iliad VI - set text (whole lines)

break down:

αἶψα δ᾽ ἔπειθ᾽ ἵκανε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,

ἔπειθ - then

αἶψα - quickly, immediately - reflects urgency of Hector’s actions

ἵκανε - he came: 3rd person sing, aorist indicative active

δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας - well-built houses (shows Hector’s wealth)

αἶψα δ᾽ ἔπειθ᾽ ἵκανε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,

Then he quickly came to the well-founded house

break down:

οὐδ᾽ εὗρ᾽ Ἀνδρομάχην λευκώλενον ἐν μεγάροισιν,

μεγάροισιν - halls (implies grandness/wealth - mega)

οὐδ᾽ εὗρ᾽ Ἀνδρομάχην λευκώλενον ἐν μεγάροισιν,

But he did not find white-armed Andromache in the halls

break down:

ἀλλ᾽ ἥ γε ξὺν παιδὶ καὶ ἀμφιπόλῳ ἐϋπέπλῳ

• ξὺν (prep.) - with

• παιδὶ (dat. sing.) - child

• ἀμφιπόλῳ (dat. sing.) - attendant

• ἐϋπέπλῳ (adj.) - well-robed, highlighting status.

ἀλλ᾽ ἥ γε ξὺν παιδὶ καὶ ἀμφιπόλῳ ἐϋπέπλῳ

But she, with her child and beautifully-robed attendant

break down:

πύργῳ ἐφεστήκει γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε.

πύργῳ - tower

ἐφεστήκει (verb) - stood upon

γοόωσά (part.) - lamenting, wailing

μυρομένη (part.) - weeping

repetition emphasizes Andromache’s grief

πύργῳ ἐφεστήκει γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε.

was standing on the tower, both weeping and lamenting.

break down:

Ἕκτωρ δ᾽ ὡς οὐκ ἔνδον ἀμύμονα τέτμεν ἄκοιτιν

ὡς - as

ἔνδον - inside

ἀμύμονα…ἄκοιτιν - faultless….wife

οὐκ … τέτμεν - did not find

Ἕκτωρ δ᾽ ὡς οὐκ ἔνδον ἀμύμονα τέτμεν ἄκοιτιν

When Hector did not find his faultless wife at home

break down:

ἔστη ἐπ᾽ οὐδὸν ἰών, μετὰ δὲ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν:

ἔστη - he stood

οὐδὸν - threshold (symbolizes hesitation, separation)

ἰών - going (he went .. and stood)

μετὰ - amongst (stooping to their level, direct appeal for info)

δμῳῇσιν - female slaves

ἔειπεν (verb) - he spoke

ἔστη ἐπ᾽ οὐδὸν ἰών, μετὰ δὲ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν:

He went and stood on the threshold and spoke among the female slaves:

break down:

‘εἰ δ᾽ ἄγε μοι δμῳαὶ νημερτέα μυθήσασθε:

εἰ δ᾽ ἄγε - formulaic phrase, Hector’s impatience/desperation

νημερτέα - truthful

μυθήσασθε - tell (imperative, command)

‘εἰ δ᾽ ἄγε μοι δμῳαὶ νημερτέα μυθήσασθε:

Come on, female slaves, tell me the truth

break down:

πῇ ἔβη Ἀνδρομάχη λευκώλενος ἐκ μεγάροιο;

πῇ - to where (interrogative adverb)

ἔβη (verb) - did she go

ἐκ μεγάροιo - out of the house

πῇ ἔβη Ἀνδρομάχη λευκώλενος ἐκ μεγάροιο;

Where has white-armed Andromache gone to from the house

break down:

ἠέ πῃ ἐς γαλόων ἢ εἰνατέρων ἐϋπέπλων

ἠέ πῃ - or somewhere

γαλόων (noun) - husband’s sisters, sisters-in-law

εἰνατέρων ἐϋπέπλων - brother’s wives, fair-robed

ἠέ πῃ ἐς γαλόων ἢ εἰνατέρων ἐϋπέπλων

Or has she gone to [the house of] her husband’s sisters or my brothers’ fair-robed wives

break down:

