"Chapter Zero"

If I would change a book in Iliad, I will change book sixteen. In Book Sixteen, Patrolcus went to Achilles to ask permission for him to lead the war. Achilles accepted the request of Patrolcus. In the end of the chapter, Patrolcus died because of the Gods.

This is “Chapter Zero”, my own version of chapter sixteen of Iliad. My version starts when Patrolcus went to Achilles to ask permission to lead his Myrmidons in battle. “Achilles can I lead your Myrmidons in battle” Patroclus Asked. “No, I can’t lose a friend in battle. I will lead them myself” Achilles answered. “But Achilles…” Patroclus said. “No Patrolcus, I will lead my Myrmidons in battle myself” Achilles replied. “Okay Achilles…” Patroclus replied in a low voice. Achilles and his myrmidons are preparing for the battle. Patroclus prayed to the gods to keep his friend Achilles safe in battle.

Achilles went to the Achaean ships and Patroclus secretly followed Achilles. The enemies seeing Achilles become scared but they did not retreat from the ships. Patroclus was hiding behind a crate when a group of Trojans found him. “You there, who are you? An Achaean?” a Trojan said. “My name is Patroclus, and yes I am an Achaean, I am here to watch my friend Achilles. Patroclus answered. My name is Sarpedon” the Trojan replied. Achilles saw his friend Patroclus cornered by a group of Trojans. “Patroclus, what are you doing here? Why did you follow me” Achilles whispered. “A friend of Achilles…, then you have to die and let Achilles suffer” Sarpedon said. Sarpedon pierced Paroclus’s chest with a spear. “No, Patroclus” Achilles shouted. Enraged Achilles kills every Trojan soldier that he sees, and then tries to charge Sarpedon but a Trojan soldier stabbed Achilles at the back. Achilles and his friend both died.

This chapter can change the story of the Iliad because one of the main characters died. Some events can change if this story really had happen.

"Nobility"

Albert Camus, a French novelist said that “Real nobility is based on scorn, courage, and profound indifference”.

Nobility is the quality of a person to spiritually and morally good. In the book 16 of Iliad Patroclus shows his nobility with his courage by fighting the Trojans for the sake of the Achaeans.

While the men of Achaeans are fighting with the Trojans, Patroclus went to Achilles in tears, and talked to him.  Patraclus asked for Achilles’s permission to lead the Myrmidons in battle. Achilles agreed on the request of Patroclus, but there is a condition, Patroclus must only drive the Trojans off the ship. Achilles told Patroclus to take his armor with him in battle. While Patroclus arms himself with the armor of Achilles, Achilles gets his Myrmidon in order. Achilles prayed to Zeus the king of the gods to give Patroclus courage and success, and Achilles also prayed to keep Patroclus safe. Patroclus, armed with the Armor of Achilles lead the Myrmidons out to battle. The Trojans became scared when they saw Achilles not knowing that it was only Patroclus wearing the armor of Achilles. The Trojans retreat from the ship of the Achaeans. Disobeying Achilles, Patroclus kills every Trojan that he sees and drove them back to the gates of Troy. Zeus, the king of the gods tries to save his son Sarpedon but Hera persuaded him the other gods will save Sarpedon. Patroclus kills Sarpedon and the king Gods Zeus, decides to finish Patroclus for killing Sarpedon his son. Zeus imbues Hector with a temporary fearfulness and let him lead the Trojans to the gates of Troy.

In the end some of the prayer of Achilles was granted. Patroclus became successful in his task but he was killed by Hector. Patroclus shows his nobility by fighting the Trojans for the sake of the Achaeans but because of his courage he died in the battle. 

"Wise and Just?"

Justice from the word just, is the quality to be equal or to treat others as one would one to be treated. Wisdom is the quality to have knowledge of what is true or right joined with just judgment as to actions or decisions.  Justice and Wisdom, these are two of the four cardinal virtues that Greeks believed in. The Greeks believed in these four virtues because they want to be like their Gods.

The Greeks believed that their gods are just and wise but I disagree to that statement. The Greek gods may be wise but they are not just. They are not just because the gods take sides in battles.

In the Book seven of Iliad shows that Apollo, god of the sun and Athena the daughter of Zeus shows that they do not possess the quality of being just because on how they take sides in war. They wanted the Trojans to win the battle.

Athena the daughter of Zeus and Apollo god of the sun rouse Hector’s powerful fighting spirit and let him challenge one of Achaeans to fight him alone. The Achaeans grew silent and was ashamed to duck the challenge of Hector. Only one Achaean stood up and it was Menelaus but Agamemnon’s words stopped him from accepting the challenge of Hector. The one who fought with Hector was Ajax the son Telamon. Apollo, the god of the son was supporting Hector in the fight.  In the middle of Hector’s and Ajax’s battle, Zeus the king of the gods, and the only god that has the quality to be just stopped them. Zeus is said to be equal because he does not take sides in his decisions. Hector and Ajax agreed in Zeus advice

The gods like Apollo, god of the sun and Athena, the daughter of Zeus are wise but they are not just in their decisions and actions. The way they take sides in battle shows their inequality, therefore I disagree to the statement “The Greek gods are wise and just”.

"Stubbornness of the Heart"

Agamemnon is the unreasonably obstinate king in Iliad by Homer. He showed his stubbornness when he rejected the request of Chryses the god’s priest for his own selfish desires in Book one.

In the beginning Apollo the son of Zeus, was angry with king Agamemnon because he dishonored Chryses the god’s priest.

Chryses with Apollo’s golden staff and sacred scarf brought a huge ransom for his daughter Chryseis. All the Achaeans were supporting Chryses but king Agamemnon rejected the offer, refused to give back Chryses daughter and dismissed him.   Chryses the god’s priest prayed to Apollo: “If I've ever pleased you with a holy shrine, or burned bones for you bulls and goats well wrapped in fat grant me my prayer Force the Danaans to pay full price for my tears with your arrows” and Apollo heard his prayer. Enraged Apollo god of the sun, son of Zeus, came down from Olympus and killed the Achaean troops by firing arrows at them and burning their corpses with thick fire. Death won over the troops of Achaea for nine days. On the tenth day Achilles called an assembly. Because of Agamemnon’s stubbornness the men of Achaea suffered. This started the argue between the King and Achilles in Book One.

One’s stubbornness can bring danger to himself and to others, like king Agamemnon who brought danger to the people of Achaea because of his own desires. Rolando Mendoza a former Filipino police who took hostage of a tourist bus that was loaded with Hong Kong nationals is one stubborn man. Rolando Mendoza wanted a review of his administrative case expedited and he also want to be reinstated with full benefits. Because of Rolando Mendoza’s stubbornness, innocent Hong Kong nationals were killed and their families suffered. In the end the police authorities was forced to finish the hostage taking by killing Rolando Mendoza. Because of his own stubbornness Mendoza himself, the Hong Nationals, and our country suffered.