- Oct 2020
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As Ajax spoke, a bird flew out on the right, a high-flying eagle. Encouraged by the omen, the Achaean soldiers responded with a cheer.
Birds have been a reoccurring theme within this chapter and have been referenced to several times.
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Just as an ash tree growing on a mountain top, visible from every side, is chopped down by bronze, 210 [180] its foliage crashing to the ground—that’s how he fell.
Interesting metaphor for Imbrius' death.
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“Ajax, one of the gods dwelling on Olympus, in a prophet’s shape, tells us both to fight on by the ships. For that man was no prophet Calchas, [70] who reads our omens. It was easy for me, as he went away, to see that from the back 80 by the markings on his feet and legs. Besides, it’s easy to recognize the gods.
Recognition of the gods can be connected to an earlier comment that I made about what form they appear in. Here it seems the "voice" of Poseidon comes from within rather than taking on a physical form. Poseidon chooses to speak through Calchas who can see signs of the gods through birds. Birds are referenced in the paragraph before which is an interesting correlation (between Poseidon and Calchas) as well as a shout out to Calchas and all his bird wisdom.
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From the depths, sea creatures played around him everywhere, 30 acknowledging their king. The joyful ocean parted.
I think Poseidon is often down played. The world is composed of approx. 70% of water which would be controlled by Poseidon. This is a huge amount of potential power! I am having difficulty thinking of a deity other than Artemis that echoes this same influence with the world around them (specifically with animals). I have found my self being interested with specific characters within each chapter over the actual writing techniques of Homer. This could be because of the actual story being extremely intriguing.
I am also interested in how these scenes would actually be performed. Would these lines be narrated? Would the theatrical performance be happening in the background? Would the Iliad be performed orally rather than as a play?
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He took three paces—with the fourth he reached his goal,
Interesting depiction of the actual size of gods here. If Poseidon was this large, how large would other gods appear such as Zeus? Or even Cronus, as literature suggests he too has a physical form. Would gods be able to show their true form to humans? Or is this why Zeus often appears as other beings when interacting with mortals.
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Zeus no longer turned his radiant eyes toward Troy, for in his heart he did not believe a single one of the immortal gods would move 10 to give assistance to the Trojans or Danaans.
Interesting Zeus would feel this way considering the interference from gods in past chapters. Yes, Zeus has asserted his dominance but I think it is rather un becoming of him to think that other gods would simply forget about the mortal men who fuel their existence. At least it is clear to me that there would be further foul play.
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