Seba.Health

The Iliad 7.206–220

The Iliad 7.206–220
hath brought together to contend in the fury of soul-devouring strife. Even in such wise sprang forth huge Aias, the bulwark of the Achaeans, with a smile on his grim face; and he went with long strides of his feet beneath him, brandishing his far-shadowing spear. Then were the Argives glad as they looked upon him, but upon the Trojans crept dread trembling on the limbs of every man, and Hector's own heart beat fast within his breast. Howbeit in no wise could he any more flee or shrink back into the throng of the host, seeing he had made challenge to fight. So Aias drew near, bearing his shield that was like a city wall, a shield of bronze with sevenfold bull's-hide, the which Tychius had wrought with toil, he that was far best of workers in hide, having his home in Hyle, who had made him his flashing shield of seven hides of sturdy bulls, and thereover had wrought an eighth layer of bronze. This Telamonian Aias bare before his breast,
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, Αἴας δὲ κορύσσετο νώροπι χαλκῷ. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα περὶ χροῒ ἕσσατο τεύχεα, σεύατʼ ἔπειθʼ οἷός τε πελώριος ἔρχεται Ἄρης, ὅς τʼ εἶσιν πόλεμον δὲ μετʼ ἀνέρας οὕς τε Κρονίων θυμοβόρου ἔριδος μένεϊ ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι. τοῖος ἄρʼ Αἴας ὦρτο πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν μειδιόων βλοσυροῖσι προσώπασι· νέρθε δὲ ποσσὶν ἤϊε μακρὰ βιβάς, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος. τὸν δὲ καὶ Ἀργεῖοι μὲν ἐγήθεον εἰσορόωντες, Τρῶας δὲ τρόμος αἰνὸς ὑπήλυθε γυῖα ἕκαστον, Ἕκτορί τʼ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι πάτασσεν· ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχεν ὑποτρέσαι οὐδʼ ἀναδῦναι ἂψ λαῶν ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεὶ προκαλέσσατο χάρμῃ. Αἴας δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον χάλκεον ἑπταβόειον, οἱ Τυχίος κάμε τεύχων
Lattimore commentary
The special connection of Aias with the tower shield is reflected even in the name of his son, Eurysakes (“broad shield”). Its unusually thick construction with multiple layers makes suspenseful any spear-cast against it, as the audience waits to hear how deep the weapon will go.
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