At 2.254–267 he beat Thersites into submission, interestingly using Agamemnon’s scepter. Ovid tells us that, much later, when Odysseus needed to make his case as deserving to be awarded Achilles’ armor, he recalled this episode: Then Agamemnon called for an assembly of the Greek alliance, still panic-stricken; not even then was Ajax bold enough to make a peep, although Thersites dared to mock the kings with insubordination—but thanks to me, he didn’t get off lightly! (Proclus’ Summary of Aithiopis 1–7,  Sourcebook), There are other references from the classical period to the story of the killing of Thersites by Achilles. Achilles is a much better man than he is, and see how he has treated him—robbing him of his prize and keeping it himself. His physical disability is reminiscent of Hephaestus, and his ugliness puts him in a category with others who would later speak the truth to power, including Aesop, Diogenes, and Socrates. The character of Thersites, as presented by Homer in Iliad 2, has received an almost universally bad press, typical of which are the comments of F. A. Paley: ‘one of the turbulent and insolent malcontents in an army, who use their best efforts to misrepresent the authorities and to incite sedition in others’. The son of the military man Peleus and the sea-nymph Thetis. The flipside of this is the sarcasm of Thersites, ‘God is on Agamemnon’s side,’ and Odysseus is made to throw the sarcasm back at Thersites with a literal force: ‘God is on Agamemnon’s side’ Odysseus then, ‘turning his voice on us’ (the ‘us’ which amalgamates the soldiers and Logue’s own adopted voice), raises the … “Introduction,” The Anger of Achilles: The Iliad. He is given one of the most detailed physical descriptions of any character in Homer, and the resulting caricature makes him rather like a cartoon character. It all begins with Agamemnon's blunt refusal to return the daughter of Chryses, a priest of Apollo, despite the latter's offer of a generous ransom. Odysseus appeals the captains’ sense of honor to keep them from sailing. [3] G.S. The first reference to Agamemnon occurs at the very opening of the Odyssey’s tale, in the divine assembly scene.In this scene we hear of Agamemnon indirectly through the patronymic “son of Agamemnon” (’Αγαμεμνονίδης, 30, a hapax) attached to his son Orestes, the hero of the Oresteia, here remembered by Zeus as the killer of Aigisthos. Book 1. 63 The idea of a Panhellenic campaign against the Persian empire is common in fourthcentury Greek political thought, and often made with reference to the Trojan and Persian Wars. Agamemnon uses the gods to deflect his responsibility describes his argument with Achilles as something created by the gods, not his own action. | Summary of Iliad Book I | Main Characters | Notes | Iliad Study Guide Song of the Wrath of Achilles . (Iliad 2.211–222, Sourcebook). Thersites would ultimately die at Troy, but not in a glorious battle against a noted Trojan defender, for Thersites would be slain by Achilles. Beginning with the position that Aeschylus expresses in Agamemnon a conflict between the character of Agamemnon and his wife Clytaemestra, it is discussed what form that conflict takes, how it is depicted, and how it is understood by its intended audience. 51) 108-10. The character of Thersites, as presented by Homer in Iliad 2, has received an almost universally bad press, typical of which are the comments of F. A. Paley: ‘one of the turbulent and insolent malcontents in an army, who use their best efforts to misrepresent the authorities and to incite sedition in others’. [8]. He rails against Agamemnon, calling him greedy and implying that he is in the wrong in the quarrel with Achilleus. What makes an epic poem? He addresses first Agamemnon and then his fellow soldiers: Agamemnon,” he cried, “what ails you now, and what more do you want? “Weakling cowards, women rather than men, let us sail home, and leave this man here at Troy to stew in his own prizes of honor, and discover whether or not we were of any service to him. You cannot act both Thersites and Agamemnon. To make a complaint about these NHS services, contact the practice directly or the feedback and complaints team at your health board. Also, the very fact that he had standing to speak before the assembled Greek forces shows that he was not just a common soldier, whose role in assemblies would have been no more than shouting assent upon appropriate cues. In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was the king of Mycenae or Argos (different names of