Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - The Odyssey And The Tales Of Troy - King Priam Meets Achilles and The Trojan Horse - Part 6

Episode Date: August 20, 2026

The story moves through grief, courage and one of the most famous acts of compassion in the Trojan War, as an ageing king undertakes a dangerous journey into the enemy camp. Save the playlist for all episodes - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We’ll then hear more of Odysseus’s remarkable deeds, including the plan that finally gives the Greeks a chance to bring the long war at Troy to an end. As Menelaus finishes his account, Telemachus receives new hope that his father may still return home. And at last, Telemachus begins his own journey back towards Ithaka, unaware of just how close Odysseus may now be. Previously in Part 5: Achilles was consumed by grief after the death of his beloved friend Patroklos and vowed to return to battle and take revenge upon Hector. His mother, the goddess Thetis, went to Hephaistos, the smith of the gods, who forged Achilles a magnificent new suit of armour and an extraordinary shield covered with images of the heavens, cities, fields and everyday life. Dressed in this shining armour, Achilles returned to the battlefield, even though he knew that doing so would bring him closer to his own foretold death. The sight of Achilles terrified the Trojans, and he tore through their ranks as they fled back towards the safety of Troy. Hector refused to hide behind the city walls, despite the desperate pleas of his father, King Priam, choosing instead to face Achilles and accept whatever fate awaited him. After a fierce confrontation, Achilles finally struck Hector down, avenging the death of Patroklos. Alongside these events, Helen recalled the Hector she had known within Troy—not simply as a great warrior, but as a gentle and compassionate man who had always treated her with kindness. She remembered Hector with his wife Andromache and their young son, revealing the loving husband and father behind the legendary defender of Troy and making his fate all the more tragic. 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Hi there. For the best Sleepcove experience, you can listen to our Sleepcove Premium Supporters feed for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus episodes at Sleepcove.com slash support. Now a quick word from our sponsors, then make the free version of Sleepcove possible. Hello and welcome to Part 6 of The Odyssey and the Tales of Troy. Previously, Achilles was consumed by grief after the death of his beloved friend Patriclos and vowed to return to battle and take revenge upon Hector. His mother, the goddess Thetus, went to the smith of the gods, who forged Achilles a magnificent new suit of armour

and an extraordinary shield, covered with the image of the heavens, cities, fields and everyday life. Dressed in this shining armour, Achilles returned to the battlefield, even though he knew that doing so would bring him closer to his foretold death. The sight of Achilles terrified the Trojans, and he took to him. tore through their ranks as they fled back towards the safety of Troy. Hector refused to hide behind the city walls, despite the desperate pleas of his father King Priam, choosing to face Achilles and accept whatever fate awaited him. After a fierce confrontation, Ekinneys finally struck Hector down, avenging the death of Patroclus.

Alongside these great events, Helen recalled that Hector she had known within Troy was not simply just a great warrior, but a gentle and compassionate man who had always treated her with kindness. She remembered Hector with his wife and Droneragy and their young son, revealing their loving husband and father behind the legendary defender of Troy, making his fate all the more tragic. Coming up, the story moves through grief, courage and one of the most famous acts of compassion in the Trojan War as an aging king undertakes a dangerous journey into the enemy camp.

We then hear more of Odysseus' remarkable deeds, including the plan that finally gives the Greeks a chance to bring the long war at Troy to an end. As Melaleus finishes his account, Telechus receives new hope that his father may still return home, and at last Telemachus begins his own journey back towards Ithaca, and aware of just how close Odysseus may now be. The link to all parts is in the description, so please remember to subscribe and enjoy. So let's begin. Chapter 20.

Now that Houtter was dead, King Priam, his father, had only one thought in his mind, and that was to get his body from Achilles and bring it into the city, so that it might be treated with the honour befitting the man who had been the guardian of Troy. And while he sat in grief,

thinking of his noble son lying so far from those who would have wept over him, behold, there appeared before him, Iris, the messenger of Zeus, the greatest of the god, of the gods.

Iris said to him, King, thou mayest ransom from Achilles, the body of Hector, thy noble son. You go to the hut of Achilles, and bring with the great gifts to offer him, take with you a wagon that he may bring back in it to the body

and only let one old henchman go with thee to drive the malls. Then Priam, when he heard this, arose, and went into his treasure chamber, and took out of his chests twelve beautiful robes, twelve bright-coloured cloaks, twelve soft coverlets, and twelve talents of gold. He took two four cauldrons and two tripods, and a wonderful goblet that the men of Thrace had given him when they had come on an embassy to his city. Then he called upon his sons, and he bade them make ready the wagon, and load it with the treasures

