Iliad, 1st book

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The first book (in German mostly: song ) of the Iliad (Greek Ἰλιάς Α; also called λοιμός "epidemic" or μῆνις "anger") by the Greek poet Homer tells the prehistory of the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon , the course of the dispute , after the Prooimion , and how the gods get involved. This creates the most important prerequisites for the subsequent events.

The Prooimion

The Iliad begins with a Prooimion of seven verses, which, although it is the preface to the complete work, is assigned to the first book. Its task is the muse to ask for help to name the topic and in the events introduce .

Μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληιάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
οὐλομένην, ἥ μυρί 'Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε' ἔθηκε,
πολλὰς δ 'ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄιδι προίαψεν
ἡρώων, αὐτοὺς .DELTA..di-elect cons ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν
οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσι, Διὸς δ' ἐτελείετο βουλή,
ἐξ οὗ δὴ τὰ πρῶτα διαστήτην ἐρίσαντε
Ἂτρείδης τε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς.

“Mẹ̄nin aeịde, theạ, Pēlẹ̄iadeọ̄ Achilẹ̄os
Oụlomenẹ̄n, hē mỵri 'Achaịois ạlge' ethẹ̄ke,
pọllas d 'ịphthimoụs psychạs Hadị proiạpsen
hẹ̄rōọ̄n, autoụs de helọ̄s de helọ̄nte s de helọ̄nte s
s, dinte teụche ịs,
diōt
Ạtreidẹ̄s te anạx andrọ̄n kai dịos Achịlleus "

“Sing the wrath, oh goddess, of the Peleiad Achilles,
Him, who aflame aroused ineffable misery to the Achaeans,
And sent many brave souls of the heroic sons to Aïs
, but they presented themselves to prey to the dogs,
And to the birds around. This is how Zeus' will was completed:
Since the day when
Atreus son, the ruler of the people, and the noble Achilles split apart through bitter quarrel . "

- Johann Heinrich Voß (German translation from 1793)

Summary of the plot

Chronologically backwards, the Prooimion tells how this rift came about : After the Apollo priest Chryses asked the Atrids for the surrender of his daughter Chryseis, who had been imprisoned by Agamemnon, for a ransom and was harshly rejected by Agamemnon, Apollon had the Achaeans punished with a plague. This is where the largely chronological narrative begins right up to the end of the Iliad . When the seer Kalchas announced at the council of kings convened by Achilles that only the return of the Chryseis could end the plague, and that Achilles supported Agamemnon, he threatened the princess Briseis as a substitute for the spoil he lost from Achilles' gift of honor , pick up. The dispute then escalates, Achilles can only be held back by Athena from slaying Agamemnon, and Nestor's attempt at mediation fails. After the dissolution of the council, Agamemnon carried out his threat by having Briseis fetched from Achilles' tent. He gives it up without any problems, but complains to his mother, the sea goddess Thetis , about the dishonor, and she promises to intercede for him with Zeus . Meanwhile, under Odysseus ' guidance , Chryseis is returned to her father in Chryse and Apollo is reconciled with sacrifices. Thetis obtains support for Achilles from Zeus. The quarrel that arises between Zeus and Hera, who is on the side of the Achaeans, is resolved into Homeric laughter by Hephaestus .

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