ἢ ἐς Ἀθηναίης ἐξοίχεται, ἔνθά περ ἄλλαι

ἐξοίχεται - has gone

ἔνθά - to the place where

ἢ ἐς Ἀθηναίης ἐξοίχεται, ἔνθά περ ἄλλαι

or has she gone to [the temple of] Athena, where the other

break down:

Τρῳαὶ ἐϋπλόκαμοι δεινὴν θεὸν ἱλάσκονται;

ἐϋπλόκαμοι - fair-tressed

ἱλάσκονται - they appease

Τρῳαὶ ἐϋπλόκαμοι δεινὴν θεὸν ἱλάσκονται;

fair-tressed Trojan women appease the terrible goddess?

in that passage: how do we know Hector is uncertain where Andromache is?

• gives tricolon of options (husband’s sisters, brothers’ wives, temple of Athena)

  • all places with other women (men at war/not allowed around other men)

  • all domestic

  • unusual/worrying, Hector should know where Andromache is.

In that passage: how do we get feelings of anxiety/desperation/bad things

• Hector’s urgency

  • rushing: αἶψα

  • come now: εἰ δ᾽ ἄγε μοι

  • tell me truthfully: νημερτέα μυθήσασθε

• women appease Athena

  • dread goddess: severity of situation, praying to opposite side for help

  • communal atmosphere of dread

  • δεινὴν θεὸν ἱλάσκονται

• Andromache’s absence

• Andromache’s emotion

  • γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε: both lamenting and weeping

  • πύργῳ: standing on the tower

    • very emotional and worried, watching for Hector on battlefield

break down:

τὸν δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ ὀτρηρὴ ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν:

ὀτρηρὴ - nimble

ταμίη - housekeeper

μῦθον - a word, speech

τὸν δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ ὀτρηρὴ ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν:

The nimble housekeeper, in reply, addressed a speech to him.

break down:

‘Ἕκτορ ἐπεὶ μάλ᾽ ἄνωγας ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι,

μάλ᾽ ἄνωγας - you give firm orders

μυθήσασθαι - to tell

ἀληθέα - the truth

‘Ἕκτορ ἐπεὶ μάλ᾽ ἄνωγας ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι,

Hector, since you give me firm orders to tell the truth,

how does that line (382) suggest the house-keeper is close to Hector

uses his name at the beginning

break down:

οὔτέ πῃ ἐς γαλόων οὔτ᾽ εἰνατέρων ἐϋπέπλων

οὔτέ - she has not

πῃ - thither

ἐς γαλόων - to the [dwelling of] her sisters in law

ἐϋπέπλων - beautifully robed

εἰνατέρων - brother-in-laws’-wives

οὔτ᾽ ἐς Ἀθηναίης ἐξοίχεται, ἔνθά περ ἄλλαι

Nor has she gone to the temple of Athena, where the other

break down:

οὔτ᾽ ἐς Ἀθηναίης ἐξοίχεται, ἔνθά περ ἄλλαι

Ἀθηναίης - [temple of] Athena

ἐξοίχεται - has departed

ἔνθά - where

περ - truly

ἄλλαι - the other

break down:

Τρῳαὶ ἐϋπλόκαμοι δεινὴν θεὸν ἱλάσκονται,

ἐϋπλόκαμοι - fair tressed

δεινὴν θεὸν - the dread/terrible goddess

ἱλάσκονται - are appeasing

Τρῳαὶ ἐϋπλόκαμοι δεινὴν θεὸν ἱλάσκονται,

Fair-tressed Trojan women appease the dread goddess,

break down:

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ πύργον ἔβη μέγαν Ἰλίου, οὕνεκ᾽ ἄκουσε

ἀλλ - but

ἔβη - she went

ἐπὶ … μέγαν Ἰλίουπύργον - to the great tower of Troy

οὕνεκ - because

ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ πύργον ἔβη μέγαν Ἰλίου, οὕνεκ᾽ ἄκουσε

But she has gone to the great tower of troy because she heard

break down:

τείρεσθαι Τρῶας, μέγα δὲ κράτος εἶναι Ἀχαιῶν.