he had brought out of his treasure chamber. When the wagon was loaded, and the mules were yoked under it, and when Priam and his henchmen had mounted the seats, Hecuba, the queen, Priam's wife, And the mother of Hector came with wine and with a golden cup that they might pour out an offering to the gods before they went on their journey, that they might know whether the gods indeed favoured it, or whether Priam himself was not going into danger. King Priam took the cup from his wife, and he poured out wide from it,

and looking towards the heaven he prayed, O Father Zeus, grant that I may find welcome under the roof of Aquinnies, and send, if thou wilt, a bird of omen, so that seeing it with mine own eyes, I may go on my way, trusting that no harm will before me. He prayed, and straight away, A great eagle was seen with wide wings, spread out above the city, and when they saw the eagle, the hearts of the people were glad, for they knew that their king would come back safely,

and with the body of Prince Hector who had guarded Troy. Now Priam and his henchmen drove across the place. of Troy, and came to the river that flowed across, and there they let their mules drink. They were greatly troubled, for dark night was coming down, and they knew not the way to the hut of Achilles. They were in fear, too, that some company of armed men would come upon them and slave of them for the sake of the treasures they had in the wagon. The henchmen saw a young man coming towards them and when he reached them he spoke to them kindly and offered to guide them through

the camp and to the hut of a kinneys. He mounted the wagon and took the reins in his hands and drove the meals. He brought them to the hut of a kinneys and helped Priam from the wagon. He helped Priam from the wagon and carried the gifts they had brought within the hut. Now King Priam, he said, that I am not mortal, but that I am one sent by Zeus to help and companion thee upon the way. Now go within the hut and speak to Aquinies and ask him for his father's sake

to restore to thee the body of Hector thy son. So he spoke and a doctor, departed, and King Priam went in within the hut. There Great Aquinas were sitting, and King Priam went to him, and he knelt before him, and clasped the hands of the man who had slayed his son, and Achinnes wondered when he saw him there, for he did not know how one could have come to his hut and entered it. without being seen. He knew then that it was one of the gods who had guided this man.

Priam spoke to him and said, Bethink the Achinneys upon thine own father. He is now of an age with me, and perhaps even now, in thy far away country, there are those who make him suffer pain and misery. But however great the pain and misery He may suffer He is happy compared to me

For he knows that thou his son Art still alive But no longer have him Who was the best of my sons Now for thy father's sake I have come to thee Akinnies To ask for the body of Hector my son

I am more pitiful Than thy father or than any man, for I have come through dangers to take in my hands the hands that slew my son. Akinis remembered his father and felt sorrow for the older man who knelt before him. He took King Priam by the hand and raised him up and seated him on the bench beside him and he wept, remembering old Pellios his father. He called his handmaids And he made them take the body of Hector

And wash it and wrap it in the two robes That Priam had brought When they had done All this He took up the body of Hector And laid it himself upon the wagon Then he came and said to King Priam Thy son is laid upon a bier

And at the break of day you may bring him back to the city but now eat and rest here for this night. King Priam ate and he looked at Achilles and he saw how great and how goodly he was. And Achilles looked at Priam and he saw how noble and how kingly he looked. And this was the first time that Achilles and Priam, the king of Troy, really saw. each other. When they gazed on each other, King Priam said, When thou ghost to lie down, Lord Achilles, permit me to lie down also.

Not once have my eyelids closed in sleep, since my hung Hector lost his life. And now I have tasted bread and meat, and wine for the first time since I could sleep. Akinneys ordered that a bed be made in the portico for King Priam and his henchmen But before they went, O'Kinney said, Tell me king and tell me truly, For how many days dost thy desire to make a funeral for Hector? For so many days' space I will keep back than battle from the city, so that you may take the funeral in peace.

For nine days, we would watch beside Hector's body and the meant for him. On the tenth day, we would have the funeral. On the eleventh day, we will make the barrow over him, and on the 12th day we would fight, King Priam said. Even for 12 days, I will hold the battle back from the city, said to Kiddies. Then Priam and his henchmen went to rest. But in the middle of the night, the young man who had guided him to the hut of Achilles, the God Hermes he was, appeared before his bed and bade him arise, and go to the wagon and yoke the mules,

and drive back to the city with the body of Hector. Priam aroused his henchmen, and they went out and he yoked the mules and mounted the wagon. And with Hermes, to guide them, they drove back to the city. And Achilles on his bed, thought of his own fate. How he too would die in battle. And how for him there would be no father to make lament. But he would be laid where he had asked his friends to lay him, beside Patroclus. And over him, both the Greeks would raise a barrow that would be wondered at in

after times. So Achilles thought, and afterwards the arrow fired by Paris struck him as he fought before the gate of the city, and he was slain even on the place where he slew Hector. But the Greeks carried off his body and his armour and brought them back to the ships, and Achilles was lamented over, though not by old Panios' father, from the depths of the sea, came Thetus, his goddess mother, and with her came the maidens of the sea. They covered the body of Achilles, with a wonderful raiment, and over it they lamented for 17 days and 17 nights. On the 18th day, he was laid in the grave, beside Patroclus, his dear friend, and over them both the Greeks raised a barrow that was wondered at in the aftertimes.

