Seba.Health

The Iliad 3.324–338

The Iliad 3.324–338
looking behind him the while; and straightway the lot of Paris leapt forth. Then the people sate them down in ranks, where were each man's high-stepping horses, and his inlaid armour was set. But goodly Alexander did on about his shoulders his beautiful armour, even he, the lord of fair-haired Helen. The greaves first he set about his legs; beautiful they were, and fitted with silver ankle-pieces; next he did on about his chest the corselet of his brother Lycaon, and fitted it to himself. And about his shoulders he cast his silver-studded sword of bronze, and thereafter his shield great and sturdy; and upon his mighty head he set a well-wrought helmet with horse-hair crest —and terribly did the plume nod from above— and he took a valorous spear, that fitted his grasp. And in the self-same manner warlike Menelaus did on his battle-gear.
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, πάλλεν δὲ μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ ἂψ ὁρόων· Πάριος δὲ θοῶς ἐκ κλῆρος ὄρουσεν. οἳ μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἵζοντο κατὰ στίχας, ἧχι ἑκάστῳ ἵπποι ἀερσίποδες καὶ ποικίλα τεύχεʼ ἔκειτο· αὐτὰρ γʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἐδύσετο τεύχεα καλὰ δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο. κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε καλάς, ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας· δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνεν οἷο κασιγνήτοιο Λυκάονος· ἥρμοσε δʼ αὐτῷ. ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον χάλκεον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε· κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν ἵππουριν· δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν· εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει.
Lattimore commentary
Paris is an archer, usually operating at a distance from the front line, and so does not possess his own corselet, designed to protect the wearer in close combat. His brother Lykaon will meet his death at the hands of Achilleus (21.35).
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