1.17
Iliad 1.17 · The ransom offered1.17The ransom offered
Chryses speaks to the whole army, and to its two commanders.
· · ·
Chryses
Ἀτρεΐδαι1
Atreí̈dai
Sons of Atreus
τε2
te
—
καὶ3
kaì
and
ἄλλοι4
álloi
you other
ἐϋκνήμιδες5
eÿknḗmides
well-greavedbronze-shinned
Ἀχαιοί6
Achaioí
Achaeans
, may
μὲν7
mèn
—
θεοὶ8
theoì
the gods
ἔχοντες9
échontes
who have
δώματʼ10
dṓmat’
homes
Ὀλύμπια11
Olýmpia
on Olympus
δοῖεν12
doîen
grant
ὑμῖν13
hymîn
to you
ἐκπέρσαι14
ekpérsai
to sack
πόλιν15
pólin
the city
Πριάμοιο16
Priámoio
of Priam
δʼ17
d’
and
ἱκέσθαι18
hikésthai
to come
οἴκαδʼ19
oíkad’
home
εὖ20
eû
safely
; δʼ21
d’
but
λύσαιτε22
lýsaite
releaseloose
φίλην23
phílēn
my dearmy own
παῖδα24
paîda
child
ἐμοὶ25
emoì
to me
, δʼ26
d’
and
δέχεσθαι27
déchesthai
accept
τὰ28
tà
this
ἄποινα29
ápoina
ransom
, ἁζόμενοι30
hazómenoi
in awe of
υἱὸν31
hyiòn
the son
Διὸς32
Diòs
of Zeus
, ἑκηβόλον33
hekēbólon
far-shooting
Ἀπόλλωνα34
Apóllōna
Apollo
. Chryses
Sons of Atreus and you other well-greaved Achaeans, may the gods who have homes on Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam and to come home safely; but release my dear child to me, and accept this ransom, in awe of the son of Zeus, far-shooting Apollo. Sons of Atreus and you other well-greaved Achaeans, may the gods who have homes on Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam and to come home safely; but release my dear child to me, and accept this ransom, in awe of the son of Zeus, far-shooting Apollo.
Interpretation
Sons of Atreus and you other well-greaved Achaeans, may the gods who have homes on Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam and to come home safely; but release my dear child to me, and accept this ransom, in awe of the son of Zeus, far-shooting Apollo.
A careful speech. Chryses opens with a blessing on his enemies: may you take Troy and get home. Then the request, then the ransom, and last the reason that ought to settle it, the god. He does not threaten. He reminds them whose priest he is.
Two ordinary words carry the feeling. Philēn is “dear,” but in Homer it is also simply “my own”: the girl belongs to him. Hazomenoi is reverent awe, the fear proper to a god. He is asking them to feel it.
1.22
Iliad 1.22 · One man says no1.22One man says no
The army shouts yes. Agamemnon alone refuses.
· · ·
Then all the other Achaeans shouted assent to respect the priest and to accept the splendid ransom; but it did not please Agamemnon, son of Atreus, in his heart, but he sent him off harshly and laid on him a harsh word: