The Iliad Competition Quotes

True, old man – all you say is fit and proper –
but this soldier wants to tower over the armies,
he wants to rule over all, to lord it over all,
give out orders to every man in sight. Well,
there’s one, I trust, who will never yield to him!

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 1, lines 335-339. Agamemnon responds to Nestor’s attempt to mediate in his dispute with Achilles, when the elder captain and king of Pylos asks that they both back down. But fueled by his intense pride, the angry Agamemnon ignores Nestor’s plea, accusing Achilles of wanting to rule and lord it over everyone. He vows that he will never yield to Achilles.

Now Paris and Menelaus, Atrides loved by Ares,
will fight it out with their rugged spears for Helen,
and Helen and all her treasures go to the man who wins.
The rest will seal in blood their binding pacts of friendship.
Our people will live in peace on the rich soil of Troy.
Our enemies sail home to the stallion-land of Argos,
the land of Achaea where the women are a wonder.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 3, lines 303-308. The crier announces to Trojan King Priam the single combat duel arranged between Paris and Menelaus. They are to fight to decide who will get Helen – she is to be the winner’s prize. The fierce warrior-king Menelaus is loved by god of war Ares, we learn.

Well I know you are brave, and I am far weaker.
True – but all lies in the lap of the great gods.
Weaker I am, but I still might take your life
with one hurl of a spear – my weapon can cut too,
Long before now its point has found its mark!

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 20, lines 492-496. Seeing his brother killed by Achilles, Hector charges charges forward and says this to Achilles, who taunts him, saying that he is rushing to his death. As underdog Hecor admits that Achilles is brave and he is weaker, but eveything lies in the lap of the gods and with one hurt of his spear he might kill Achilles.

Past these they raced, one escaping, one in pursuit
and the one who fled was great but the one pursuing
greater, even greater – their pace mounting in speed
since both men strove, not for a sacrificial beast
or oxhide trophy, prizes runners fight for, no,
they raced for the life of Hector breaker of horses.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 22, lines 188-193. Achilles chases Hector around the walls of Troy. But they are not running in any any athletic competition to win a trophy, but rather for the life of Hector. The entire war of the last ten years is now down to these two warriors, each representing their respective army, Achaean and Trojan. The outcome of their battle will decide the final course of the Trojan War.

Like powerful stallions sweeping round the post for trophies,
galloping full stretch with some fine prize at stake,
a tripod, say, or woman offered up at funeral games
for some brave hero fallen – so the two of them
whirled three times around the city of Priam,
sprinting at top speed while all the gods gazed down.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 22, lines 194-199. As war rivals Achilles and Hector race around the walls of the city of Troy, they are likened in an epic simile to powerful stallions racing around the post for trophies.

By skill, too, the captain holds his ship on course,
scudding the wine-dark sea though rocked by gales.
By skill alone, charioteer outraces charioteer.
The average driver, leaving all to team and car,
recklessly makes his turn, veering left and right,
his pair swerving over the course – he can’t control them.
But the cunning driver, even handling slower horses,
always watches the post, turns it close, never loses
the first chance to relax his reins and stretch his pair
but he holds them tight till then, eyes on the leader.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 23, lines 360-369. At the funeral games to honor Patroclus, Nestor coaches his son Antilochus with tips for the chariot race. Despite his son having the "slowest nags", Nestor says that it is skill and not brawn that will see one charioteer outrace the others.

Ajax, champion wrangler in all the ranks! Stupid too,
first and last the worst man in the Argive armies –
stubborn, bullnecked fool. Come now,
let’s both put up a tripod or a cauldron,
wager which horses are really out in front
and we’ll make Atrides Agamemnon our referee –
you’ll learn, don’t worry, once you pay the price!

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 23, lines 539-545. Cretan captain Idomeneus says this to Ajax, as they swop taunts with each other about the chariot race. Idomeneus suggests a wager on who is going to win and to make Agamemnon their referee. The spectators are as engaged as the competitors in what is happening at the sports.

Tight as the closing gap between the wheel and horse
when he hauls his master’s car top speed across the flats,
the very tip of his tail brushing the running-rim
and the wheel spins closer, hardly a gap between
as he sweeps the open plain – that much, no more,
Menelaus trailed Antilochus, dauntless driver.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 23, lines 575-580. Menelaus comes in very close to Antilochus in the chariot race. Homer’s epic simile describes it as tight as the closing gap between chariot wheel and horse when it strains to pull the master fast across the plain.

Come over here, Antilochus, royal prince –
this is the old custom. Come, stand in front
of your team and chariot, grasp the coiling whip
that lashed them home, lay your hand on their manes
and swear by the mighty god who grips and shakes the earth
you never blocked my chariot – not by deliberate foul.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 23, lines 645-650. Menelaus calls Antilochus out for unsportsmanlike conduct during the chariot race. He makes Antilochus swear by the god Poseidon that he did not deliberately block his chariot during the race.

With that the son of magnanimous old Nestor
led the mare and turned her over to Menelaus’ hands.
And his heart melted now like the dew that wets the corn
when the fresh stalks rise up and the ripe fields ripple –
so the heart in your chest was melted now, Menelaus.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 23, lines 662-666. Menelaus forgives Antilochus for his actions in the chariot race, after Antilochus gives him the mare that he won. An epic simile describes Menelaus’s heart melting like the dew on ripening ears of corn.

And a powerful, huge man loomed up at once,
Panopeus’ son Epeus, the famous boxing champion.
He clamped a hand on the draft mule and shouted,
"Step right up and get it – whoever wants that cup!
This mule is mine, I tell you. No Achaean in sight
will knock me out and take her – I am the greatest!
So what if I’m not a world-class man of war?
How can a man be first in all events?
I warn you, soldiers – so help me it’s the truth –
I’ll crush you with body-blows, I’ll crack your ribs to splinters!
You keep your family mourners near to cart you off –
once my fists have worked you down to pulp!"

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 23, lines 741-752. In the boxing match at the sports, the Greeks even have their own version of Muhammad Ali! The powerful Epeus declares that "I am the greatest" even before the match begins. And he lives up to his boast, landing the prize with a knockout blow to his opponent!

He could keep his feet no longer, knees caved in on the spot –
as under the ruffling North Wind a fish goes arching up
and flops back down on a beach-break strewn with seaweed
and a dark wave blacks him out. So he left his feet
and down he went – out cold.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 23, lines 769-773. Euryalus is knocked out cold by Epeus in the boxing match. He is like a fish leaping up in a forceful North Wind that flops back down and is blacked out by a dark wave, we are told in one of Homer’s delightful epic similes.

Atrides – well we know how far you excel us all:
No one can match your strength at throwing spears,
You are the best by far!
Take first prize and return to your hollow ships
While we award this spear to Meriones.
If that you please your heart. That’s what I propose.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 23, lines 986-991. When the spear throwing competiton begins, Achilles makes this gesture of reconciliation and forgiveness in his quarrel with Agamemnon, saying that the king is the greatest spearman of them all and the contest is already his. So Agamemnon is automatically awarded first prize, which he gives away to his herald.
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