Seminar 1: Commentary on Iliad 5.357-80.

Context:

 Quite deep battle between Achaeans and Trojans: no

Achilles as he’s still in a sulk.
 Athene inspires Diomedes and he takes the stage as
the “heroic warrior” instead of Achilles, as he goes
about slaughtering several Trojans, including
Pandarus. He is urged by Athene to slash Aphrodite
with his spear, which he succeeds.
 In his trance, he cuts Aphrodite’s wrist, who was
trying to save her son Aeneas. Iris takes her off
the battle-scene ASAP to Ares.

Content:

 Immortal vs Mortal: contradictory/ironic as

Aphrodite the immortal is wounded by Diomedes a
mortal. She, rather than fight on gives up and
escapes. Helpless goddess. –typical of Aphrodite.
Not fit for warfare compared to Hera or Athene. Gods
can also be injured by mortals: immortals sometimes
not as strong as mortals?
 Characterisation of Aphrodite: like a little girl,
not so godlike. Cries to mother Dione at her
mother’s knees, who starts to stroke her hair,
addressing her as “my darling child.” Incompetent of
driving own chariot: Iris has to drive it. Link in
epithets of Aprhodite: “Laughing-loving Aphrodite,”
is ironic as she’s currently not represented so. She
is usually the laughing-stock though. Use of
resonance, particular epithet used in odd context.
 Athene told Ares that the fighting should be left to
the mortals and that Zeus should decide who should
win glory – Aphrodite should not have intervened
then.
 Greeks portrayed as going beyond limits/going a bit
mad with rage, desire for blood: Aphrodite claims
the Greeks are now fighting against the gods.
Diomedes though was told by Athene to cut Aphrodite.
 Chaos: even the gods are at a loss. Aphrodite is
helpless, Ares the god of war cannot do anything and
Zeus, even though Athene said he will choose how the
battle comes about, seems to do nothing. Everyone is
losing their heads.
 Gods are at war as well as the humans.
 Dione’s question is naive: assumes the gods have
made Aphrodite upset. Question shows that Aphrodite
 is the continued laughing stock. She admits it
herself in the Arginautica to Hera and Athene, when
suggets they go to Eros themselves.

Significance:

 Aphrodite similar to goddess of love Ishtar from

Epic of Gilgamesh, in sense that she runs to her
parent because she’s upset.
 War is no longer between Greek and Trojan, but Greek
and gods. The war is starting to become out of hand:
(perhaps there is link between absence of Achilles
and lack of order in battle).
 She was the start of hostility and war: she can’t
handle it. Aphrodite will seem always concerned with
love, but incapable of fixing this huge mess.
 Diomedes is a shadow of Achilles.
 Aphrodite is not an untouchable; gods usually
portrayed as untouchable. Unqiue moment that god is
injured. She is exaggerating, she’s dramatic. But
mortal actions are prompted by gods (Athene prompted
Diomedes), gods usually bring suffering to mortals,
but here it is a brief turn-around.

In class discussion

“Homer” as a primary source, looking at him in

translation.
Although, originally an oral tradition, which was
transferred to manuscript tradition and ancient
commentary, then critical edition and finally a
translation. Also working from fragments from other greek
texts, but can vary as scholars prioritise different
things. Thus various translations are based on different
greek texts.

Homeric question: is he one man or several people? 19th C

debate. Foley: time took to compose poem not matter, but
how it was perceived.

How do these affect our commentaries?

 How much authorial intention can we see in the
Homeric epics?
 Think about the context. There are certain
features that the narrative certainly intended
 what has come across, e.g. simile of a lion,
defo meant to visualize a lion.
 How well does the text in front of y0u reflect
what ‘Homer’ actually created?
 Must be careful when looking at individual
words, as it’s not always reflected Homer’s
words. Sometimes translation capture gist of a
section: similes, themes, epithets (some
translators though varies meanings of greek
epithets, not keeping the same one). “Formal
scenes.” Resonance: a key word is a key theme,
e.g. “wrath of Achilles.”
 What features of the text DO carry across the
distance as well?

Writing a commentary:
 Relate to key themes of text.
 Second lit not necessary but should read them to get
better understanding.
 Compare/draw parallels from other parts of text
 Can outline general issues without making specific
references.
 Link to key academic concepts within field
appropriate.

Context: say what happens before and after.