Center for Hellenic Studies - Proclus' Summary of the Cypria lyrics

Proclus' Summary of the Cypria, attributed to Stasinus of Cyprus [1] Zeus, together with themis, plans the Trojan War. For eris, while attending a feast of the gods at the wedding of Peleus, instigates a feud [neikos] among Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite about beauty. They, by order of Zeus, are led by Hermes to Mount Ida for judgment by Alexandros. Alexandros judges for Aphrodite, encouraged by a promise of Helen in marriage. [5] On the advice of Aphrodite, he has ships built. Helenos prophesies to him about what is going to happen. Aphrodite tells Aeneas to sail with him. Then Ka**andra foretells the events of the future. When he gets to Lacedaemonia, Alexandros is entertained as a xenos by the sons of Tyndareus, [10] and afterwards by Menelaos at Sparta. Alexandros gives Helen gifts during the feast. Menelaos sails off to Crete, telling Helen to provide proper hospitality for their xenoi while he is away. Aphrodite brings Helen and Alexandros together. After their intercourse, they load up a great many valuables and sail away by night. [15] Kastor is k**ed by Idas, but Idas and Lynkeus are k**ed by Polydeukes. Landing at Sidon, Alexandros captures the city. They sail to Ilion. Alexandros marries Helen. In the meantime, Kastor and Polydeukes are caught stealing the cattle of Idas and Lynkeus. [20] Kastor is k**ed by Idas, but Idas and Lynkeus are k**ed by Polydeukes. And Zeus gives them both immortality on alternate days. Iris goes and tells Menelaos what has been happening at home. He returns and plans an expedition against Ilion with his brother. Menelaos goes to see Nestor. [25] Nestor, in a digression, tells him the story of how Epopeus seduced and carried off the daughter of Lykos, and the story of Oidipous [Oedipus], and the madness of Herakles, and the story of Theseus and Ariadne. Then they go through Hellas and gather the leaders together. [30] Odysseus pretends to be insane because he does not want to go to the war. But they find him out; on advice of Palamedes, they kidnap his son Telemakhos as a threat, thus forcing him to go. The leaders come together at Aulis to sacrifice. The happenings concerning the snake and the sparrows are described. Kalkhas foretells the future events for them. [35] They put to sea and land at Teuthrania, and they mistake it for Ilion and destroy it. Telephos comes to its aid, and k**s Thersandros, son of Polyneikes; but he himself is wounded by Achilles. As the Achaeans sail away from Mysia a storm comes on them and their ships are scattered. Achilles lands at Skyros and marries Deidameia, daughter of Lykomedes. [40] Telephos, guided by an oracle, comes to Argos. Achilles heals him, in order that he become their guide for the voyage to Ilion. The expedition gathers at Aulis for the second time. Agamemnon k**s a deer on the hunt and boasts that he surpa**es even Artemis. The goddess gets mēnis and holds them back from the voyage by sending them bad weather. [45] But Kalkhas explains the mēnis of the goddess and tells them to sacrifice Iphigeneia to Artemis. They summon her as if for a marriage to Achilles and are about to sacrifice her. But Artemis snatches her away and carries her to Tauris and makes her immortal, [50] meanwhile placing a deer on the altar instead of the girl. Then they sail off to Tenedos. During a feast, Philoctetes is stung by a snake and because of the bad smell is left behind on Lemnos; and Achilles quarrels with Agamemnon [55] because he was invited too late. Then when they disembark at Ilion, the Trojans prevent them and Protesilaos is k**ed by Hector. Then Achilles turns them back and k**s Kyknos, son of Poseidon. And they bring away the corpses [60] and send an emba**y to the Trojans, demanding Helen and the valuables. But since the Trojans do not comply, they besiege them at once. Going into the countryside, the Achaeans destroy the surrounding cities. After this Achilles longs to have a look at Helen and Aphrodite and Thetis arrange a place for them to meet. [65] Then when the Achaeans are eager to return home, Achilles holds them back. He drives off the cattle of Aeneas and destroys Lyrnessos and Pedasos and many of the surrounding cities and he k**s Troilos. Patroklos takes Lykaon to Lemnos and sells him [70] and from the ransom Achilles takes Brisēis as his prize and Agamemnon, Khrysēis. Then there is the d**h of Palamedes and Zeus' plan to relieve the Trojans by pulling Achilles out of the Achaean alliance and a catalogue of all those who fought together against the Trojans. [The Iliad follows the Cypria and precedes the Aithiopis.]