6.2 Book 19 in Detail

The Hollow Reconciliation

Book 19 should be triumphant—Achilles returns to battle, the quarrel with Agamemnon is resolved, the hero gets his revenge. But Homer makes it EMPTY. The reconciliation is hollow, the gifts mean nothing, and Achilles arms for battle like a man preparing for his own funeral.

This is the morning after Thetis brought the divine armour. Achilles calls an assembly, publicly reconciles with Agamemnon (sort of), refuses to eat, and prepares to kill. But there's no joy, no restoration of honour. There's only rage, grief, and the certainty of death.

'I have no thought for food; what I crave is slaughter and blood and the groans of suffering men.'

— Achilles to Odysseus, Rieu, lines 213-214

Why This Reconciliation Fails

In Book 9, Agamemnon offered gifts and Achilles rejected them. In Book 19, Agamemnon offers the SAME gifts and Achilles accepts—but he doesn't care. The gifts are irrelevant. Honour hasn't been restored. Nothing has been fixed. Achilles is returning to battle purely for vengeance.

What Makes Book 19 Unique

Public reconciliation without private forgiveness: The social forms are observed, but Achilles hasn't actually forgiven Agamemnon
Agamemnon's ate defence: He blames divine delusion rather than taking responsibility for his actions
Achilles refuses food: Heroes ALWAYS feast before battle—Achilles' refusal shows he's not fully human anymore
Briseis' lament: The captive woman finally speaks, and her grief for Patroclus is genuine and moving
Achilles arms in divine armour: He puts on Hephaestus' creation and becomes something more (and less) than mortal
Xanthus the horse speaks: One of the strangest moments in the epic—Achilles' immortal horse prophesies his death

The Stakes of Book 19

Book 19 is the point of NO RETURN. Once Achilles arms and enters battle, his fate is sealed. Everyone knows this—Achilles, Thetis, even his horse. The book has a funeral quality, like watching someone dress for their own execution.

Connections to Earlier Books

Book 1: The quarrel began with Agamemnon seizing Briseis publicly
Book 9: Achilles rejected compensation and the entire heroic code
Book 18: Achilles chose death for revenge, accepting his fate
Now: The formalities are completed, but nothing is actually resolved

Book 19 Structure

Book 19 follows a ritual pattern: assembly → speeches → gift-giving → oath → lamentation → arming. Each step should restore honour and social order. But Homer shows us how hollow these rituals are when the participants' hearts aren't in them.

SCENE 1

Achilles Calls Assembly

Lines 1-73

Achilles publicly renounces his anger and calls the Greeks to battle. He says his quarrel with Agamemnon was pointless—Patroclus died because of it.

SCENE 2

Agamemnon's Defence

Lines 74-144

Agamemnon blames Zeus and Ate (divine delusion) for his actions. He offers to give Achilles all the gifts promised in Book 9, including Briseis returned untouched.

SCENE 3

Debate: Food or Fighting?

Lines 145-237

Achilles wants to fight immediately. Odysseus insists the army must eat first. Achilles refuses food—he'll fast until Hector is dead.

SCENE 4

The Gifts and the Oath

Lines 238-275

The gifts are brought, including the seven women and Briseis. Agamemnon swears an oath that he never slept with Briseis. A boar is sacrificed.

SCENE 5

Briseis' Lament

Lines 282-302

Briseis mourns over Patroclus' body, remembering his kindness to her. The other women join her grief—ostensibly for Patroclus, but really for their own sorrows.

SCENE 6

Achilles Arms for Battle

Lines 364-424

Achilles puts on Hephaestus' armour. His horse Xanthus miraculously speaks, warning him of his approaching death. Achilles accepts this without fear.

Achilles Renounces His Anger (Sort Of)

The book opens with the goddess Dawn rising—a new day, a fresh start. Thetis has delivered the divine armour. Achilles goes to the shore and calls the Greeks to assembly.

When they had all assembled and the meeting was full, Achilles the swift of foot stood up and addressed them: 'Son of Atreus, would it not have been better for both of us if we two, when we were so distressed at heart in that soul-destroying quarrel over a girl, had died at the ships by a quick arrow from Artemis on the day when I took her after sacking Lyrnessus?'

— Achilles to the assembly, Rieu, lines 56-61

What Achilles Is Actually Saying

"would it not have been better" = everything that happened was POINTLESS
"soul-destroying quarrel" = admits the quarrel was destructive
"over a girl" = reduces Briseis to an object (harsh but honest)
"had died" = wishes they'd both died rather than cause Patroclus' death

'As it is, too many Greeks have bitten the dust at Trojan hands whilst I sat nursing my anger. Hector and the Trojans will long remember this with joy, but I think even they will welcome a rest from fighting. So let us forget what is past and done with, however much we are hurt, and curb the passions in our breasts because we must.'

