But this Achilles – first he slaughters Hector,
he rips away the noble prince’s life
then lashes him to his chariot, drags him round
his beloved comrade’s tomb. But why, I ask you?
What good will it do him? What honor will he gain?
Let that man beware, or great and glorious as he is,
we mighty gods will wheel on him in anger – look,
he outrages the senseless clay in all his fury!
– Homer
The Iliad, Book 24, lines 58-65. The gods take pity on fallen Trojan hero Hector, after Achilles in a rage drags the body behind his chariot and plans further disgrace to it. Apollo addresses the gods asking why they don’t allow Hector a proper burial and funeral. He questions what honor will it bring Achilles and warns that the gods will turn on him in anger for this outrage.