So, here we are, nine or maybe ten years into this war, born from the vanity of the mortals and immortals on the day of my wedding.  As I later learned, the king of Sparta, Tyndareus, married Helen to Menelaus.  Somehow, he managed to get on Aphrodite’s bad side and she basically put a hex on his two daughters, one of which is Helen.  Because of this, Helen was fated to be an unfaithful wife.  Now, Helen was, according to Aphrodite, the most beautiful woman so, she had many suitors.  While it wasn’t wise of Tyndareus to anger Aphrodite, he wasn’t a complete idiot.  Before he chose a husband for Helen, he made all the suitors swear an oath to assist Helen’s husband, should she flee with another man.

As fated, Paris shows up in Helen’s life and she takes off with him.   Now, Achilles wasn’t born when Aphrodite promised Paris the hand of Helen and he was too young to be bound by the oath the other kings made to Tyndareus.  Achilles was bound to a different type of oath, an oath to himself to gain renown in battle and be remembered.  So, while he was not obliged to participate in this war, he chose to participate and he chose to favor Agamemnon of the Argives with his battle talents.  Unfortunately, Agamemnon was more jealous of Achilles that grateful for his support. 

Agamemnon was, like many kings, concerned chiefly with his own interests.  When he was forced to give up Chryseis, the daughter of a priest of Apollo, he was loath to be left without a prize.  Agamemnon decided to disgrace Achilles by taking back the prize (Brieses) that he had bestowed on Achilles.  Now, my Achilles has a soft side and he was saddened by the loss of Brieses.  He called to me and asked me to entreat Zeus’ assistance. 

I went to Olympus and took Zeus aside and I said, "Father Zeus, if ever before in word or action I did you favor among the immortals, now grant what I ask for.  Now give honor to my son short-lived beyond all other mortals.  Since even now the lord of men Agamemnon dishonors him, who has taken away his prize and keeps it.  Zeus of the counsels, lord of Olympos, now do him honor.” Zeus nodded his head.  You might think this is because he is a man of few words but that is not the case.  Zeus knew, like I knew, that Hera watches everything he does and Hera supported the Danaans while I was asking Zeus to favor the Trojans on Achilles behalf. 

The Iliad of Homer. Trans. Richmond Lattimore. Chicago And London: The 

     University of Chicago Press, 1951. Print.

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