Priam's Prayer to Zeus and the Eagle Omen — Homer, Iliad Book 24 (lines 269–337), Greek & English

269

πύξινον ὀμφαλόεν εὖ οἰήκεσσιν ἀρηρός·

It was made of boxwood, with a boss in the middle, well fitted with guiding rings.

270

ἐκ δʼ ἔφερον ζυγόδεσμον ἅμα ζυγῷ ἐννεάπηχυ.

And they brought out the yoke-band nine cubits long together with the yoke.

καὶ τὸ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκαν ἐϋξέστῳ ἐπὶ ῥυμῷ

And this they laid carefully upon the well-polished pole,

πέζῃ ἔπι πρώτῃ, ἐπὶ δὲ κρίκον ἕστορι βάλλον,

at the very end of it, and cast the ring over the pin,

τρὶς δʼ ἑκάτερθεν ἔδησαν ἐπʼ ὀμφαλόν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

and bound it fast thrice on either side to the boss, and then

ἑξείης κατέδησαν, ὑπὸ γλωχῖνα δʼ ἔκαμψαν.

they bound it in order, and tucked the tongue under the yoke-band.

275

ἐκ θαλάμου δὲ φέροντες ἐϋξέστης ἐπʼ ἀπήνης

And carrying from the chamber they piled upon the well-polished wagon

νήεον Ἑκτορέης κεφαλῆς ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα,

the boundless ransom for Hector’s head,

ζεῦξαν δʼ ἡμιόνους κρατερώνυχας ἐντεσιεργούς,

and they yoked the strong-hoofed mules that worked in harness,

τούς ῥά ποτε Πριάμῳ Μυσοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.

which once the Mysians had given to Priam as splendid gifts.

ἵππους δὲ Πριάμῳ ὕπαγον ζυγόν, οὓς ὃ γεραιὸς

And for Priam they led under the yoke the horses, which the old man

280

αὐτὸς ἔχων ἀτίταλλεν ἐϋξέστῃ ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.

himself kept and reared at the well-polished manger.

τὼ μὲν ζευγνύσθην¹ ἐν δώμασιν ὑψηλοῖσι

So the two of them were having them yoked in the high palace,

κῆρυξ καὶ Πρίαμος πυκινὰ φρεσὶ μήδεʼ ἔχοντες·

the herald and Priam, keeping wise counsels in their minds.

ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθʼ Ἑκάβη τετιηότι θυμῷ

And near to them came Hecabe with sorrowing heart,

οἶνον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χειρὶ μελίφρονα δεξιτερῆφι

holding honey-hearted wine in her right hand

285

χρυσέῳ ἐν δέπαϊ, ὄφρα λείψαντε κιοίτην·²

in a golden cup, so that they might pour a libation before they went.

στῆ δʼ ἵππων προπάροιθεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

And she stood before the horses and spoke and addressed them:

τῆ σπεῖσον Διὶ πατρί, καὶ εὔχεο οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι

”Here, pour a libation to father Zeus, and pray to return home

ἂψ ἐκ δυσμενέων ἀνδρῶν, ἐπεὶ ἂρ σέ γε θυμὸς

back from the enemy, since indeed your heart

ὀτρύνει ἐπὶ νῆας ἐμεῖο μὲν οὐκ ἐθελούσης.³

urges you to the ships, though I am not willing.

290

ἀλλʼ εὔχεο σύ γʼ ἔπειτα κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίωνι

But pray then to the son of Cronos, cloud-wrapped

Ἰδαίῳ, ὅς τε Τροίην κατὰ πᾶσαν ὁρᾶται,

lord of Ida, who looks down upon all Troy,

αἴτει δʼ οἰωνὸν ταχὺν ἄγγελον, ὅς τέ οἱ αὐτῷ

and ask for a bird of omen, the swift messenger, which to him

φίλτατος οἰωνῶν, καί εὑ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον,

is dearest of birds, and whose power is greatest,

δεξιόν, ὄφρά μιν αὐτὸς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσι νοήσας

on your right hand, so that you yourself may perceive him with your eyes,

295

τῷ πίσυνος ἐπὶ νῆας ἴῃς Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων.

and trusting in him, go to the ships of the Danaans of swift steeds.

εἰ δέ τοι οὐ δώσει ἑὸν ἄγγελον εὐρύοπα Ζεύς,

But if wide-ruling Zeus does not give you his own messenger,

οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγέ σʼ ἔπειτα ἐποτρύνουσα κελοίμην

then I would not urge you and bid you

νῆας ἐπʼ Ἀργείων ἰέναι μάλα περ μεμαῶτα.

go to the ships of the Argives, however eager you may be.”

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Πρίαμος θεοειδής·

And in answer to her spoke the godlike old man Priam:

300

ὦ γύναι οὐ μέν τοι τόδʼ ἐφιεμένῃ ἀπιθήσω.

”O wife, indeed I will not disobey your bidding.

ἐσθλὸν γὰρ Διὶ χεῖρας ἀνασχέμεν αἴ κʼ ἐλεήσῃ.

For it is good to lift up hands to Zeus, if he might have pity.”

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφίπολον ταμίην ὄτρυνʼ ὃ γεραιὸς

He spoke, and the old man urged the handmaid who was housekeeper

χερσὶν ὕδωρ ἐπιχεῦαι ἀκήρατον· ἣ δὲ παρέστη

to pour pure water upon his hands; and she stood by,

χέρνιβον ἀμφίπολος πρόχοόν θʼ ἅμα χερσὶν ἔχουσα.

the handmaid, holding in her hands a basin and a pitcher.

305

νιψάμενος δὲ κύπελλον ἐδέξατο ἧς ἀλόχοιο·

Having washed his hands, he received the cup from his wife;

εὔχετʼ ἔπειτα στὰς μέσῳ ἕρκεϊ, λεῖβε δὲ οἶνον

then he prayed, standing in the midst of the courtyard, and poured the wine,

οὐρανὸν εἰσανιδών, καὶ φωνήσας ἔπος ηὔδα·

looking up to heaven, and spoke and uttered his word:

Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε

”Father Zeus, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most great,

δός μʼ ἐς Ἀχιλλῆος φίλον ἐλθεῖν ἠδʼ ἐλεεινόν,

grant that I may come to Achilles’ tent as one welcome and pitied,

310

πέμψον δʼ οἰωνὸν ταχὺν ἄγγελον, ὅς τε σοὶ αὐτῷ

and send a bird of omen, the swift messenger, which to you

φίλτατος οἰωνῶν, καί εὑ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον,

is dearest of birds, and whose power is greatest,

δεξιόν, ὄφρά μιν αὐτὸς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσι νοήσας

on my right hand, so that I myself may perceive him with my eyes,

τῷ πίσυνος ἐπὶ νῆας ἴω Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων.

and trusting in him, go to the ships of the Danaans of swift steeds.”

ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε μητίετα Ζεὺς

So he spoke in prayer, and wise Zeus heard him.

315

αὐτίκα δʼ αἰετὸν ἧκε τελειότατον πετεηνῶν

And straightway he sent an eagle, the most perfect of winged birds,

μόρφνον θηρητῆρʼ ὃν καὶ περκνὸν καλέουσιν.

the dark hunter which men also call the dusky one.

ὅσση δʼ ὑψορόφοιο θύρη θαλάμοιο τέτυκται

And as wide as is the door of a high-roofed chamber

ἀνέρος ἀφνειοῖο ἐῢ κληῗσʼ ἀραρυῖα,

of a rich man, well fitted with bolts,

τόσσʼ ἄρα τοῦ ἑκάτερθεν ἔσαν πτερά·⁴ εἴσατο δέ σφι

so wide were his wings on either side; and he appeared to them

320

δεξιὸς ἀΐξας διὰ ἄστεος· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες

darting on the right through the city; and they, seeing him,

γήθησαν, καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.

rejoiced, and the heart in the breasts of all was comforted.

