Myrgalen – homepage

Fri. Sept. 27

The funeral games for Patroclus.

The shade of Patroclus appears to Achilles in a dream and demands proper funeral rites – the same rites he denied to Hector. These rites and funeral games provide a glimpse into Homeric culture, as they reaffirm the bonds between warrior and warlord through contests of skill and gift exchange, and the rules which govern them. This account ends the thirtieth day, when Hector is killed, and includes the thirty-first when preparations are made, and the thirty-second when the games are contested and the sacrifices performed.

The Greeks compete for prizes and prestige (and accuse each other of cheating)  in contests which are only slightly less violent than actual warfare: a chariot race, a foot race, wrestling, javelin, discus, archery, and the pankration (basically hand-to-hand combat), contests which were incorporated into the ancient Olympics. Skill (and deceit) could sometimes win out over strength, just as in war.

Achilles does not participate but acts as judge. He awards a bonus prize which is disputed, and after consideration, he retracts the gift. Although a warlord (Achilles in this case) has the right to give booty to his warriors, he must do so in a fair manner that does not dishonor them. Here we see Achilles listening to the council of warriors and responding appropriately, which Agamemnon didn’t do when he unfairly took Briseis at the beginning of the poem, thus provoking the anger of Achilles and all its consequences. 

Such a code of conduct among warriors is essential, but in the Iliad it is pushed to its limit, and breaks. Achilles speaks again to the shade of Patroclus and they share their grief. Achilles senses he will soon join his friend in death, but finds no comfort in that. Four horses, several dogs, and twelve Trojan captives are sacrificed on the funeral pyre of Patroclus, but the brutality of vengeance gives Achilles no comfort either.