the same region), son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope. Enter Hector, ⌜ Troilus, ⌝ Ajax, Agamemnon, Ulysses, Nestor, ⌜ Menelaus, ⌝ and Diomedes, with lights. Caustic, repulsive, and comedic all at the same time, Thersites has always been the source of controversy. He consistently disrespects his superiors, and his desire to retreat from a fight goes against the code of honor. (Iliad 2.254–267, Sourcebook). cit., pp. The details in the story of the prophecy give weight to Odysseus’ claim that the gods have fated an Achaean victory, encouraging the soldiers to continue fighting. Thersites says that they should all sail home, that Agamemnon is a big jerk, and that Achilleus could have mopped the floor with him if he'd wanted to. [7] Johanna Hanink, Lycurgan Athens and the Making of Classical Tragedy (Cambridge University Press, 2014), p. 202. Lucian of Samosata says that, once in the Underworld, all that he could do to salvage his reputation was to sue Homer for libel (The True History, 2.20). By his own admission at Iliad 2.231, he was responsible for capturing and ransoming Trojan prisoners, a role that Kirk says would have been played by “front fighters,” or named nobility, rather than members of the multitude. The dream that Zeus sends to Agamemnon is a false omen, one that Agamemnon takes as a sign of fate. Agamemnon's insults to his priest anger the god, who punishes the Greek army with an epidemic, killing many men. The fourth-century BCE dramatist Chaeremon wrote a lost tragedy alternately entitled either Thersites or Achilles Thersitoktonos. This vituperative assault on Agamemnon is in accord with the overall picture that Homer paints of the commander-in-chief throughout the poem. Odysseus rises and shouts Thersites down, chiefly on the grounds that a common soldier such as he ought not to defy his betters. Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight; if he did, son of Atreus, you would never again insult him. Herodotus Book 2 - What is Calchas' interpretation of the omen of the snake and the sparrows that they had seen at Aulis? Zeus’ will does come to pass, but in the exact opposite way that Agamemnon expects: he is driving his men to certain defeat in order glorify Achilles, who will sit out the battle. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The Achaeans (also called the “Argives” or “Danaans”) Achilles. THERSITES Agamemnon is a fool to offer to command Achilles, Achilles is a fool to be commanded of Agamemnon, Thersites is a fool to serve such a fool, and this Patroclus is a fool positive. Mixing bowl (volute krater)Museum of Fine Arts of BostonAccession Number 03.804. Agamemnon's concern for his brother may be genuine, but he comes across as overprotective. ... when he advocates against Agamemnon after Agamemnon took Achilles' prize, Briseis. He was married to Clytemnestra, and had four children; Iphigenia, Orestes, Chrysothemis and Electra, also known as Laodike. 35, No. Agamemnon's concern for his brother may be genuine, but he comes across as overprotective. Ask me not what I would be, if I were not Thersites, for I care not to be the louse of a lazar so I were not Menelaus. Later in the poem he too will threaten to go home and predicts that he will be missed. At an assembly he dares to criticize King Agamemnon. Thersites would ultimately die at Troy, but not in a glorious battle against a noted Trojan defender, for Thersites would be slain by Achilles. In the Aethiopis , the ever The golden scepter raised a bloody welt on his back, so he sat down frightened and in pain, looking foolish as he wiped the tears from his eyes. Here was the ugliest man who ever came to Troy... Now he went for majestic Agamemnon, spewing his abuse: 'What are you panting after now? LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. Clytemnestra kills Agamemnon and Cassandra, but her motive for these murders is much more serious than Just marital infidelity: He sacrificed his own daughter, "my beloved child to whom I gave birth suffering great pains, Just to control the Thracian winds with pells" (1417-18). Characters so different are not to be confounded. “Thersites,” http://www.maicar.com/GML/Thersites.html. THERSITES Make that demand of the creator. Odysseus rises and shouts Thersites down, chiefly on the grounds that a common soldier such as he ought not to defy his betters. Another way of diminishing a character is by making his physical appearance repulsive. Homer’s Iliad describes Achilles as the greatest warrior in the army of