— Achilles continues, Rieu, lines 62-67

💡 "Let Us Forget"—Can They?

Achilles says "let us forget what is past"—but he CAN'T forget. His next words are about battle, revenge, killing. The formal reconciliation is happening, but emotionally Achilles hasn't moved on. He's just redirecting his rage from Agamemnon to Hector.

'I am giving up my anger here and now. I have no cause to nurse rage in my heart for ever. Come then, quickly rouse the long-haired Greeks for battle, so that I can go out again and face the Trojans and see if they still want to spend the night by the ships. But I think that any who escape my spear will be happy to rest their knees!'

— Achilles concludes, Rieu, lines 68-73

The Greeks CHEER. They're delighted—their greatest warrior is back. But notice what Achilles doesn't say: he doesn't say he FORGIVES Agamemnon. He just says he's "giving up" his anger. That's not the same thing.

Agamemnon Blames the Gods

Agamemnon stands to speak—still wounded from battle, so he addresses the assembly sitting down. His speech is one long EXCUSE. He never says "I was wrong" or "I'm sorry." Instead, he blames divine intervention.

'My friends, Danaan warriors, attendants of Ares, it is good to listen to a man when he stands up to speak, and it is not right to interrupt. That makes things difficult even for a trained speaker. Yet how can anyone hear or speak when there is uproar in the assembly? Even the clearest voice is drowned.'

— Agamemnon opening, Rieu, lines 77-80

This opening is defensive—"it is good to listen", "not right to interrupt". He's expecting hostility and pre-emptively telling them to shut up and listen.

'Now I want to explain things to the son of Peleus—and the rest of you listen and mark my words carefully. The Greeks have often brought this up against me and blamed me. But I am not to blame. The blame lies with Zeus and Fate and the Fury who walks in the mist. They put savage Delusion in my heart on that day in the assembly when I robbed Achilles of his prize.'

— Agamemnon's defence, Rieu, lines 83-87

Agamemnon's Strategy

"I am not to blame" = immediate deflection of responsibility
"Zeus and Fate and the Fury" = triple divine excuse
"savage Delusion in my heart" = it wasn't ME, it was ATE (divine madness)
"when I robbed Achilles" = at least he ADMITS the action, even if not the fault

💡 The Ate Defence

Ate is divine delusion—the moment when a god makes you act madly and bring ruin on yourself. It's a genuine concept in Greek thought. BUT: is Agamemnon using it as a get-out-of-jail-free card? He's technically acknowledging what he did was wrong, but claiming he wasn't in control of his actions.

The Long Story of Ate

Agamemnon then tells a LONG story about how Zeus himself was once tricked by Ate (when Hera deceived him over the birth of Heracles). The point: even ZEUS can be deluded, so how can a mortal like Agamemnon be blamed?

'But what could I do? A god always prevails. Delusion, the accursed eldest daughter of Zeus, who deludes all—her feet are delicate; she never touches the ground, but walks over men's heads doing them harm, and she brings down now one, now another.'

— Agamemnon on Ate, Rieu, lines 91-94

After the story, Agamemnon concludes with his offer: all the gifts from Book 9, brought publicly and given before witnesses.

'But since I lost my wits and Zeus took away my senses, I am willing to make amends and pay you limitless compensation. So rouse yourself for war and rouse the rest of the army. I am here ready to offer all the gifts which noble Odysseus came to promise you in your hut yesterday.'

— Agamemnon's offer, Rieu, lines 137-140

Is This an Apology?

Technically, no. Agamemnon admits he was wrong ("I lost my wits") and offers compensation. But he doesn't take MORAL responsibility—he blames Zeus. This isn't "I'm sorry, I made a mistake." It's "a god made me do it, but I'll pay you anyway." Would YOU accept this apology?

Achilles: "I Don't Care About Gifts"

Achilles' response is BRUTAL in its indifference. He doesn't engage with Agamemnon's excuse. He doesn't debate responsibility. He just doesn't care anymore.

'Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon king of men, the gifts are yours to give if you wish, as is right, or to keep for yourself. But now let us think of battle at once. This is no time to stand here talking idly or to waste time. The work is not yet done.'

— Achilles to Agamemnon, Rieu, lines 147-150

Achilles' Dismissiveness

"the gifts are yours...or to keep" = I genuinely don't care what you do with them
"now let us think of battle" = only one thing matters: killing
"no time to stand here talking idly" = all this is MEANINGLESS ceremony
"the work is not yet done" = Hector isn't dead yet

In Book 9, Achilles gave passionate speeches about honour and value. Now? He's monosyllabic. The reconciliation ritual is happening AROUND him, but he's not really participating.

