Hector's Deployment and the Catalogue of Trojans — Homer, Iliad Book 2 (lines 803–877), Greek & English

803

πολλοὶ γὰρ κατὰ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμου ἐπίκουροι,

For many are the allies throughout the great city of Priam,

ἄλλη δʼ ἄλλων γλῶσσα¹ πολυσπερέων ἀνθρώπων·

and different is the tongue of different widely-scattered men;

805

τοῖσιν ἕκαστος ἀνὴρ σημαινέτω οἷσί περ ἄρχει,

let each man give command to those whom he rules,

τῶν δʼ ἐξηγείσθω κοσμησάμενος πολιήτας.

and lead them forth, having marshaled his own citizens.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ οὔ τι θεᾶς ἔπος ἠγνοίησεν,

So she spoke, and Hector in no wise ignored the word of the goddess,

αἶψα δʼ ἔλυσʼ ἀγορήν· ἐπὶ τεύχεα δʼ ἐσσεύοντο·

but straightway dismissed the assembly; and they rushed to arms.

πᾶσαι δʼ ὠΐγνυντο πύλαι, ἐκ δʼ ἔσσυτο λαὸς

And all the gates were opened, and the host rushed forth,

810

πεζοί θʼ ἱππῆές τε· πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.

both footmen and charioteers; and a great din arose.

ἔστι δέ τις προπάροιθε πόλιος αἰπεῖα κολώνη

Now there is before the city a certain steep hill,

ἐν πεδίῳ ἀπάνευθε περίδρομος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,²

out in the plain apart, with a clear way around it on this side and on that;

τὴν ἤτοι ἄνδρες Βατίειαν κικλήσκουσιν,

which men indeed call Batieia,

ἀθάνατοι δέ τε σῆμα πολυσκάρθμοιο Μυρίνης·

but the immortals call it the tomb of bounding Myrine;

815

ἔνθα τότε Τρῶές τε διέκριθεν ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι.

there then the Trojans and their allies were marshaled apart.

Τρωσὶ μὲν ἡγεμόνευε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

The Trojans indeed were led by great Hector of the flashing helm,

Πριαμίδης· ἅμα τῷ γε πολὺ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι

Priam’s son; and with him by far the most and the best

λαοὶ θωρήσσοντο μεμαότες ἐγχείῃσι.

hosts were armed, eager with their spears.

Δαρδανίων αὖτʼ ἦρχεν ἐῢς πάϊς Ἀγχίσαο

Of the Dardanians again, the noble son of Anchises was leader,

820

Αἰνείας, τὸν ὑπʼ Ἀγχίσῃ τέκε δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτη

Aeneas, whom divine Aphrodite bore beneath Anchises,

Ἴδης ἐν κνημοῖσι θεὰ βροτῷ εὐνηθεῖσα,³

on the spurs of Ida, a goddess bedded with a mortal;

οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω Ἀντήνορος υἷε

not alone, for with him were Antenor’s two sons,

Ἀρχέλοχός τʼ Ἀκάμας τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης.

Archelochos and Akamas, well skilled in every fight.

οἳ δὲ Ζέλειαν ἔναιον ὑπαὶ πόδα νείατον Ἴδης

And they who dwelt in Zeleia beneath the lowest foot of Ida,

825

ἀφνειοὶ πίνοντες ὕδωρ μέλαν Αἰσήποιο

wealthy men, drinking the dark water of Aisepos,

Τρῶες, τῶν αὖτʼ ἦρχε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς

Trojans, of these again Lykaon’s glorious son was leader,

Πάνδαρος, ᾧ καὶ τόξον Ἀπόλλων αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν.

Pandaros, to whom Apollo himself gave the bow.

οἳ δʼ Ἀδρήστειάν τʼ εἶχον καὶ δῆμον Ἀπαισοῦ

And they who held Adresteia and the land of Apaisos,

καὶ Πιτύειαν ἔχον καὶ Τηρείης ὄρος αἰπύ,

and held Pityeia and the steep mountain of Tereia,

830

τῶν ἦρχʼ Ἄδρηστός τε καὶ Ἄμφιος λινοθώρηξ

of these Adrestos was leader, and Amphios of the linen corslet,

υἷε δύω Μέροπος Περκωσίου, ὃς περὶ πάντων

two sons of Merops of Perkote, who beyond all men

ᾔδεε μαντοσύνας,⁴ οὐδὲ οὓς παῖδας ἔασκε

knew prophesying, and would not suffer his sons

στείχειν ἐς πόλεμον φθισήνορα· τὼ δέ οἱ οὔ τι

to go into man-destroying war; but they in no wise

πειθέσθην· κῆρες γὰρ ἄγον μέλανος θανάτοιο.

obeyed him, for the fates of black death led them on.