τείρεσθαι - were being worn out

δὲ κράτος - and the power

Ἀχαιῶν - of the Greeks

εἶναι μέγα - was great

τείρεσθαιΤρῶας, μέγαδὲκράτοςεἶναιἈχαιῶν.

That the Trojans were being worn out, and that the strength of the Greeks was great

break down:

ἣ μὲν δὴ πρὸς τεῖχος ἐπειγομένη ἀφικάνει

ἣ μὲν δὴ - she, indeed, truly

ἀφικάνει - arrives at

πρὸς τεῖχος - to the wall

ἐπειγομένη - hastening

ἣ μὲν δὴ πρὸς τεῖχος ἐπειγομένη ἀφικάνει

She, hastening, arrives at the wall

break down:

μαινομένῃ ἐϊκυῖα: φέρει δ᾽ ἅμα παῖδα τιθήνη.

ἐϊκυῖα - like a

μαινομένῃ - madman

δ’ … τιθήνη - and the nurse

φέρει - carries

παῖδα - the child

ἅμα - along with her

μαινομένῃ ἐϊκυῖα: φέρει δ᾽ ἅμα παῖδα τιθήνη.

Like a madman. And the nurse carries the child along with her.

that section: how does Homer create a sense of panic?

• calls Andromache a madman: possible insulting but shows she is out of her mind with worry

• says Andromache is hastening to the wall - rushing, stressed

• repeats exactly what Hector said (Tricolon of sisters, sister, Athena)

what impression of the housekeeper?

• nimble/busy - ὀτρηρὴ

• close to Hector - uses his name beginning of line

• follows orders - since you give firm orders to tell the truth

• tells Hector what he needs/wants to know

• close to or not to Andromache - calls her like a madman

how is the Greek strength/Trojan weakness suggested:

• sense of panic (previous)

• Trojans being worn down - τείρεσθαι Τρῶας,

  • beginning of line and alliteration of harsh sounds

• μέγα δὲ κράτος - big is first to emphasise greatness of Greeks δὲ emphasises it

break down:

ἦ ῥα γυνὴ ταμίη, ὃ δ᾽ ἀπέσσυτο δώματος Ἕκτωρ

ἦ ῥα - Indeed so

γυνὴ - the woman

ταμίη - housekeeper

ὃ δ᾽ ἀπέσσυτο - but he [Ἕκτωρ] sped away

δώματος - from the house

ἦ ῥα γυνὴ ταμίη, ὃ δ᾽ ἀπέσσυτο δώματος Ἕκτωρ

So spoke the lady house-keeper, and Hector sped away from the house

break down:

τὴν αὐτὴν ὁδὸν αὖτις ἐϋκτιμένας κατ᾽ ἀγυιάς.

τὴν αὐτὴν ὁδὸν - the same route

αὖτις - again

κατ’ - along/through

ἐϋκτιμένας - well built

ἀγυιάς - streets

break down:

εὖτε πύλας ἵκανε διερχόμενος μέγα ἄστυ

εὖτε - when

ἵκανε - he had come

πύλας - Scaean gates

διερχόμενος - passing through

μέγα ἄστυ - the great city

(Scaean is on the next line)

εὖτε πύλας ἵκανε διερχόμενος μέγα ἄστυ

When he arrived at the Scaean gates, passing through the great city

break down:

Σκαιάς, τῇ ἄρ᾽ ἔμελλε διεξίμεναι πεδίον δέ,

τῇ γἄρ᾽ - where in fact

ἔμελλε - he was about

διεξίμεναι - to go out to

πεδίον - the plain

Σκαιάς, τῇ ἄρ᾽ ἔμελλε διεξίμεναι πεδίον δέ,

where in fact he was about to go out onto the plain

break down:

ἔνθ᾽ ἄλοχος πολύδωρος ἐναντίη ἦλθε θέουσα

ἔνθ᾽ - there

ἄλοχος - his wife

πολύδωρος - of many gifts

ἦλθε - came

θέουσα - running

ἐναντίη - [to meet him], before him

ἔνθ᾽ ἄλοχος πολύδωρος ἐναντίη ἦλθε θέουσα

There his wife of many gifts came rushing to meet him

break down:

Ἀνδρομάχη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἠετίωνος

θυγάτηρ - daughter

μεγαλήτορος - great hearted

Ἠετίωνος - Eetion

Ἀνδρομάχη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἠετίωνος

Andromache daughter of great-hearted Eetion

break down:

Ἠετίων ὃς ἔναιεν ὑπὸ Πλάκῳ ὑληέσσῃ

ὃς ἔναιεν - who dwelled

ὑπὸ - at the foot of

ὑληέσσῃ - wooded

Πλάκῳ - Placos (a place)

Ἠετίων ὃς ἔναιεν ὑπὸ Πλάκῳ ὑληέσσῃ

Eetion, who dwelled at the foot of wooded Placos

break down:

Θήβῃ Ὑποπλακίῃ Κιλίκεσσ᾽ ἄνδρεσσιν ἀνάσσων:

Θήβῃ - Thebes

Ὑποπλακίῃ - beneath Placos

Κιλίκεσσ᾽ - Cilician

ἄνδρεσσιν - men

ἀνάσσων - ruling over

Θήβῃ Ὑποπλακίῃ Κιλίκεσσ᾽ ἄνδρεσσιν ἀνάσσων:

In Thebes, beneath Placos, ruling over Cilician men

break down:

τοῦ περ δὴ θυγάτηρ ἔχεθ᾽ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ.

περ δὴ - truly indeed

τοῦ θυγάτηρ - the daughter (of him)

ἔχεθ᾽ - was held [as wife]

Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ - bronze-armoured Hector

τοῦ περ δὴ θυγάτηρ ἔχεθ᾽ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ.

His daughter was held as wife by bronze-armoured Hector.

impression that Hector is frantic?

• about to pass through the plain (back into war) - he is just on the cusp of danger

• short phrase for the end of the house-keeper’s speech, and Hector leaves immediately after (half a line for each)

interesting:

• Scaean gates separation

Hyperbaton

• maybe separation of Scaean/Gates reflects the separation between Andromache and Hector

• travel with Hector to the destination

what effect does the very long sentence have

• anticipation, up to a significant moment, their meeting

• details that may be important later

• mirrors the building up/action of Andromache running up to Hector

• time feels like it slows down

  • very Homer thing to get backstory about a character just before action

impression of Andromache’s wealth/connection to great lineage

‘well-built roads’, ‘great city‘, wife of many gifts

• aristocratic, wealthy and of high status (both Andromache/Troy)

‘great-hearted Eetion‘ (sad when you find out he’s dead)

• implies her life used to be great, father is very powerful, part of a heroic lineage

break down:

ἥ οἱ ἔπειτ᾽ ἤντησ᾽, ἅμα δ᾽ ἀμφίπολος κίεν αὐτῇ

ἥ ἔπειτ᾽ - she then

ἤντησ - met

οἱ - him

ἅμα - along with

αὐτῇ - her

κίεν - came

ἀμφίπολος - the handmaid

ἥ οἱ ἔπειτ᾽ ἤντησ᾽, ἅμα δ᾽ ἀμφίπολος κίεν αὐτῇ

She then met him, and her handmaid came with her

break down:

παῖδ᾽ ἐπὶ κόλπῳ ἔχουσ᾽ ἀταλάφρονα νήπιον αὔτως

ἐπὶ κόλπῳ - on her bosom

ἔχουσ᾽ - holding

παῖδ᾽ - the boy

ἀταλάφρονα - tenderminded

αὔτως - just a

νήπιον - baby, infant

παῖδ᾽ ἐπὶ κόλπῳ ἔχουσ᾽ ἀταλάφρονα νήπιον αὔτως

Holding the tender-minded boy at her bosom, just a baby.

break down:

Ἑκτορίδην ἀγαπητὸν ἀλίγκιον ἀστέρι καλῷ,

Ἑκτορίδην - son of Hector

ἀγαπητὸν - (the) beloved

ἀλίγκιον - likened to a

ἀστέρι καλῷ - beautiful star

Ἑκτορίδην ἀγαπητὸν ἀλίγκιον ἀστέρι καλῷ,

The beloved son of Hector, like a beautiful star

break down:

τόν ῥ᾽ Ἕκτωρ καλέεσκε Σκαμάνδριον, αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι

τόν ῥ᾽ - him indeed

καλέεσκε - used to call

Σκαμάνδριον - Scamandrius

αὐτὰρ - but

οἱ ἄλλοι - the others

τόν ῥ᾽ Ἕκτωρ καλέεσκε Σκαμάνδριον, αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι

Who Hector used to call Scamandrius, but the others [used to call]

break down:

Ἀστυάνακτ᾽: οἶος γὰρ ἐρύετο Ἴλιον Ἕκτωρ.

γὰρ - for

οἶος - alone

ἐρύετο - protected

Ἀστυάνακτ᾽: οἶος γὰρ ἐρύετο Ἴλιον Ἕκτωρ.

Astyanax, for Hector alone protected Troy

break down:

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν μείδησεν ἰδὼν ἐς παῖδα σιωπῇ:

ἤτοι - now

ὃ - he

μὲν - indeed

μείδησεν - smiled

ἰδὼν ἐς - looking on

παῖδα - his son

σιωπῇ - in silence

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν μείδησεν ἰδὼν ἐς παῖδα σιωπῇ:

Indeed he smiled, looking at his son in silence

break down:

Ἀνδρομάχη δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρίστατο δάκρυ χέουσα,

δέ - but

ἄγχι - near

οἱ - to him

παρίστατο - stood

άκρυ χέουσα - weeping

Ἀνδρομάχη δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρίστατο δάκρυ χέουσα,

But Andromache stood near him, pouring down tears

break down:

ἔν τ᾽ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζε:

τ᾽ ἄρα - and then indeed

φῦ - she clung

οἱ - to him

ἔν - with her

χειρὶ - hands

ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ - and made a speech

ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζε: - and addressed him

ἔν τ᾽ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζε:

And she clung to him with her hands and made a speech and addressed him.

innocent/vulnerability of Astyanax:

νήπιον αὔτως - JUST a baby

tenderminded, at nurses bosom (very small, docile, baby)

father alone protects Troy

stars have ominous connotations in the Iliad

stars: beautiful but distant

whole line dedicated to Hector’s loving/smiling on his son

Hector’s public vs private life

+aloneness

• begin/end that passage with Hector’s warrior status: bronze-armoured, protects troy

• through Astyanax with his multiple names: Scamandrius, Astyanax (so different roles for the same person), Hector has that too

οἶος γὰρ ἐρύετο Ἴλιον Ἕκτωρ.