The Food Debate

Odysseus, ever practical, insists the army must EAT before fighting. This is standard practice—warriors feast before battle. But Achilles refuses.

Then Achilles of the swift feet replied in great distress: 'Most glorious son of Laertes, Odysseus of many wiles, each man should make such preparation as he sees fit. But as for me, I have no thought for food, no desire for it. What I crave is slaughter and blood and the groans of suffering men.'

— Achilles refuses food, Rieu, lines 209-214

💡 The Inhuman Hero

Achilles' refusal to eat is DEEPLY significant. Food is civilisation. Feasting together is what makes you part of the community. By refusing food, Achilles is placing himself outside humanity. He's becoming pure death—a force of nature, not a man.

'I would urge the Greeks to fight now beside the swift ships unfed and without breakfast, and prepare a great meal at sunset when we have avenged the insult. But as for me, no food or drink will go down my throat before my friend is dead. He lies in my hut, mangled by the sharp bronze, his feet turned towards the door, and round him his companions are mourning. So I have no thought for these things you mention. My thoughts are of slaughter and blood and the groans of suffering men.'

— Achilles continues, Rieu, lines 205-214

"His feet turned towards the door"—this is the position of a corpse laid out for burial. Patroclus is literally present in Achilles' dwelling, a constant reminder of why none of this matters.

Odysseus wins the argument—the army WILL eat. But Achilles still refuses, and the others eventually give up trying to convince him.

Briseis' Lament

When the gifts are brought, Briseis is among them—returned "untouched" as Agamemnon swore under oath. She sees Patroclus' body and breaks down in grief.

When Briseis, who was like golden Aphrodite, saw Patroclus mangled by the sharp bronze, she flung herself on him with a shrill cry and with her own hands tore at her breast and her soft neck and her lovely face.

— Briseis' grief, Rieu, lines 282-284

This is the FIRST time Briseis has spoken in the entire poem. She was the prize fought over, the object that caused the quarrel. And now she speaks—about PATROCLUS, not about herself or Achilles.

Then the woman, lovely as a goddess, spoke through her tears: 'Patroclus, dearest to my unhappy heart, I left you alive when I went from this hut, and now I come back to find you dead, leader of the people. So evil follows evil for me continually. I saw the man to whom my father and lady mother gave me, mangled by the sharp bronze in front of our city, and my three brothers, whom my own mother bore, my own dear brothers—they all met their day of doom.'

— Briseis to Patroclus, Rieu, lines 287-294

Briseis' Story

Her husband was killed by Achilles
Her three brothers were killed by Achilles
Her city was sacked by Achilles
She was enslaved by Achilles
And yet she grieves for PATROCLUS—why?

'But you would not even let me weep when swift-footed godlike Achilles killed my husband and sacked the city of godlike Mynes. You said you would make me the lawful wife of godlike Achilles and would take me in the ships to Phthia and prepare a wedding-feast among the Myrmidons. So I weep for you unceasingly in your death; you were always kind.'

— Briseis continues, Rieu, lines 295-300

Patroclus' Kindness

Patroclus promised Briseis she would become Achilles' WIFE, not just a concubine. He offered her hope, treated her with gentleness ("you were always kind"). For a woman who lost everything to violence, Patroclus represented humanity and compassion. His death is her loss too.

The other captive women join Briseis in mourning—"in pretence for Patroclus, but in fact each for her own sorrows." This is Homer at his most compassionate: even enslaved women have grief that matters.

Athene Feeds Achilles (Secretly)

Achilles still refuses to eat, so Athene intervenes—she pours nectar and ambrosia (divine food) into his chest whilst he's unaware. He won't starve, even though he's fasting.

So the army went off to their meal; but Achilles wept, as he looked at his dear companion, who lay there in his hut mangled by the sharp bronze, whom he had sent off to war with horse and chariot but did not welcome back.

— Achilles alone with grief, Rieu, lines 315-317

Everyone else is eating. Achilles sits alone with Patroclus' corpse, weeping. Homer forces us to sit with this image.

The Divine Arming Scene

Then Achilles puts on Hephaestus' armour. Homer describes this in detail—it's a RITUAL transformation from man to something more than mortal.

First he put round his legs the splendid greaves, fitted with silver ankle-pieces. Next he put the breastplate round his chest. Then he slung the silver-studded bronze sword over his shoulders. Next he picked up the huge, strong shield, and light shone from it far away, like the moon. His head he covered with the well-made helmet, crested with horsehair—and the crest nodded terribly above it. Then he took two strong spears that fitted his grasp.

