Hera Returns to Olympus and Athena Restrains Ares — Homer, Iliad Book 15 (lines 67–132), Greek & English

τοὺς ἄλλους, μετὰ δʼ υἱὸν ἐμὸν Σαρπηδόνα δῖον.

the others, and among them my own son, godlike Sarpedon.

τοῦ δὲ χολωσάμενος κτενεῖ Ἕκτορα δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

And for his sake shall illustrious Achilles slay Hector in anger.

ἐκ τοῦ δʼ ἄν τοι ἔπειτα παλίωξιν παρὰ νηῶν

From that time forth I would ever cause a driving back from the ships

αἰὲν ἐγὼ τεύχοιμι¹ διαμπερὲς εἰς ὅ κʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

continually, until the Achaeans

Ἴλιον αἰπὺ ἕλοιεν Ἀθηναίης διὰ βουλάς.

shall take steep Ilium through the counsels of Athena.

τὸ πρὶν δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐγὼ παύω χόλον οὔτέ τινʼ ἄλλον

But until then I do not stay my wrath, nor will I suffer any other

ἀθανάτων Δαναοῖσιν ἀμυνέμεν ἐνθάδʼ ἐάσω

of the immortals to aid the Danaans here,

πρίν γε τὸ Πηλεΐδαο τελευτηθῆναι ἐέλδωρ,

before the desire of the son of Peleus is fulfilled,

ὥς οἱ ὑπέστην πρῶτον, ἐμῷ δʼ ἐπένευσα κάρητι,

as I first promised him, and bowed my head in assent,

ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἐμεῖο θεὰ Θέτις ἥψατο γούνων,

on the day when the goddess Thetis touched my knees,

λισσομένη τιμῆσαι Ἀχιλλῆα πτολίπορθον.

beseeching me to honor Achilles, sacker of cities.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,

So he spoke, and the white-armed goddess Hera did not disobey,

βῆ δʼ ἐξ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον.

but went from the hills of Ida to high Olympus.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀΐξῃ² νόος ἀνέρος, ὅς τʼ ἐπὶ πολλὴν

And as when the mind of a man flies, who has traveled over much

γαῖαν ἐληλουθὼς φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσι νοήσῃ

earth, and in his wise heart thinks,

ἔνθʼ εἴην ἢ ἔνθα, μενοινήῃσί τε πολλά,

”Would I were here, or there,” and wishes many things,

ὣς κραιπνῶς μεμαυῖα διέπτατο πότνια Ἥρη·

so swiftly flew queen Hera in her eagerness.

ἵκετο δʼ αἰπὺν Ὄλυμπον, ὁμηγερέεσσι δʼ ἐπῆλθεν

And she came to steep Olympus, and found the immortal

ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι Διὸς δόμῳ· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες

gods gathered together in the house of Zeus; and they, seeing her,

πάντες ἀνήϊξαν καὶ δεικανόωντο δέπασσιν.

all started up and welcomed her with cups.

ἣ δʼ ἄλλους μὲν ἔασε, Θέμιστι δὲ καλλιπαρῄῳ

But she let the others be, and from fair-cheeked Themis

δέκτο δέπας· πρώτη γὰρ ἐναντίη ἦλθε θέουσα,

accepted the cup; for she had run first to meet her,

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and addressing her, spoke winged words, saying:

Ἥρη τίπτε βέβηκας; ἀτυζομένῃ δὲ ἔοικας·

”Hera, why have you come? You seem like one distraught.

ἦ μάλα δή σʼ ἐφόβησε Κρόνου πάϊς, ὅς τοι ἀκοίτης.

Surely the son of Cronos, who is your husband, has terrified you.”

τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη·

Then the white-armed goddess Hera answered her:

μή με θεὰ Θέμι ταῦτα διείρεο· οἶσθα καὶ αὐτὴ

”Do not ask me about this, goddess Themis; you yourself know

οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπερφίαλος καὶ ἀπηνής.

how proud and unyielding is his spirit.

ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἄρχε θεοῖσι δόμοις ἔνι δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·

But do you begin for the gods in the halls the equal feast;

ταῦτα δὲ καὶ μετὰ πᾶσιν ἀκούσεαι ἀθανάτοισιν

and you shall hear this, along with all the immortals,

οἷα Ζεὺς κακὰ ἔργα πιφαύσκεται· οὐδέ τί φημι

what evil deeds Zeus declares. Nor, I think,

πᾶσιν ὁμῶς θυμὸν κεχαρησέμεν, οὔτε βροτοῖσιν

will the heart of all alike be gladdened, neither of mortals

οὔτε θεοῖς, εἴ πέρ τις ἔτι νῦν δαίνυται εὔφρων.

nor of gods, if indeed anyone even now feasts with a cheerful mind.”

100

ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσα καθέζετο πότνια Ἥρη,

Having thus spoken, queen Hera sat down,

ὄχθησαν δʼ ἀνὰ δῶμα Διὸς θεοί· ἣ δʼ ἐγέλασσε

and the gods throughout the house of Zeus were troubled. But she laughed

χείλεσιν, οὐδὲ μέτωπον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι κυανέῃσιν

with her lips, yet her forehead above her dark brows

ἰάνθη· πᾶσιν δὲ νεμεσσηθεῖσα μετηύδα·

was not softened. And being indignant at them all, she spoke:

νήπιοι οἳ Ζηνὶ μενεαίνομεν ἀφρονέοντες·

”Fools we are, who in our folly are angry with Zeus!

