ARGUMENT OF THE SEVENTEENTH BOOK. by Homer

Editor's note

The book starts amidst the chaos of battle. Patroclus has just been killed, and both the Greeks and Trojans scramble to claim his body — in the world of Homeric warfare, controlling a fallen hero’s remains carried significant honor and shame. Losing a body allowed the enemy to strip it of armor and leave it unburied, which was seen as a severe disgrace.

Editor's note

Patroclus had borrowed Achilles's renowned divine armor before heading into battle. Hector takes it from Patroclus's body and puts it on himself — a daring, nearly arrogant move. The armor of Achilles is far from ordinary; it was crafted by the god Hephaestus, making Hector's decision to wear it highly significant, marking his moment of greatest power just as his downfall starts to loom.

Editor's note

Menelaus steps up on the Greek side, knowing he has to inform Achilles right away. He sends the young warrior Antilochus as a messenger—an agonizing task, since Antilochus has to bring the worst news to the most formidable man in the Greek army. This moment triggers the emotional turmoil that propels the rest of the *Iliad*.

Editor's note

Menelaus doesn't back down; instead, he charges back into the fray. Together with Meriones, they lift Patroclus's lifeless body and carry it away from the front lines. It's tough and perilous work — they're hauling dead weight through a chaotic battlefield, with enemies closing in from every direction.

Editor's note

Ajax the Greater and Ajax the Lesser form a rearguard, holding back the Trojans to allow Menelaus and Meriones to escape with the body. The two Ajaces are consistently depicted as the best defensive fighters among the Greeks, and this moment stands out as one of their greatest — a disciplined and courageous effort that ensures Patroclus isn't abandoned to the enemy.