Book 17

Book 17: The Battle for the Body Patroclus lies fallen, and now the war rages around his corpse. Menelaus stands over his friend's body and kills Euphorbus, the young Trojan who struck the first wound. But Hector comes roaring forward, and Menelaus, wise enough to know the odds, retreats. Hector strips Achilles' golden armor from the dead man and wears it, and Zeus watches from above, murmuring that this borrowed glory will cost him his life. He gives the hero his hour of power, knowing it will be his last. Glaucus shames Hector for standing idle while the body is defended, and Hector rallies the Trojans with Phoebus Apollo at his side. The Greeks lock shields around Patroclus like a wall of bronze, nine men deep, standing shoulder to shoulder. Ajax moves through them all, driving back every assault, holding the line through the roar of spears and dust. The two armies tug the body back and forth like oxen fighting over a yoke. Then a quiet grief cuts through the noise. Achilles' immortal horses, Xanthus and Balius, weep for the fallen Patroclus, mourning with a sadness mortals rarely hear from beasts. Zeus pities them and grants them strength to leave the field, for he will not let them die this day. Automedons fought beside them but cannot alone hold the reins of Achilles' chariot until Alcimaedon joins him. As night falls, the Greeks finally drag Patroclus's body from the press of spears and carry him toward the ships, still pressed hard by Hector and the Trojans. Hera spreads a mist over the field to slow the pursuit. The body comes home, but the armor of Achilles is gone, worn now by the man fated to die for taking it.