ARGUMENT OF THE SIXTEENTH BOOK. by Homer: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This is a brief summary of Book 16 of Homer's *Iliad*, a crucial part of the epic.
The poem
Achilles, at the suit of Patroclus, grants him his own armor, and permission to lead the Myrmidons to battle. They, sallying, repulse the Trojans. Patroclus slays Sarpedon, and Hector, when Apollo had first stripped off his armor and Euphorbus wounded him, slays Patroclus.
This is a brief summary of Book 16 of Homer's *Iliad*, a crucial part of the epic. Patroclus dons Achilles' armor and takes command of the Myrmidons in battle, shifting the momentum in favor of the Greeks against the Trojans. However, Hector ultimately kills him after Apollo removes his armor and Euphorbus injures him first. This death prompts Achilles to rejoin the fight and seals the fate of Troy.
Line-by-line
Achilles, at the suit of Patroclus, grants him his own armor, and permission to lead the Myrmidons to battle.
They, sallying, repulse the Trojans.
Patroclus slays Sarpedon,
Hector, when Apollo had first stripped off his armor and Euphorbus wounded him, slays Patroclus.
Tone & mood
The tone of this argument is direct and practical — it's a straightforward summary rather than a poetic piece — yet the events it outlines hold significant importance. Even in this condensed version, there's a feeling of inevitability, similar to reading a verdict before the trial begins. The language is simple and follows a clear order ("grants," "repulse," "slays"), making the concluding phrase — "slays Patroclus" — resonate with a muted but profound impact.
Symbols & metaphors
- Achilles' armor — The armor represents more than just protection; it embodies identity. When Patroclus puts it on, he *becomes* Achilles in the eyes of the Trojans. Apollo’s act of removing it signifies the end of the disguise and Patroclus' borrowed glory. Later, when Hector claims the armor, it transforms into a symbol of hubris and foreshadows his own impending death.
- The Myrmidons — Achilles' warriors have been sidelined during the war with their leader. Their sudden return to battle shows a surge of energy finally unleashed — but it’s energy lacking its true leader, which is why it won’t last.
- Sarpedon's death — Sarpedon, the son of Zeus, demonstrates that even divine lineage doesn't shield one from death. He reflects Patroclus: both are cherished figures, both meet their end in this book, and their deaths send shockwaves that lead to more devastation.
- Apollo's intervention — Apollo stripping Patroclus of his armor represents the gods enforcing fate. It indicates that Patroclus has reached the limits set by destiny, and what comes next is not a fair battle but an execution predetermined by the universe.
Historical context
Homer's *Iliad* is an ancient Greek epic poem, believed to have been composed around the 8th century BCE, although its oral traditions date back even further to the Bronze Age. The poem spans a few weeks towards the end of the ten-year Trojan War, centering on the anger of the Greek hero Achilles. Book 16, known as the "Patrocleia," is named after Patroclus and is often regarded as the emotional core of the poem. The "argument" at the start of each book served as a common editorial tool in ancient and Renaissance times, providing readers with a guide before diving into the text. Patroclus' death is a pivotal moment in this book, marking the turning point for the second half of the *Iliad*: it ends Achilles' withdrawal, ignites his grief and fury, and leads to the killing of Hector in Book 22. This book has been translated into English by several prominent poets, including George Chapman (1611) and Alexander Pope (1715–1720).
FAQ
The strategy involves psychological warfare. Achilles won’t fight due to his argument with Agamemnon, but he allows Patroclus to wear his recognizable armor to make the Trojans believe Achilles has come back. The mere sight of that armor is enough to throw the Trojans into a frenzy — at least temporarily.
Achilles finds himself torn between his pride and his affection for Patroclus. He ultimately relents, driven in part by compassion, as he recognizes the Greeks are suffering a significant defeat, and in part because the strategy appears well thought out: Patroclus will don the armor, push the Trojans back, and come back. Achilles even tells him clearly not to go too far and attack Troy directly. The heartbreaking part is that Patroclus chooses to disregard those instructions.
Sarpedon, a prince from Lycia, stands out as one of Troy's key allies. As the son of Zeus, his impending death underscores a central theme of the poem: even divine offspring are not exempt from mortality. Zeus witnesses his son's fall, powerless to intervene without disrupting the established order of fate. This scene represents one of the *Iliad*'s most poignant examples of divine helplessness.
Homer employs a three-stage killing to pay tribute to Patroclus. Hector, being a formidable warrior, cannot be defeated in a fair battle; therefore, fate dictates that a god must first incapacitate him, followed by a lesser warrior who inflicts a wound, and only then can Hector deliver the fatal blow. This sequence also hints at Achilles' own demise, which will unfold in a similar manner with the involvement of Apollo and Paris.
In Book 16, Patroclus warns Hector not to get too carried away with his boasting—after all, he had assistance from Apollo and Euphorbus. Patroclus also predicts that Achilles will seek revenge for him and that Hector’s time is running out. Even in death, Patroclus manages to have the final say.
This specific text is the *argument* — a prose summary found at the beginning of the book that outlines its contents. The actual Book 16 of the *Iliad* is written in epic poetry, composed in dactylic hexameter in Greek. Editors and translators, rather than Homer himself, added arguments like this one to assist readers in navigating the lengthy poem.
It’s the moment that alters everything. Achilles has mostly stayed out of the war throughout the poem. But when he learns that Patroclus is dead, his sorrow transforms into a fierce rage that propels him back into battle. He kills Hector in Book 22, and the emotional journey of the poem — shifting from Achilles' fury to his eventual, delicate grief — centers on this pivotal moment.
The connection between Achilles and Patroclus is the most profound in the poem. Ancient readers argued about whether their bond was romantic or simply a heroic friendship, but Homer intentionally keeps it ambiguous. What stands out is that Patroclus' death impacts Achilles more than anything else—more than glory, more than the war itself. His grief reveals his humanity.