Homer (Greek Text) - The Illiad: Hector Saying Farewell To His Wife lyrics

Title: The Illiad Author: Homer Translator: A.T. Murray, Ph.D. Source: Harvard University Press Book Number: 6 Lines: 485 - 500 Introduction: A very critical moment in the Illiad is when Hector is saying farewell to his wife. It is a critical moment because it is not only important to the plot, but it opens a window to Greek culture values in the time period. In the pa**age, Hector is explaining to his wife why he has to go and fight, while his wife is pleading with him to stay behind and not fight. Hector's main reason why he is choosing to fight because he is worried other people would view him as a coward if he didn't fight. This shows that in a way, Hector believes his image is more important than his very own life. He has watched his brother, Paris, cower away from confrontation and he doesn't want people to view him like that. He wants to risk his life just to prove that he isn't afraid of anyone. The text goes on to show Hector's wife's grief and how she is grieving just as he leaves. She is so certain that Hector wont return form battle that as soon as he leaves he is basically dead to her. It is also an interesting pa**age because while Hector wants to be around for his family, not fighting might lead to a Trojan loss and Hector and his family could wind up dead. Text: [485] and he stroked her with his hand, and spake to her, saying: “Dear wife, in no wise, I pray thee, grieve overmuch at heart; no man beyond my fate shall send me forth to Hades; only his doom, methinks, no man hath ever escaped, be he coward or valiant, when once he hath been born. [490] Nay, go thou to the house and busy thyself with thine own tasks, the loom and the distaff, and bid thy handmaids ply their work: but war shall be for men, for all, but most of all for me, of them that dwell in Ilios.” So spake glorious Hector and took up his helm [495] with horse-hair crest; and his dear wife went forthwith to her house, oft turning back, and shedding big tears. Presently she came to the well-built palace of man-slaying Hector and found therein her many handmaidens; and among them all she roused lamentation. [500] So in his own house they made lament for Hector while yet he lived; for they deemed that he should never more come back from battle, escaped from the might and the hands of the Achaeans. Works Cited: "Myths Encyclopedia." Hector. Advameg, Inc, 2014. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. Smith, William. "P565 Galea." LacusCurtius • The Greek and Roman Helmet (Smith's Dictionary, 1875). James Yates, 4 Sept. 2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2015. "Hades." Hades. GreekMythology.org, 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. Jordan, Herbert. "Achaeans, Argives, Danaans, or Greeks?" Inhabitants of Ancient Greece: Achaeans or Greeks? Herbert Jordan, 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2015. Philemon, Torrey. "Glossary of the Iliad." The Iliad. Torrey Philemon, 1998. Web. 17 Feb. 2015. "Greco-Roman Religious Beliefs." Ancient Greek Religious Beliefs. Religion Facts, 17 Mar. 2005. Web. 17 Feb. 2015. Winkler, John J. "The Constraints of Desire." Google Books. Routeledge, 1990. Web. 17 Feb. 2015. Cartwright, Mark. "Troy." Troy. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 2 Aug. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.