Read Online The War That Killed Achilles by Caroline Alexander - Free Book Online Page B

Zeus” but ignores the exact role he plays in her parentage. An Indo-European reconstruction of her name, *Swelénā, from a word stem associated with burning and sun glare, suggests that she was the shining Daughter of the Sun. 36 In later Greek mythology and cult, she has intriguing associations with trees, birds, and eggs, suggestive of a fertility goddess who lost her divinity over time, while retaining her essential attributes. 37 Aphrodite’s origins are found in Ishtar-Astarte, the Phoenician queen of heaven and divine prostitute, whose cult was brought to Greece by way of the island of Cyprus (or Kypros); “Kypris” is one of Aphrodite’s Iliadic epithets. 38 Helen’s thralldom to lust and desire, whether taken metaphorically or as a literal servitude forced upon her by Aphrodite’s spell, is used in the Iliad to render one of the most complex and convincing of all its many characters. 39
    Aphrodite’s response to Helen’s challenge is to lash out in anger:
    â€œWretched girl, do not tease me lest in anger I forsake you and grow to hate you as much as now I terribly love you, lest I encompass you in hard hate, caught between both sides, Danaans and Trojans alike, and you wretchedly perish.”
    Bereft of desirability, as Helen herself knows, she would not stand a chance within Troy’s walls, or without. Submitting in anger and humiliation to Aphrodite, Helen follows her to Paris’ chamber, where the goddess herself, with menacing solicitude, pulls up a chair for her by Paris’ bed. “ ‘So you came back from fighting,’ ” says Helen to her lord “in derision.” “ ‘Oh, how I wish you had died there / beaten down by the stronger man, who was once my husband.’ ” “ ‘Lady, censure my heart no more in bitter reprovals,’ ” Paris responds unconcernedly, and, distracted by his desire, he draws Helen to his bed. Aphrodite’s bestowal of Helen on Paris is undoubtedly inspired by the story of the first fateful seduction, when Paris came to Sparta—yet another scene belonging to the early phase of the war but restated here for dramatic effect. 40
    Back on the plain of Troy, Menelaos still rages, searching for Paris, whom he last saw in his very hands.
    Yet could none of the Trojans nor any renowned companion
show Alexandros then to warlike Menelaos.
These would not have hidden him for love, if any had seen him,
since he was hated among them all as dark death is hated.
    Who won the duel? Although neither man was killed in accordance with the terms the solemn oath had projected, the advantage, as Agamemnon declares before the assembly, is clearly to Menelaos. But the unorthodox situation causes a quandary, not only on earth but on Olympos, where the gods are sitting in council and Zeus ponders what to do next:
    â€œLet us consider then how these things shall be accomplished,
whether again to stir up grim warfare and the terrible
fighting, or cast down love and make them friends with each other.
If somehow this way could be sweet and pleasing to all of us,
the city of lord Priam might still be a place men dwell in,
and Menelaos could take away with him Helen of Argos.”
    At this moment, Zeus’ pledge to Thetis and Achilles seems to have slipped his mind; there is no question but that the war must be resumed if Achilles is to be missed, and therefore honored, by his Achaean companions. Such lapses in the Iliad ’s memory are most usually attributed to the hazards of a long, traditional oral composition. It may also be that such lapses were forgiven by their ancient audiences and that dramatic value counted more than consistency. At any rate, here and now, Achaeans and Trojans stand at a crossroad; the possibility looms that they can all go home.
    But Zeus’ suggestion that the whole business be wrapped up bloodlessly is viciously struck down by Hera, whose appetite for this war never, ever