105

ἦ ἔτι μιν μέμαμεν καταπαυσέμεν ἆσσον ἰόντες

We still strive to check him, going near to him

ἢ ἔπει ἠὲ βίῃ· ὃ δʼ ἀφήμενος οὐκ ἀλεγίζει

either with word or by force; but he sits apart and cares not,

οὐδʼ ὄθεται· φησὶν γὰρ ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι

nor is he moved, for he says that among the immortal gods

κάρτεΐ τε σθένεΐ τε διακριδὸν εἶναι ἄριστος.

he is eminently the best in power and strength.

τὼ ἔχεθʼ ὅττί κεν ὔμμι κακὸν πέμπῃσιν ἑκάστῳ.

Therefore hold whatever evil he may send to each of you.

110

ἤδη γὰρ νῦν ἔλπομʼ Ἄρηΐ γε πῆμα τετύχθαι·

For already now, I think, a sorrow has been wrought for Ares;

υἱὸς γάρ οἱ ὄλωλε μάχῃ ἔνι φίλτατος ἀνδρῶν

since his son has perished in the fight, the dearest of men,

Ἀσκάλαφος, τόν φησιν ὃν ἔμμεναι³ ὄβριμος Ἄρης.

Ascalaphus, whom mighty Ares says is his own.”

ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ Ἄρης θαλερὼ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ

So she spoke, and Ares smote his sturdy thighs

χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·

with flat hands, and with lamentation spoke:

115

μὴ νῦν μοι νεμεσήσετʼ Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες

”Do not now be angry with me, you who hold Olympian homes,

τίσασθαι φόνον υἷος ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,

if I go to the ships of the Achaeans to avenge the death of my son,

εἴ πέρ μοι καὶ μοῖρα Διὸς πληγέντι κεραυνῷ

even if it is my fate, struck by the thunderbolt of Zeus,

κεῖσθαι ὁμοῦ νεκύεσσι μεθʼ αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσιν.

to lie together with the dead in blood and dust.”

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἵππους κέλετο Δεῖμόν τε Φόβον τε

So he spoke, and bade Deimos and Phobos yoke

120

ζευγνύμεν, αὐτὸς δʼ ἔντεʼ ἐδύσετο παμφανόωντα.

his horses, and himself put on his shining armor.

ἔνθά κʼ ἔτι μείζων τε καὶ ἀργαλεώτερος ἄλλος

Then would another even greater and more painful wrath and anger

πὰρ Διὸς ἀθανάτοισι χόλος καὶ μῆνις ἐτύχθη,

from Zeus have been wrought against the immortals,

εἰ μὴ Ἀθήνη πᾶσι περιδείσασα θεοῖσιν

had not Athena, fearing for all the gods,

ὦρτο⁴ διὲκ προθύρου, λίπε δὲ θρόνον ἔνθα θάασσε,

rushed out through the vestibule, and left the throne where she sat,

125

τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν κεφαλῆς κόρυθʼ εἵλετο καὶ σάκος ὤμων,

and from his head took the helmet, and the shield from his shoulders,

ἔγχος δʼ ἔστησε στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα

and took the bronze spear from his strong hand and set it down,

χάλκεον· ἣ δʼ ἐπέεσσι καθάπτετο θοῦρον Ἄρηα·

and with words rebuked impetuous Ares:

μαινόμενε φρένας ἠλὲ διέφθορας· ἦ νύ τοι αὔτως

”Madman, distraught in mind, you are destroyed! Surely in vain

οὔατʼ ἀκουέμεν ἐστί, νόος δʼ ἀπόλωλε καὶ αἰδώς.

have you ears to hear, and your intelligence and shame are gone.

130

οὐκ ἀΐεις ἅ τέ φησι θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη

Do you not hear what the white-armed goddess Hera says,

ἣ δὴ νῦν πὰρ Ζηνὸς Ὀλυμπίου εἰλήλουθεν;

who has even now come from Olympian Zeus?

ἦ ἐθέλεις αὐτὸς μὲν ἀναπλήσας κακὰ πολλὰ

Or do you wish, having yourself filled up the measure of many evils,

Syntax notes4 items

15.69ἄν ... τεύχοιμι
The optative with the particle ἄν (the epic equivalent of κε) in the principal clause is used here to express Zeus's strong determination or anticipation of the future.
15.80ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀΐξῃ
The introductory clause of a famous Homeric simile comparing the speed of Hera's flight to human thought. Introduced by ὡς ὅτʼ ἄν, it takes the subjunctives ἀΐξῃ (and νοήσῃ in line 81) to express a general or habitual condition.
15.112τόν φησιν ὃν ἔμμεναι
In indirect discourse, the relative pronoun ὅν (in ὃν ἔμμεναι, meaning "that he is") serves as the subject accusative of the infinitive ἔμμεναι (the epic form of εἶναι).
15.121ἔνθά κʼ ... ἐτύχθη, εἰ μὴ Ἀθήνη ... ὦρτο
A past contrary-to-fact conditional sentence. The apodosis has the indicative aorist ἐτύχθη with the particle κε (the epic equivalent of ἄν), while the protasis contains the indicative aorist ὦρτο (from ὄρνυμι) introduced by εἰ μή. It emphasizes a critical moment averted: "then would even greater wrath have been wrought, had not Athena rushed out."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:15.67-15.132