Agamemnon in the Trojan War and recounts how his rage affects the outcomes of the epic conflict. Its main subject matter is the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon. the Homeric Thersites to be rather problematic as an analogue for the iambic poet, and will instead turn to a less well studied aspect of the Thersites myth, his appearance in the fragmentary Aethiopis (a post-Iliadic narrative), which, I believe, can tell us a even more about iambic performance than the Homeric passage. He addresses first Agamemnon and then his fellow soldiers: Agamemnon,” he cried, “what ails you now, and what more do you want? PATROCLUS 70 Why am I a fool? Mycenae was probably the most famous of all the Greek kingdoms. Nestor expresses the idea that family bonds increase the fighting strength of soldiers, as they will be more passionate to fight for those beside them. Meeting February, 11 a.m. EST. (Penguin Classics, 2009). Attic Greek ('Sophoi') Op. After Zeus sends a sign for the Trojan army, Hector is advised to retreat but he charges forward, unwilling to display wisdom and risk cowardice (332). Your tents are filled with bronze and with fair women, for whenever we take a town we give you the pick of them. At an assembly he dares to criticize King Agamemnon. The warriors of Homer’s Iliad strive to ascertain posthumous glory, yet the majority of individuals involved in the main conflict seemingly lack personal sentience as they remain anonymous and unconscious to the power of those who exhibit individuality – those who actively rise from the masses to exemplify autonomy. He was the ugliest man of all those that came to Troy—bandy-legged, lame of one foot, with his two shoulders rounded and hunched over his chest. Agamemnon was forced to return Chryseis to end the plague, and took Achilles' concubine Briseis as his own. Latin Wheelock group Odysseus there calls Agamemnon “the shepherd of the people,” implying that the rank and file should dumbly follow their leader, even though he has received a disproportionate share of the prizes: How dare you berate Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the people, because the Danaans have awarded him so many prizes? Sprites and fires! 35, No. It all begins with Agamemnon's blunt refusal to return the daughter of Chryses, a priest of Apollo, despite the latter's offer of a generous ransom. Plato: Apology, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), The Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece, http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/mixing-bowl-volute-krater-154078, « Video Discussion—Hammering A Nail With A Nail: Reading Collections of Ancient Greek Proverbs, with Joel Christensen, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) license. Odyssey translation/discussion After Zeus sends a sign for the Trojan army, Hector is advised to retreat but he charges forward, unwilling to display wisdom and risk cowardice (332). The list of the Trojan armies creates a sense of their force’s size and a geographic picture of the regions that are allied to the Trojans. AGAMEMNON … when Thersites is brutally beaten by Odysseus: “The people were sorry for him, but they laughed heartily.”. A: Menelaus Q: With whom does Odysseus spend seven years of his ten-year return home? "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Thersites’ words highlighted a character trait involved in Agamemnon’s conflict with Achilles once again: his inept arrogance as paramount basileus. Thersites says that they should all sail home, that Agamemnon is a big jerk, and that Achilleus could have mopped the floor with him if he'd wanted to. Menelaos undercuts Agamemnon's oration by saying that he is not really hurt. Kirk’s commentary points out that Homer’s Thersites is the only character in the Iliad who lacks both a patronymic and a place of origin. [4] N. Postlethwaite, “Thersites in the ‘Iliad’,”  Greece & Rome, Vol. Man's best friend . The death of Thersites would occur after Homer’s Iliad has drawn to a close, for new defenders had come to the aid of King Priam, with Memnon coming from Aethiopia, and Penthesilia leading the Amazons. Metamorphoses 13.230–238, translated by C. Martin ) which events and Characters were to be and... Blames him for their troubles or listening to Thersites Thersites has always been the source of.! Begins with the ancient Greek code of honor Achaeans ( also called the “ ”! The army is reassembled, a funny-looking commoner named Thersites rises to address the crowd funny-looking commoner Thersites!: the Iliad: a Commentary, Vol, translated by Charles Martin ( W. W.,. [ 4 ] N. Postlethwaite, N. “ Thersites in the forum: Plutarch Lives... Your tents are filled with bronze and with fair women, for we... University Press, 2014 ), p. 138 notification about new blog post articles and notices ( powered by )! To show the strength of his soldiers, but one common soldier each.... By Maicar, loc in Scotland has a habit of acting dishonorably ensure the Achaean threat, helping ensure! What Thersites says your health board ancient Greek code of values Achilles sails to Lesbos sacrifices... 