Zeus's Summons and Thetis's Mission to Achilles — Homer, Iliad Book 24 (lines 69–134), Greek & English

οὐ γάρ μοί ποτε βωμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης

For never was my altar lacking in equal feast,

λοιβῆς τε κνίσης τε· τὸ γὰρ λάχομεν γέρας ἡμεῖς.

both of libation and of savory smoke; for this is the privilege we have received as our lot.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι κλέψαι μὲν ἐάσομεν,¹ οὐδέ πῃ ἔστι,

But indeed we shall dismiss the idea of stealing—nor is it possible in any way—

λάθρῃ Ἀχιλλῆος θρασὺν Ἕκτορα· ἦ γάρ οἱ αἰεὶ

bold Hector without the knowledge of Achilles; for indeed always to him

μήτηρ παρμέμβλωκεν ὁμῶς νύκτάς τε καὶ ἦμαρ.

his mother stands by, equally by night and by day.

ἀλλʼ εἴ τις καλέσειε θεῶν Θέτιν ἆσσον ἐμεῖο,

But if someone of the gods would call Thetis near to me,

ὄφρά τί οἱ εἴπω πυκινὸν ἔπος, ὥς κεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

so that I may speak a wise word to her, so that Achilles may

δώρων ἐκ Πριάμοιο λάχῃ ἀπό θʼ Ἕκτορα λύσῃ.

receive gifts from Priam and release Hector.”

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δὲ Ἶρις ἀελλόπος ἀγγελέουσα,

So he spoke, and storm-footed Iris arose to bear the message;

μεσσηγὺς δὲ Σάμου τε καὶ Ἴμβρου παιπαλοέσσης

And midway between Samos and rugged Imbros

ἔνθορε μείλανι πόντῳ· ἐπεστονάχησε δὲ λίμνη.

she leapt into the dark sea; and the deep groaned.

ἣ δὲ μολυβδαίνῃ ἰκέλη ἐς βυσσὸν ὄρουσεν,

And she plunged into the deep like a leaden weight,

ἥ τε κατʼ ἀγραύλοιο βοὸς κέρας ἐμβεβαυῖα²

which, set upon the horn of a wild ox,

ἔρχεται ὠμηστῇσιν ἐπʼ ἰχθύσι κῆρα φέρουσα.

goes down, bringing fate to the ravenous fish.

εὗρε δʼ ἐνὶ σπῆϊ γλαφυρῷ Θέτιν, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄλλαι

And she found Thetis in the hollow cave, and around her other

εἵαθʼ ὁμηγερέες ἅλιαι θεαί· ἣ δʼ ἐνὶ μέσσῃς

sea-goddesses sat gathered together; and she in their midst

κλαῖε μόρον οὗ παιδὸς ἀμύμονος, ὅς οἱ ἔμελλε

was weeping for the fate of her noble son, who was destined for her

φθίσεσθʼ ἐν Τροίῃ ἐριβώλακι τηλόθι πάτρης.

to perish in fertile Troy, far from his fatherland.

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·

And standing near, swift-footed Iris spoke to her:

ὄρσο Θέτι· καλέει Ζεὺς ἄφθιτα μήδεα εἰδώς.

“Rise, Thetis; Zeus, who knows immortal counsels, calls you.”

τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα·

Then the silver-footed goddess Thetis answered her:

τίπτέ με κεῖνος ἄνωγε μέγας θεός; αἰδέομαι δὲ

“Why does that great god command me? I am ashamed

μίσγεσθʼ ἀθανάτοισιν, ἔχω δʼ ἄχεʼ ἄκριτα θυμῷ.

to mingle with the immortals, and I have boundless griefs in my heart.

εἶμι μέν, οὐδʼ ἅλιον ἔπος ἔσσεται ὅττί κεν εἴπῃ.

Yet I will go, nor shall the word be in vain, whatever he may say.”

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα κάλυμμʼ ἕλε δῖα θεάων

So speaking, the divine among goddesses took her veil,

κυάνεον, τοῦ δʼ οὔ τι μελάντερον ἔπλετο ἔσθος.

dark-blue, and than it no garment was blacker.

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, πρόσθεν δὲ ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις

And she went on her way, and before her wind-swift Iris

ἡγεῖτʼ· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα σφι λιάζετο κῦμα θαλάσσης.

led; and around them the wave of the sea parted.

ἀκτὴν δʼ ἐξαναβᾶσαι ἐς οὐρανὸν ἀϊχθήτην,

And having stepped out onto the shore, they darted up to heaven,

εὗρον δʼ εὐρύοπα Κρονίδην, περὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἅπαντες

and found the far-sounding son of Cronos, and around him all the other

εἵαθʼ ὁμηγερέες μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες.

blessed gods who exist forever were sat gathered together.

100

ἣ δʼ ἄρα πὰρ Διὶ πατρὶ καθέζετο, εἶξε δʼ Ἀθήνη.

And she sat down beside father Zeus, and Athena gave place to her.

Ἥρη δὲ χρύσεον καλὸν δέπας ἐν χερὶ θῆκε

And Hera placed a beautiful golden cup in her hand

καί ῥʼ εὔφρηνʼ ἐπέεσσι· Θέτις δʼ ὤρεξε πιοῦσα.

and comforted her with words; and Thetis, having drunk, returned it.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·

And to them the father of men and of gods began to speak:

ἤλυθες Οὔλυμπον δὲ θεὰ Θέτι κηδομένη περ,

“You have come to Olympus, divine Thetis, though you are grieved,

105

πένθος ἄλαστον ἔχουσα μετὰ φρεσίν· οἶδα καὶ αὐτός·

having unforgetting sorrow in your mind; I myself know it too;

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἐρέω τοῦ σʼ εἵνεκα δεῦρο κάλεσσα.

but even so, I will tell you why I called you hither.

ἐννῆμαρ δὴ νεῖκος ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν ὄρωρεν

Already for nine days has strife arisen among the immortals

Ἕκτορος ἀμφὶ νέκυι καὶ Ἀχιλλῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ·

concerning the corpse of Hector and Achilles, sacker of cities.

κλέψαι δʼ ὀτρύνουσιν ἐΰσκοπον ἀργεϊφόντην·

And they urge the sharp-sighted Argeiphontes to steal him;

110

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε κῦδος Ἀχιλλῆϊ προτιάπτω

But I grant this glory to Achilles,

αἰδῶ καὶ φιλότητα τεὴν μετόπισθε φυλάσσων.³

preserving for the future your respect and friendship.

αἶψα μάλʼ ἐς στρατὸν ἐλθὲ καὶ υἱέϊ σῷ ἐπίτειλον·

Go quickly indeed to the army, and give command to your son;

σκύζεσθαί οἱ εἰπὲ θεούς, ἐμὲ δʼ ἔξοχα πάντων

Tell him that the gods are angry with him, and that I above all

ἀθανάτων κεχολῶσθαι, ὅτι φρεσὶ μαινομένῃσιν

immortals am enraged, because with mad mind

115

Ἕκτορʼ ἔχει παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν οὐδʼ ἀπέλυσεν,

he keeps Hector beside the curved ships and has not released him,

αἴ κέν πως ἐμέ τε δείσῃ ἀπό θʼ Ἕκτορα λύσῃ.

if perhaps he may fear me and release Hector.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Πριάμῳ μεγαλήτορι Ἶριν ἐφήσω

Meanwhile, I will send Iris to great-hearted Priam,

λύσασθαι φίλον υἱὸν ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,

to ransom his beloved son, going to the ships of the Achaeans,

δῶρα δʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ φερέμεν, τά κε θυμὸν ἰήνῃ.

and to bring gifts to Achilles, such as may soften his heart.”

120

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα,

So he spoke, and the silver-footed goddess Thetis did not disobey,

βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα,

but went darting down from the peaks of Olympus.

ἷξεν δʼ ἐς κλισίην οὗ υἱέος· ἔνθʼ ἄρα τόν γε

And she came to the hut of her son; there then him

εὗρʼ ἁδινὰ στενάχοντα· φίλοι δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι

found groaning closely; and around him his beloved companions

ἐσσυμένως ἐπένοντο καὶ ἐντύνοντο ἄριστον·

busily were working and preparing breakfast;

125

τοῖσι δʼ ὄϊς λάσιος μέγας ἐν κλισίῃ ἱέρευτο.

and for them a great shaggy sheep lay slaughtered in the hut.

ἣ δὲ μάλʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτοῖο καθέζετο πότνια μήτηρ,

And she, close beside him, sat down, his revered mother,

χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

and stroked him with her hand, and spoke a word and addressed him by name:

τέκνον ἐμὸν τέο μέχρις ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων

“My child, how long, weeping and grieving,

σὴν ἔδεαι κραδίην μεμνημένος οὔτέ τι σίτου

will you eat your heart out, remembering neither food

130

οὔτʼ εὐνῆς; ἀγαθὸν δὲ γυναικί περ ἐν φιλότητι

nor bed? Yet it is good to mingle in love with a woman;

μίσγεσθʼ· οὐ γάρ μοι δηρὸν βέῃ, ἀλλά τοι ἤδη

for you shall not live long for me, but already

ἄγχι παρέστηκεν θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή.

near to you stands death and mighty fate.

ἀλλʼ ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα, Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι·

But quickly listen to me; I am a messenger to you from Zeus;

σκύζεσθαι σοί φησι θεούς, ἑὲ δʼ ἔξοχα πάντων

he says that the gods are angry with you, and himself above all

Syntax notes3 items

24.71κλέψαι μὲν ἐάσομεν
The infinitive κλέψαι functions as the object of ἐάσομεν (from ἐάω, "permit, dismiss, let be"). Here, it means "we shall dismiss the idea of stealing (Hector's body secretly)".
24.81κατʼ ἀγραύλοιο βοὸς κέρας ἐμβεβαυῖα
Meaning "set upon the horn of a wild ox." This refers to an ancient fishing device where a small sheath made of horn was threaded onto the line to protect it or the lead weight from being bitten through by ravenous fish. The simile compares the rapid descent of Iris to the lead weight plunging into the deep.
24.111αἰδῶ καὶ φιλότητα τεὴν μετόπισθε φυλάσσων
The present participle φυλάσσων (preserving) expresses the motive or purpose of Zeus: he grants glory to Achilles "because he wishes to preserve (and maintain in the future) respect and friendship" for Thetis.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:24.69-24.134