σπερχόμενος δʼ ὃ γεραιὸς ἑοῦ ἐπεβήσετο δίφρου,

And hastening, the old man mounted his chariot,

ἐκ δʼ ἔλασε προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου.

and drove out of the gateway and the echoing portico.

πρόσθε μὲν ἡμίονοι ἕλκον τετράκυκλον ἀπήνην,

In front the mules drew the four-wheeled wagon,

325

τὰς Ἰδαῖος ἔλαυνε δαΐφρων· αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν

which wise Idaeus drove; but behind

ἵπποι, τοὺς ὃ γέρων ἐφέπων μάστιγι κέλευε

came the horses, which the old man urged with the whip

καρπαλίμως κατὰ ἄστυ· φίλοι δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἕποντο

swiftly through the city; and all his friends followed

πόλλʼ ὀλοφυρόμενοι ὡς εἰ θάνατον δὲ κιόντα.

lamenting greatly, as if he were going to his death.

οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν πόλιος κατέβαν, πεδίον δʼ ἀφίκοντο,

But when they had gone down from the city and reached the plain,

330

οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἄψορροι προτὶ Ἴλιον ἀπονέοντο

they turned back to Ilium,

παῖδες καὶ γαμβροί, τὼ δʼ οὐ λάθον εὐρύοπα Ζῆν

the sons and sons-in-law; but the two of them did not escape the eye of wide-ruling Zeus

ἐς πεδίον προφανέντε· ἰδὼν δʼ ἐλέησε γέροντα,

as they appeared on the plain; and seeing them, he pitied the old man,

αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἑρμείαν υἱὸν φίλον ἀντίον ηὔδα·

and straightway spoke to Hermes, his beloved son:

Ἑρμεία, σοὶ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε φίλτατόν ἐστιν

”Hermes, for to you it is dearest of all

335

ἀνδρὶ ἑταιρίσσαι, καί τʼ ἔκλυες ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,

to companion a man, and you hear whomsoever you will,

βάσκʼ ἴθι καὶ Πρίαμον κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

go now, and so guide Priam to the hollow ships of the Achaeans

ὣς ἄγαγʼ, ὡς μήτʼ ἄρ τις ἴδῃ μήτʼ ἄρ τε νοήσῃ

that no one may see him or perceive him.”

Syntax notes4 items

24.281ζευγνύσθην
The third-person dual imperfect middle of ζεύγνυμι. While it could mean that they yoked the animals themselves, it is more naturally interpreted as a causative middle, meaning that the two of them (the herald and Priam) "had the animals yoked" by their servants.
24.285ὄφρα λείψαντε κιοίτην
A purpose clause introduced by ὄφρα, consisting of the dual nominative participle λείψαντε (from leibō, 'to pour a libation') and the third-person dual optative κιοίτην (from kiō, 'to go'). The optative is used because the main verb (ἦλθʼ) is in a historical tense.
24.289ἐμεῖο μὲν οὐκ ἐθελούσης
A genitive absolute construction. The genitive personal pronoun ἐμεῖο (Homeric form of ἐμοῦ) functions as the subject of the participle ἐθελούσης, expressing a concessive meaning: "even though I am not willing (for you to go)."
24.317ὅσση δʼ ὑψορόφοιο θύρη... τόσσʼ ἄρα τοῦ ἑκάτερθεν ἔσαν πτερά
A comparison using the correlative adjectives ὅσση and τόσσα. The width of the high-roofed chamber's door (ὅσση) is contrasted with the expanse of the eagle's wings on either side (τόσσα): "as wide as is the door, so wide were its wings on either side."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-22)

2026-09-22 AI review — translation 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:24.269-24.337