Chapter 21 Now Hector's sister was the first to see her father coming in the dawn of the plain of Troy, with a wagon upon which his body was laid. She came down to the city, and she cried through the street. O men and woman of Troy, ye who often went to the gates to meet Hector, coming back with victory, come now to the gates to receive Hector dead. Then every man and a woman in the city took themselves outside the gate, and they brought in the wagon upon which Hector was laid, and all day, from the early dawn, to the going down of the son, they wailed for him, who had been the guardian of their city. His father took the body to the house where Hector had lived, and he laid it upon his bed. Then Hector's wife, Andromachie, went to his bed and cried over the body.

Husband, she cried, Thou art gone from life, and thou hast left me a wife. widow in thy house. Our child is a yet little, and he shall not grow to manhood in the halls that were thine, for long before that the city will be taken and destroyed. And how can it stand when thou, who were its best guardian, has perished? The folk lament thee, Hector, but for me and for thy little son doomed to grow up among strangers and men and friendly to him the pain for thy death will never abide and Hacuba Hector's mother went to the bed and cried of all my children thou Hector was the dearest you are slain because it was not thy way to play the coward ever were

you championing the men and women of Troy without thought of taking shelter or flight, and for that you were slain my son. And I Helen went to the bed too, to lament for noble Hector. Of all the friends I had in Troy, you were the dearest Hector. I cried, Never did I hear one harsh word from thee to me who brought wars, and troubles to thy city. In every way, you were as a brother to me.

Therefore, I will bewail you with pain at my heart. For in all Troy there is no one now who is friendly to me. Then the king and the folk of the city, prepare for Hector's death. On the tenth day, weeping most bitter tears, they bore brave Hector away. and they made a grave for him, and over the grave they put close set stones, and over it they raised a great barrow. On the 11th day they feasted at King Priam's house, and on the 12th day the battle began anew. Chapter 22. For many days, Telemachus and his comrade Pisistratus stayed in the house of King Menelaus. On the evening, before he departed, Menelaus spoke to him of the famous deeds of his father, Odysseus.

Now Aquinis was dead, said Menelaus, and his glorious armour was offered as a prize for the warrior whom the Greeks thought the most of. Two men stro for the prize, Odysseus and his friend injects. To Odysseus, the armour of Achilles was given, but he was in no way glad of the prize, for his getting it had wounded the proud spirit of great Ajax. It was fitting that Odysseus should have been given Achilles' armour, for no warrior in the host had done better than he, but Odysseus was to do greater things for him. He knew that only one man could wield a bow better than Paris, Paris, who had shot with an arrow Achilles, and who after that had slain many of our chiefs.

That man was Fido Tittes. He had come with Agamendor's host to Troy, but Fidootitis had been bitten by a water snake, and the wound given him was so terrible. that none of our warriors could bear to be near him. He was left on the island of Lemnos, and the host lost memory of him. But Odysseus remembered, and he took ship to Lemnos and brought Fido Titi's back with his great bow and with the arrows of Hercules that were his.

Fidotetis shot at Paris upon the wall of Troy and slew him with a great bow, an arrow. And then Odysseus devised the means by which we took Priam City at last. He made his build a great wooden horse. He built it and left it upon the plain of Troy, and the Trojans wondered at it greatly. And Odysseus had counselled us to bring our ships down to the water and to burn our stores and make it seem in every way that we were going to depart from Troy in weariness. This we did, and the Trojans saw the great host sail away from before their city, but they did not know what a company of the best of our warriors was within the hollow of the

wooden horse, nor did they know that we had left a spy behind to make a little bit of our warriors, to make a signal for our return. The Trojans wondered why the great wooden horse had been left behind, and there were some who considered that it had been left there as a offering to the goddess Athena, and they thought it should be brought within the city. Others were wiser and would have left the wooden horse alone. But those who considered that it should be brought within prevailed. and as the horse was too great to bring through the city, they flung down parts of the wall that they might bring it through. The wooden horse was brought within the walls

and left upon the streets of the city and the darkness of the night fell. Now had and my wife came down to where the wooden horse was and suspecting there were armed men within, walked around it three times, calling to every captain of the Greeks who might be within in his own wife's voice. And when the sound of the voice

that had not been heard for so many years came to each of the captains they started up to answer but Odysseus put his hands across the mouth of each and so prevented them from being discovered.