— Achilles arms, Rieu, lines 369-387

💡 The Transformation

This isn't just putting on armour—it's a METAMORPHOSIS. Each piece of divine equipment makes Achilles less human and more godlike. The shield shines "like the moon"—he's becoming celestial. The crest "nodded terribly"—he's becoming terrifying. He's preparing to be Death incarnate.

He tested himself in his armour to see if it fitted him and his splendid limbs moved freely in it. It proved to be like wings for him and lifted the shepherd of the people up.

— The armour fits perfectly, Rieu, lines 386-388

"Like wings"—Achilles doesn't walk to battle. He FLIES. The divine armour makes him superhuman.

The Speaking Horse

Then comes one of the STRANGEST moments in the entire Iliad. Achilles yokes his immortal horses (gifts from the gods) and speaks to them—and one of them, Xanthus, ANSWERS.

Achilles spoke angrily to his horses: 'Xanthus and Balius, famous colts of Podarge, see to it this time that you bring your charioteer safely back to the Danaan army when we have had enough of fighting, and do not leave him dead on the plain as you left Patroclus.'

— Achilles to his horses, Rieu, lines 400-403

Achilles BLAMES his horses for Patroclus' death—not entirely fair, but grief isn't rational.

Then from under the yoke the horse Xanthus of the flashing feet spoke up. Hera of the white arms had given him the power of speech. He bowed his head until his mane, flowing down from the yoke-pad, touched the ground by the wheel, and he addressed Achilles: 'Yes, this time we shall still save you, mighty Achilles. But your day of doom is close at hand. We are not to blame, but a great god and powerful Fate.'

— Xanthus speaks, Rieu, lines 404-410

What the Horse Says

"this time we shall still save you" = today you'll survive
"your day of doom is close" = but death is coming soon
"we are not to blame" = Patroclus' death wasn't our fault
"a great god and powerful Fate" = even gods can't stop your death

'Nor was it through slowness or slackness on our part that the Trojans stripped the armour from Patroclus' shoulders. It was the best of the gods, the son of lovely-haired Leto, who killed him in the front line and gave Hector his moment of glory. We two could run as fast as the West Wind, which they say is the fastest thing there is. But it is your own destiny to be brought down by a god and a mortal man.'

— Xanthus continues, Rieu, lines 411-417

The horse is prophesying: Apollo (son of Leto) killed Patroclus, and soon a god and a man together will kill Achilles. (We know from other myths this means Apollo and Paris will kill Achilles at the Scaean gates.)

After this speech, the Furies stop Xanthus from speaking further—mortals shouldn't know their fate too clearly. But Achilles has heard enough.

Achilles of the swift feet replied in great anger: 'Xanthus, why do you prophesy my death? You have no need to. I know well enough myself that it is my fate to die here, far from my dear father and my mother. But for all that I will not stop till I have driven the Trojans to exhaustion in battle.'

— Achilles accepts his fate, Rieu, lines 420-424

Achilles Knows

"I know well enough myself that it is my fate to die here"—Achilles has ALWAYS known. Thetis told him in Book 1. He's chosen this. The horse's prophecy changes nothing. Achilles will fight until he's killed. This is how the book ends: with certainty of death and determination to kill anyway.

Key Points for Revision

Hollow reconciliation: The social forms are observed (assembly, gifts, oath) but no genuine forgiveness occurs
Agamemnon's ate defence: He blames divine delusion rather than taking moral responsibility for his actions
Achilles' indifference: He doesn't care about the gifts or the apology—only about killing Hector
Refusal to eat: Achilles places himself outside human civilisation by fasting; Athene secretly feeds him divine food instead
Briseis finally speaks: Her lament for Patroclus reveals his kindness and her own suffering
Divine arming: Putting on Hephaestus' armour transforms Achilles into something superhuman
Xanthus' prophecy: The immortal horse warns Achilles of his approaching death; Achilles already knows and doesn't care
No turning back: Once armed, Achilles is committed to battle and therefore to death

Essay Ideas from Book 19

Themes to Explore

Reconciliation vs forgiveness
Divine responsibility vs human agency
The role of ritual and social forms
Food and civilisation
Fate and prophecy
Transformation and dehumanisation

Character Analysis

Agamemnon: genuine remorse or excuse?
Achilles: reconciled or just redirected?
Briseis: agency and voice
Patroclus: remembered through others
Compare: Book 1 quarrel vs Book 19 reconciliation

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