The Iliad 23.236–248 — Achilles speaking to Agamemnon/leaders Of The Greeks (greek Soldiers) | The Lexicon

Achilles to Agamemnon/leaders Of The Greeks (greek Soldiers)

The Iliad 23.236–248

and easy they are to discern, for he lay in the midst of the pyre, while the others burned apart on the edges thereof, horses and men mingled together. Then let us place the bones in a golden urn wrapped in a double layer of fat until such time as I myself be hidden in Hades. Howbeit no huge barrow do I bid you rear with toil for him, but such a one only as beseemeth; but in aftertime do ye Achaeans build it broad and high, ye that shall be left amid the benched ships when I am gone.

Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν, πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσατʼ αἴθοπι οἴνῳ πᾶσαν, ὁπόσσον ἐπέσχε πυρὸς μένος· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα ὀστέα Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο λέγωμεν εὖ διαγιγνώσκοντες· ἀριφραδέα δὲ τέτυκται· ἐν μέσσῃ γὰρ ἔκειτο πυρῇ, τοὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἄνευθεν ἐσχατιῇ καίοντʼ ἐπιμὶξ ἵπποι τε καὶ ἄνδρες. καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν χρυσέῃ φιάλῃ καὶ δίπλακι δημῷ θείομεν, εἰς ὅ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼν Ἄϊδι κεύθωμαι. τύμβον δʼ οὐ μάλα πολλὸν ἐγὼ πονέεσθαι ἄνωγα, ἀλλʼ ἐπιεικέα τοῖον· ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀχαιοὶ εὐρύν θʼ ὑψηλόν τε τιθήμεναι, οἵ κεν ἐμεῖο δεύτεροι ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι λίπησθε.

Lattimore commentary

The temporary mound will shelter the urn with Patroklos’ bones until those of Achilleus can be added later and a more splendid tomb constructed. The urn will repose in the hut, it seems (254), only until the smaller barrow is ready for it. The practice of wrapping bones or container in cloth, as here, has been confirmed archaeologically.

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menos