The Wrath of Achilles - The Fight between Agamemnon and the Great Warrior - The Trojan War Saga Ep16

Summary

The script narrates the pivotal events of the Trojan War, focusing on the conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles. Agamemnon's refusal to return Chryseis, a priest's daughter, to her father, Priest of Apollo, incurs Apollo's wrath, leading to a plague among the Greeks. Despite Calchas' revelation of the cause, Agamemnon's stubbornness and a heated dispute with Achilles over Briseis, Achilles' war prize, further escalate tensions. Achilles' withdrawal and Zeus's promise to aid the Trojans set the stage for Hector's decisive assault, highlighting the war's turning points and the gods' influence on mortal affairs.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Greeks were unable to conquer Troy despite a 10-year siege due to the city's divinely fortified walls.
• 🔥 A dispute arose between the Greeks over Agamemnon's refusal to return a captured priest's daughter, which led to internal conflict.
• 🙏 The priest of Apollo, Chryses, sought the return of his daughter, Chryseis, but was insulted and threatened by Agamemnon.
• 🏹 As retribution, Apollo, the god of the silver bow, sent a plague among the Greeks for their disrespect towards his priest.
• 🤔 The seer Calchas, with Apollo's gifts, knew the cause of the plague but feared revealing it without protection.
• 🛡️ Achilles promised to protect Calchas, leading to the revelation that Agamemnon's actions had angered Apollo, causing the plague.
• ⚔️ Agamemnon's stubbornness led to a heated confrontation with Achilles, who threatened to withdraw from the war.
• 😠 Achilles, enraged by Agamemnon's refusal to return Briseis, was only calmed by the intervention of the goddess Athena.
• 😢 Achilles retreated to the sea, lamenting his mistreatment, while his mother Thetis pleaded with Zeus to aid the Trojans.
• 🏺 The Trojans, learning of the Greek discord, saw an opportunity to push their enemies back, leading to decisive battles in the Trojan War.

Q & A

What was the duration of the siege of Troy by the Greeks?

The Greeks besieged the city of Troy for nearly 10 years.

Who were the gods credited with erecting the walls of Troy?

The gods Poseidon and Apollo were credited with erecting the remarkable walls of Troy.

What event on the beaches of Ilion changed the course of the war?

A dispute between the Greeks over Agamemnon's treatment of the priest of Apollo's daughter, Chryseis, changed the course of the war.

Who was Chryseis and why was she significant in the script?

Chryseis was the daughter of the priest of Apollo who had been captured as a slave and was Agamemnon's favorite war prize, her situation sparked a conflict that led to divine punishment for the Greeks.

What was the name of the priest who demanded the return of his daughter from Agamemnon?

The priest's name was Chryses, and he was allied to Troy.

What did Agamemnon threaten to do with Chryses if he returned to the Greeks' camp?

Agamemnon threatened to take Chryses to his palace in Mycenae and keep him there until death took him in his old age.

How did Apollo punish the Greeks for their disrespect towards Chryses?

Apollo punished the Greeks by sending a plague that caused many warriors to die an unworthy death.

Who was Calchus and what role did he play in revealing the cause of Apollo's wrath?

Calchus was a seer with gifts from Apollo, and he revealed the cause of Apollo's wrath to the Achaean leaders after being protected by Achilles.

What was Agamemnon's reaction to Calchus's revelation about the cause of the plague?

Agamemnon was furious and accused Calchus of only prophesying misfortune, demanding that he return Chryseis to Chryses without a prize in return.

What was Achilles' response to Agamemnon's refusal to return Chryseis without a prize?

Achilles offered to return to Greece with his Myrmidons if Agamemnon disregarded his right to his prizes, but Agamemnon was unyielding.

How did Achilles react when Agamemnon threatened to steal Briseis from him?

Achilles was consumed by fury, grabbed his sword, and decided to advance against Agamemnon, but was stopped by Athena.

What was the consequence of the division among the Greeks as reported by the Trojan spy to Hector?

The division weakened the Achaean camp, which was already suffering from the plague and without their champions, prompting Hector to seize the opportunity to push the Greeks back toward the sea.