οἶος - alone, isolated/lonely figure, invites sympathy

οἶος - first word in phrase, Hector is the last

contrast between Hector/Andromache

how do we see Andromache’s love for Hector

men, de → smiling vs crying

Hector is silent, overcome with love, vs Andromache’s upcoming eloquent speech

physical closeness (stood near him, takes him by the hand)

break down: δαιμόνιε φθίσει σε τὸ σὸν μένος, οὐδ᾽ ἐλεαίρεις

δαιμόνιε - (interesting: strange man or husband?) O husband

τὸ σὸν μένος - this your valour

φθίσει σε - will destroy you

οὐδ᾽ - do you not

ἐλεαίρεις - pity

δαιμόνιε φθίσει σε τὸ σὸν μένος, οὐδ᾽ ἐλεαίρεις

O husband, your valour will destroy you, do you not pity

break down: παῖδά τε νηπίαχον καὶ ἔμ᾽ ἄμμορον, ἣ τάχα χήρη

παῖδά - (our) child

τε νηπίαχον - indeed an infant

καὶ ἔμ᾽ - and me

ἄμμορον - ill-fated

ἣ - who

τάχα - soon

χήρη - deprived

παῖδά τε νηπίαχον καὶ ἔμ᾽ ἄμμορον, ἣ τάχα χήρη

Our infant child and ill-fated me, who soon deprived

break down: σεῦ ἔσομαι: τάχα γάρ σε κατακτανέουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ

σεῦ of you

ἔσομαι - I will be

τάχα γάρ - for soon

σε κατακτανέουσιν - will kill you

Ἀχαιοὶ - the Greeks

σεῦ ἔσομαι: τάχα γάρ σε κατακτανέουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ

of you I will be. For soon the Greeks will kill you

break down: πάντες ἐφορμηθέντες: ἐμοὶ δέ κε κέρδιον εἴη

πάντες - all

ἐφορμηθέντες - rushing at you

ἐμοὶ δέ - but for me

κε εἴη - it would be

κέρδιον - better

πάντες ἐφορμηθέντες: ἐμοὶ δέ κε κέρδιον εἴη

all rushing at you, but for me it would be better

break down:

σεῦ ἀφαμαρτούσῃ χθόνα δύμεναι: οὐ γὰρ ἔτ᾽ ἄλλη / ἔσται…..

ἀφαμαρτούσῃ - being deprived

σεῦ - of you

δύμεναι - to enter into

χθόνα - the earth

οὐ γὰρ - for [ἔσται - there will be] no

ἔτ᾽ ἄλλη - longer any

break down:

ἔσται θαλπωρὴ ἐπεὶ ἂν σύ γε πότμον ἐπίσπῃς

(prev): ἔσται - there will be

θαλπωρὴ - comfort

ἐπεὶ - when

σύ - you

ἐπίσπῃς - draw on/meet, aor.?

πότμον - ill-fate

ἔσται θαλπωρὴ ἐπεὶ ἂν σύ γε πότμον ἐπίσπῃς

comfort will there be when you meet your ill-fate,

break down:

ἀλλ᾽ ἄχε᾽: οὐδέ μοι ἔστι πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ.

ἀλλ - but

ἄχε - [only] sorrows

ἔστι .. μοι - there is to me

οὐδέ - neither

πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ - father and lady mother

ἀλλ᾽ ἄχε᾽: οὐδέ μοι ἔστι πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ.

But only sorrows, and I have no father and lady mother.

in this passage:

Andromache puts emphasis on Hectors ____ role, how?

Family, private role:

• mentions of our child, will be deprived/widowed of you

in the passage:

how is Andromache’s fear emphasised/how is it sad to the reader:

• the first word after addressing Hector is φθίσει: will kill you

  • as reader know this will happen, inevitability, sad

• that his valour/strength will be his downfall, that his own ‘good‘ qualities are his issue, may fight too bravely etc. sad

• vulnerability emphasised: ill-fated, infant son - very dependant on Hector, gods against her

  • Andromache thinks she’s better off dead with out Hector

    • it would be better (ke… eiE) to die (unexpected)

• τάχα x2 - soon: ominous, doesn’t have much longer to live