The Story of Troy: Part Five

Instantly, Athena was elated. Visible only to Achilles, she clutched his arm turned him from bloodshed. “Do not sail home,” she counseled him. Athena well knew that Achilles was vital to her goal of punishing Paris and the Trojans. He submitted to her but swore that he’d not raise hid sword against Troy. Then he strode away.

Chryseis was put on a ship and sent home. Agamemnon then ordered two heralds to Achilles’ hut to seize Briseis. They entered in fear. Achilles’ eyes smoldered . Obedient to Athena’s wishes, he gave up the girl peaceably, then stalked off in a rage toward the shore. He called out to his sea goddess mother, who rose up at once from her undersea cave and heard all the indignities he’d suffered. Burning to humble Agamemnon, she carried her son’s lament to Zeus and so badgered him that he at last agreed to punish the proud High King. That very night he did so.

While Agamemnon was sleeping, Zeus sent him a deceitful dream. Agamemnon awoke before dawn. Hurriedly, he called his council.

“Put on your armor!” he ordered them. “Zeus has spoken to me in a dream. Today he will allow us to conquer the Trojans! Ready the men to march!”

The Greeks marched out, all but Achilles and his men. Pouring through their gates came the Trojans. The two armies met, spears whistling, swords slashing. The plain before Troy was soon strewn with dead. Then Hector, Priam’s eldest son and Troy’s greatest warrior, called for both sides to halt. His brother Paris, he shouted out, would stop the slaughter by fighting Menelaus. The winner would be granted Helen, settling the matter and ending the war. A truce was declared. The grateful soldiers sat in long lines to watch the combat.

The rivals approached. Both flung their spears, Menelaus wounding Paris. The Spartan king then raised his sword and shattered it upon Paris’ helmet. The Trojan staggered. Left without a weapon, Menelaus grabbed Paris’ helmet and dragged him toward the Greek lines in triumph. Seeing Paris being strangled by his chin strap, Aphrodite, his protector, caused it to snap, sending Menelaus sprawling. Menelaus jumped up, determined to kill Paris—and gaped to find him gone. Aphrodite had made him invisible and had whisked him to safety within Troy.

“Bring forth Helen!” demanded Menelaus. It was clear to both sides that he was the victor. “Send her out through the gates!”