him, and cut away the whole vein

ἥ τʼ ἀνὰ νῶτα θέουσα⁴ διαμπερὲς αὐχένʼ ἱκάνει·

which runs right up the back and reaches the neck;

τὴν ἀπὸ πᾶσαν ἔκερσεν· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι

this he cut clean away; and Thoas fell backward in the dust,

κάππεσεν, ἄμφω χεῖρε φίλοις ἑτάροισι πετάσσας.

stretching out both his hands to his dear companions.

550

Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἐπόρουσε, καὶ αἴνυτο τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων

And Antilochus rushed forward and stripped the armor from his shoulders,

παπταίνων· Τρῶες δὲ περισταδὸν ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος

looking warily about; but the Trojans, standing around, from one side and another

οὔταζον σάκος εὐρὺ παναίολον, οὐδὲ δύναντο

struck his broad, flashing shield, but were not able

εἴσω ἐπιγράψαι τέρενα χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

to graze his tender flesh within with ruthless bronze,

Ἀντιλόχου· πέρι γάρ ῥα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

the skin of Antilochus; for earth-shaking Poseidon

555

Νέστορος υἱὸν ἔρυτο καὶ ἐν πολλοῖσι βέλεσσιν.

guarded the son of Nestor even amidst many missiles.

οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτʼ ἄνευ δηΐων ἦν, ἀλλὰ κατʼ αὐτοὺς

For indeed he was never free of enemies, but turned among them;

στρωφᾶτʼ· οὐδέ οἱ ἔγχος ἔχʼ ἀτρέμας, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰεὶ

nor did he hold his spear motionless, but it was always

σειόμενον ἐλέλικτο· τιτύσκετο δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν

shaken and brandished; and he aimed in his mind...

Syntax notes4 items

13.490ἐσορῶν
A nominative singular present active participle modifying the subject Αἰνείας from the preceding line (489), expressing the simultaneous action of looking toward them while calling his companions.
13.512ὁρμηθέντι
A dative singular aorist passive participle serving as a dative of interest/reference ('for him making a rush'), explaining the lack of stability in his limbs (γυῖα).
13.522υἷος ἑοῖο πεσόντος
A genitive noun and participle combination serving as the complement object of the verb πέπυστο ('had not yet heard of his son having fallen').
13.547ἥ τʼ ἀνὰ νῶτα θέουσα
A relative clause starting with the feminine relative pronoun ἥ, modifying the antecedent φλέβα (vein), describing the anatomical path running along the back to the neck.

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

2026-09-21 AI review — note 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:13.490-13.558