We had left a spy hidden between the meech and the city And when the wooden horse had been brought within the walls And the night had fallen The spy lighted a great fire That it was a signal to the ships that had sailed away They returned with a host before the day broke Then we who were within the wooden horse Broke through the boards

and came out in the city with our spears and swords in our hands. The guards beside the gates were slew and we made a citadel of the wooden horse and fought around it. The warriors from the ships crossed the wall where it was broken down and we swept through the streets

and came to the citadel of the king. Thus we took Priam City and all its treasures. And thus I won back my own wife, the lovely Helen. But after we had taken and sacked King Priam City, great troubles came upon us. Some of us sailed away,

and some of us remained on the shore at the bidding of King Agamemnon to make sacrifice to the gods. We separated, and the doom of death, came to many of us. Nestor I saw at Lesbos, but none other of our friends have I ever seen since. Agamendon, my own brother, came to his own land, butar, it would have been happier for him if he had died on the plain of Troy, and if we had left, a great marrow heaped above him,

for he was slain in his own house. and by one who had married the wife he had left behind. When the ancient one of the sea told me of my brother's doom, I sat down on the sand that wept, and I was minded to live no more to see the light of the sun. And of thy father, Telemachus, I have told thee what I myself know, and what has been told of him by the ancient one of the sea.

Now he stays on the island where the nymph Calypso holds him against his will. But where that island lies, I do not know. Odysseus is there and he cannot win back to his own country, seeing that he is no ship and no companions to help make his way across the sea. But Odysseus was ever the master of devices, and also he is favoured greatly by the goddess Athena. For these reasons, Selabicus be hopeful that your father will yet reach his home and country. Chapter 23

Now the goddess Athena had thought for Telemachus, and she came to him where he lay in the vestibule of Manilaeus's house. His comrade by Cistratus was asleep, but Televicus was waitful, thinking about his house. his father. Athena stood before his bed and said to him, Telemachus no longer should you wander abroad, for the time is come when you should return, come rouse Manilaus, and let him send thee upon my way. Then Telemachus woke by Cisritus out of his sleep, and told him that it was best that they should be going on their journey. But Pysitritus said, Tari, until it is dawn, Telemachus, when Menelaus, will come to us and send us on our way. Then when it was light, King Menelaus came to them. When he heard that they would depart, he told the Lady Helen to bid the maids prepare a meal

for them. He himself, with Helen his wife, and Megapest, Perethys, his son, went down into the treasure chamber and brought forth for gifts to Telemachus, a two-handled cup and a great mixing bowl of silver, and Helen took out of a chest a beautiful robe she made herself and had had embroidered. They came to Telemachus, where he stood by the chariot, with Pisceritus, ready to depart. Then Manilaeus gave him the beautiful two-handled cup, that had been a gift to himself for the king of the Sidonians. Megapathies brought up the great bowl of silver and put it in the chariot,

and the beautiful Helen came to him holding the embroidered robe. I too have a gift, dear child for thee, she said. Bring this rope home and leave it in thy mother's keeping. I want thee to have it, to give to your bride, when you bring her into your father's horse. Then were the horses yoked to the chariot, and telemachus and Pisistratus bade farewell to Melaleus and Hannan. You had treated them so kindly. As they were ready to go, Menelaus poured out of a golden cup, wine as an offering to the gods, and Melaleus poured it out. Tlemachus prayed that he might find Odysseus, his father in his home.

Now as he prayed, a bird flew from the right hand and over the horse's heads. It was an eagle, and it bore in its claws a goose. that belonged to the farmyard. Telemachus asked Melaleus, was this a not a sign from Zeus, the greatest of the gods? Then said Helen, hear me now,

for I will prophecy from this sign to you, even as yonder eagle has flown down from the mountain and killed a goose on the farmyard, so will Odysseus come from far to his home and kill the wooers who are there.

May Zeus grant that it be so, said Telemachus. He spoke and lashed the horses, and they sped across the plain. When they came to the near city of Pylos, Telemachus spoke to his comrade Piscuitus and said, Do not take me past my ship, son of Mestor, thy good father expects me to return to his house, but I fear that if I should, he out of friendliness would be anxious to make me stay many days, but I know that I should now return to Ithaca.

The son of Nestor turned the horses towards the sea, and they drove the chariot to where Telemachus' ship was anchored. Then Telemachus gathered his followers, and he bade them take on board, the presence that Melania and Helen had given him. They did this, and they raised the mast in the sails, and the rowers took their seats on the benches. A breeze came, and the sails took it, and Telemachus and his companions sailed towards home.

And all unknown to the youth, his father Odysseus, was even then nearing his home.