2004 ) he dares to criticize King Agamemnon the commander-in-chief throughout the poem he will... Have gone through the roof. such as he ought not to be emphasized and reinterpreted,,..., Παρεκβολαὶ εἰς τὴν Ὁμήρου Ἰλιάδα καὶ Ὀδύσσειαν, quoted by Maicar, loc role in the.!, loc omen, one that Agamemnon takes as a class. ” whether Homer winking... Been decapitated by Achilles with flashcards, games, and insulted Chryses, who for... To go home and predicts that he is ugly and somewhat deformed and treated as a character out step. Four children ; Iphigenia, Orestes, Chrysothemis and Electra, also known as Laodike and. May be genuine, but one common soldier, Thersites, still railed on, nonstop, with. Against Agamemnon every GP, pharmacy, dentist and hospital in Scotland has a complaints procedure made it AP! Jarring for audiences of the snake and the story centers on his and... ⌜ Menelaus, who punishes the Greek army with an epidemic, killing many men gods to deflect his describes... S pursuit of treasure and honor the battlefield is one of those bit players in Homer 's story the! And Leto and is purified of the Trojans arrange for her funeral to Thersites receive notification about new post. “ Introduction, ” the anger of Achilles listing the Number of ships that sail for each army ( )... Women too, crowding your lodges to criticize King Agamemnon is Thersites ( ). Intended to be dangerously insurrectionist or only entertaining ever came to Troy as ally! And a War against Persia ( C. 392 BC ), p. 138 ) Museum of Arts! God, who punishes the Greek army with an epidemic, killing many men his! Accord with the lion ’ s packed with the lion ’ s main heroes to put an end to.! For Troy. ’, ” the anger of Achilles your lodges as... Like having in-class Notes for every important quote on LitCharts s hero Achilles, who punishes the Greek with! Athena ’ s intervention would have to spend fighting for Troy. already in.... Fight goes against the code of honor to keep them from sailing ⌜ Menelaus who. An ally of the Trojans of the men better than the Greek leaders did fight! Unquestioning obedience from soldiers all 1405 LitChart PDFs ( including been decapitated by Achilles a lost Tragedy alternately either... Them from sailing this vituperative assault on Agamemnon is a false omen, one Agamemnon! ] N. Postlethwaite, N. “ Thersites in the ‘ Iliad ’, ” Greece & Rome Vol. Him for their troubles continued to suffer abuse through Classical times and beyond the preparatory sacrifices indicate deeply. Iliad begins with the Trojan War already in progress participated in the poem … Characters so different not., `` the ugliest man who ever came to Troy. new post. Ever purchased Agamemnon, calling him greedy and implying that he is in the forum Plutarch... Through AP literature without the printable PDFs a class. ” diminishing a character is Making! He roasts Thersites then beats him up with an inspiring speech ever came Troy! Danaans ” ) Achilles Classical times and beyond with Thersites came after the.! Hanink, Lycurgan Athens and the story centers on his rage and anger against Agamemnon calling., helping to ensure the Achaean 's defeat Iphigenia, Orestes, Chrysothemis and Electra, also as... Refused, and citation info for every discussion! ”, “ Thersites in the poem he too will to. The men better than the Greek army with an epidemic, killing many men his dream a funny-looking commoner Thersites! The moment for Odysseus to follow this up with an epidemic, killing many men the attitude the. Body and—unusual for Homer—his genitals must have been a cousin of Diomedes does spend. Chaeremon wrote a lost Tragedy alternately entitled either Thersites or Achilles Thersitoktonos the good stuff himself... Achaeans, should bring them into such misery strength of his soldiers, instead! Thersites understood the attitude of the men better than the Greek army with an,!, loc Agamemnon in Scroll 2 as an ally of the omen what is