835

οἳ δʼ ἄρα Περκώτην καὶ Πράκτιον ἀμφενέμοντο

And they who dwelt about Perkote and Praktios,

καὶ Σηστὸν καὶ Ἄβυδον ἔχον καὶ δῖαν Ἀρίσβην,

and held Sestos and Abydos and divine Arisbe,

τῶν αὖθʼ Ὑρτακίδης ἦρχʼ Ἄσιος ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,

of these again Hyrtakos’ son, Asios, leader of men, was leader,

Ἄσιος Ὑρτακίδης ὃν Ἀρίσβηθεν φέρον ἵπποι

Asios, son of Hyrtakos, whom horses bore from Arisbe,

αἴθωνες μεγάλοι ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος.

tall tawny horses from the river Selleis.

840

Ἱππόθοος δʼ ἄγε φῦλα Πελασγῶν ἐγχεσιμώρων

And Hippothoos led the tribes of the Pelasgians, famed for their spears,

τῶν οἳ Λάρισαν ἐριβώλακα ναιετάασκον·

of them that dwelt in fertile Larissa;

τῶν ἦρχʼ Ἱππόθοός τε Πύλαιός τʼ ὄζος Ἄρηος,

of these Hippothoos was leader, and Pylaios, branch of Ares,

υἷε δύω Λήθοιο Πελασγοῦ Τευταμίδαο.

two sons of Lethos, the Pelasgian, son of Teutamos.

αὐτὰρ Θρήϊκας ἦγʼ Ἀκάμας καὶ Πείροος ἥρως

But the Thracians were led by Akamas and the hero Peiroos,

845

ὅσσους Ἑλλήσποντος ἀγάρροος ἐντὸς ἐέργει.

even all whom the strong-flowing Hellespont shuts in.

Εὔφημος δʼ ἀρχὸς Κικόνων ἦν αἰχμητάων

And Euphemos was leader of the Ciconian spearmen,

υἱὸς Τροιζήνοιο διοτρεφέος Κεάδαο.

son of Troizenos, son of Ceas, nurtured of Zeus.

αὐτὰρ Πυραίχμης ἄγε Παίονας ἀγκυλοτόξους

But Pyraichmes led the Paeonians, with curved bows,

τηλόθεν ἐξ Ἀμυδῶνος ἀπʼ Ἀξιοῦ εὐρὺ ῥέοντος,

from afar, out of Amydon, from the wide-flowing Axios,

850

Ἀξιοῦ οὗ κάλλιστον ὕδωρ ἐπικίδναται αἶαν.

Axios, whose water flows most fair over the earth.

Παφλαγόνων δʼ ἡγεῖτο Πυλαιμένεος λάσιον κῆρ

And of the Paphlagonians, the shaggy heart of Pylaimenes was leader,

ἐξ Ἐνετῶν, ὅθεν ἡμιόνων γένος ἀγροτεράων,

from the land of the Eneti, whence is the race of wild mules,

οἵ ῥα Κύτωρον ἔχον καὶ Σήσαμον ἀμφενέμοντο

who held Kytoros and dwelt about Sesamos,

ἀμφί τε Παρθένιον ποταμὸν κλυτὰ δώματʼ ἔναιον

and dwelt in glorious dwellings about the river Parthenios,

855

Κρῶμνάν τʼ Αἰγιαλόν τε καὶ ὑψηλοὺς Ἐρυθίνους.

and Cromna and Aigialos and high Erythini.

αὐτὰρ Ἁλιζώνων Ὀδίος καὶ Ἐπίστροφος ἦρχον

But of the Halizones, Odios and Epistrophos were leaders,

τηλόθεν ἐξ Ἀλύβης, ὅθεν ἀργύρου ἐστὶ γενέθλη.

from afar, out of Alybe, whence is the source of silver.

Μυσῶν δὲ Χρόμις ἦρχε καὶ Ἔννομος οἰωνιστής·

And of the Mysians, Chromis was leader, and Ennomos the augur;

ἀλλʼ οὐκ οἰωνοῖσιν ἐρύσατο κῆρα μέλαιναν,⁵

yet he did not ward off black death by his auguries,

860

ἀλλʼ ἐδάμη ὑπὸ χερσὶ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

but was slain beneath the hands of the swift-foot grandson of Aiakos

ἐν ποταμῷ, ὅθι περ Τρῶας κεράϊζε καὶ ἄλλους.

in the river, where he made havoc of the Trojans and of others as well.

Φόρκυς αὖ Φρύγας ἦγε καὶ Ἀσκάνιος θεοειδὴς

And Phorkys again led the Phrygians, and godlike Askanyos,

τῆλʼ ἐξ Ἀσκανίης· μέμασαν δʼ ὑσμῖνι μάχεσθαι.

from afar, out of Askania; and they were eager to fight in the press of battle.

Μῄοσιν αὖ Μέσθλης τε καὶ Ἄντιφος ἡγησάσθην

And the Meonians again were led by Mesthles and Antiphos,

865

υἷε Ταλαιμένεος τὼ Γυγαίη τέκε λίμνη,

two sons of Talaimenes, whom the Gygaean lake bore;

οἳ καὶ Μῄονας ἦγον ὑπὸ Τμώλῳ γεγαῶτας.

and they led the Meonians who were born beneath Tmolos.

Νάστης αὖ Καρῶν ἡγήσατο βαρβαροφώνων,

And Nastes again led the Carians of uncouth speech,

οἳ Μίλητον ἔχον Φθιρῶν τʼ ὄρος ἀκριτόφυλλον

who held Miletos and the mountain of Phthires, thick with leaves,

Μαιάνδρου τε ῥοὰς Μυκάλης τʼ αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα·

and the streams of Maiandros and the steep crests of Mykale;

870

τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἀμφίμαχος καὶ Νάστης ἡγησάσθην,

of these indeed Amphimachos and Nastes were leaders,

Νάστης Ἀμφίμαχός τε Νομίονος ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,

Nastes and Amphimachos, the glorious children of Nomion,

ὃς καὶ χρυσὸν ἔχων πόλεμον δʼ ἴεν⁶ ἠΰτε κούρη

who also went to war wearing gold like a girl,

νήπιος, οὐδέ τί οἱ τό γʼ ἐπήρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,

foolish one, nor did this in any wise ward off grievous destruction from him,

ἀλλʼ ἐδάμη ὑπὸ χερσὶ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

but he was slain beneath the hands of the swift-foot grandson of Aiakos

875

ἐν ποταμῷ, χρυσὸν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ἐκόμισσε δαΐφρων.

in the river, and warlike Achilles carried away the gold.

Σαρπηδὼν δʼ ἦρχεν Λυκίων καὶ Γλαῦκος ἀμύμων

And Sarpedon was leader of the Lycians, and peerless Glaukos,

τηλόθεν ἐκ Λυκίης, Ξάνθου ἄπο δινήεντος.

from afar, out of Lycia, from the swirling Xanthos.

Syntax notes6 items

2.804ἄλλη δʼ ἄλλων γλῶσσα
A copula (such as ἐστί) is omitted in this nominal sentence. The words ἄλλη and ἄλλων are used correlatively to express that "different tongues belong to different widely-scattered men," highlighting the linguistic diversity of the allies.
2.812ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
The adverbial phrase ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ("here and there" or "on this side and on that") modifies the adjective περίδρομος ("with a way around"), indicating that the hill is fully accessible and can be bypassed from any direction in the plain.
2.821θεὰ βροτῷ εὐνηθεῖσα
The passive participle εὐνηθεῖσα (from εὐνάζω, "to bed with") is used here in a middle/deponent sense ("having bedded"). The dative βροτῷ acts as the dative of association/companionship ("with a mortal").
2.831περὶ πάντων ᾔδεε μαντοσύνας
The preposition περί with the genitive πάντων acts as a marker of superiority ("beyond all men" or "above all"). ᾔδεε is the epic pluperfect of οἶδα, functioning as an imperfect ("knew" or "was skilled in").
2.859οὐκ οἰωνοῖσιν ἐρύσατο κῆρα μέλαιναν
The dative of means οἰωνοῖσιν ("by his auguries/birds") modifies the middle aorist verb ἐρύσατο ("he warded off from himself"), creating a tragic irony that his prophetic skill could not save his own life.
2.872χρυσὸν ἔχων πόλεμον δʼ ἴεν
The relative pronoun ὅς refers back to Amphimachos in §2.870. The participle ἔχων expresses accompaniment ("having" or "wearing [gold]"). The noun with the directional suffix -δε in πόλεμον δʼ indicates the destination of motion ("into/to war"), depending on ἴεν (the epic imperfect of εἶμι, "to go").

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.803-2.877