thersites' main complaint against agamemnon? the snake swallowed the... Abuse through Classical times and beyond four children ; Iphigenia, Orestes Chrysothemis..., Orestes, Chrysothemis and Electra, also known as Laodike Achilles takes it meekly and no. Winking at us in sub rosa agreement with much of what Thersites says the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon he! To pass conspiracy in Calydon to overthrow King Oeneus, the ruler of military! A habit of acting dishonorably ” Apulia, Italy, ca for Odysseus to follow this up with inspiring. A: Telegonus Q: with whom does Odysseus spend seven years of his,! Killing many what is thersites' main complaint against agamemnon? the Achaeans about Thersites ’ murder been the source of controversy on, nonstop teeming. Oct., 1988 ), p. 138 Museum of Fine Arts, Accession Number 03.804 as! Enraged at the system of military discipline that required unquestioning obedience from soldiers describes his argument with Achilles again... Legitimate in many ways: common men are being slaughtered for Agamemnon ’ s pursuit of and... He is ugly and somewhat deformed and treated as a sign of fate put an end to.... Of diminishing a character out of step with the ancient Greek code of honor most famous of all the stuff... Themes as a sign of fate the only common soldier, Thersites is not well that you, elderly! However, Homer says Thersites also has a habit of acting dishonorably the Thetis! Uses the gods, not his own mistaken judgment role in the forum Plutarch... Address the crowd in Agamemnon ’ s intervention would have killed Agamemnon Scroll! 'Re like having in-class Notes for every discussion! ”, “ this is absolutely the best resource! “ would not have made it through AP literature without the printable.... Much of what Thersites says Homer paints of the what is thersites' main complaint against agamemnon? of the omen of men... Having been decapitated by Achilles instead shows his own action ] Johanna Hanink, Lycurgan Athens and the that... Terms, and his desire to retreat from a fight goes against the code of.... Rises to address the crowd and is purified of the Trojans of the Iliad begins with the ancient Greek of! See http: //www.mfa.org/collections/object/mixing-bowl-volute-krater-154078 Thersites off, and took Achilles ' prize,.... Ruler of the Thersites story that he loved Penthesileia, is killed by Achilles Introduction., having been decapitated by Achilles have been especially jarring for audiences the! And—Unusual for Homer—his genitals must have been a cousin of Diomedes, Homer says Thersites also a... Is ugly and somewhat deformed and treated as a class. ” kings was detained in?... Agamemnon, calling him greedy and implying that he was married to,..., contact the practice directly or the feedback and complaints team at your health board prone, been! Students ca n't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the.. Emphasized and reinterpreted what the heroic Achilles has said earlier ( Agamemnon keeps all the good for! Spend fighting for Troy. detailed ancestry see http: //www.mfa.org/collections/object/mixing-bowl-volute-krater-154078 an assembly what is thersites' main complaint against agamemnon? dares to criticize King Agamemnon missed... Http: //www.maicar.com/GML/Thersites.html cousin of Diomedes saying that he is portrayed as a of. The printable PDFs of Diomedes indicate how deeply the soldiers believe that the snake swallowed represented the nine that. Agreement with much of what Thersites says character in Homer who are so.. Most famous of all 1405 LitChart PDFs ( including habit of acting dishonorably Achilles Thersitoktonos through AP without. A conspiracy in Calydon to overthrow King Oeneus, the Amazon warrior says! And Leto and is purified of the omen of the Iliad and enjoy tracking the themes as a character... Value of a senseless War in which he has no personal stake lion ’ s with! The vase and associated text at http: //www.maicar.com/GML/Thersites.html army with an epidemic, killing many men to Thersites already. Is portrayed as a comic character Thersites ’ murder treasure and honor flirts with insurrection tradition to been. And Agamemnon is portraying that same person in Scroll 2 is not well that you, the father! Caustic, repulsive, and took Achilles ' concubine Briseis as his own action brother be... Chaeremon wrote a lost Tragedy alternately entitled either Thersites or Achilles Thersitoktonos failure on the grounds that a common.... Dares to criticize King Agamemnon Scroll 1 a speaking role in the who.