Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - The Odyssey and The Tales of Troy - Part 5 - Achilles Fights Hector

Starting point is 00:00:01 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. Welcome to Part 5 of The Odyssey and the Tales of Troy. I'm really enjoying reading this version, and I recently went to the cinema to see the new movie. I've done a review on my social media and you can check that out on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. This story will also be collected into one file that will live on my premium supporters feed. Please go to sleepcove.com slash support to sign up. Here's a recap of what happened in part of Previously, the war at Troy reached a desperate turning point.

Starting point is 00:01:12 With Akhides still refusing to fight, Agamennon led the Greeks into battle, but he was badly wounded, and soon Diomedes, Odysseus, and other great warriors were forced into retreat. It seemed that even the ships might be burned. Unable to watch any longer, Patriclos begged Achilles to let him enter the battle, wearing his famous armour, hoping the Trojans would believe Achilles himself had returned. Achilles agreed, but warned his beloved friend to drive the Trojans from the ships and then come straight back. wearing Achilles' armour and leading the Mermedons, Patroclos transformed the battle, forcing the terrified Trojans into retreat.

Starting point is 00:02:08 But he got carried away by his success. He ignored Achilles' warning and pursued the enemy all the way to the gates of Troy. There, with the god Apollo intervening against him, Patroclus was left vulnerable. and Hector fought him striking the fatal blow. Hector took the armour of Achilles for himself, while the Greeks fought desperately to prevent the Trojans from carrying away Patroclus' body.

Starting point is 00:02:42 When Achilles learned that his dearest friend was dead, his anger gave way to overwhelming grief, and he vowed to return to battle and take vengeance upon Hector. Even though his goddess mother warned him that doing so would bring his own death ever closer. Coming up in this episode, Akinnes prepares to return to the battlefield, armed with a new extraordinary suit of armour that has been forged by a god. He goes back into war. We'll also hear Helen's memories of Hector and Troy.

Starting point is 00:03:27 before the story builds into the great epic battle between Hector and Achilles, one of the most famous and dramatic encounters of the entire Trojan wall. So let's begin. Chapter 16 Now Thetus, the mother of Achinneys, went to Olympus, where the gods have their dwellings. and the house of Hephaestus, the smith of the gods. That house shone above all the houses on Olympus, because Hephaestos himself had made it of shining bronze. And inside the house there were wonders, handmaidens that were not living, but that were made out of gold.

Starting point is 00:04:28 and made with such wondrous skill that they waited upon Hephaestus and served and helped him as though they were living maids Hephaestus was lame and crooked of foot and went limping him and Thetus were friends from of old time

Starting point is 00:04:55 for when his mother would have forsaken him Because of his crooked foot, Thetus and her sister read him within one of the ocean's caves, and it was while he was with them that he began to work in metals. So the thing God was pleased to see Thetis in his dwelling, and he welcomed her and cast her hand and asked of her what she would have him do for her. Then Phetus, weeping, told him of her son Aquinis, how he had lost his dear friend, and how he was moved to go into the battle to fight with Hector, and how he was without armour to protect his life,

Starting point is 00:05:51 seeing that the armour that the gods had once given his father was now in the hands of his foe. And Thetus besought her phytus to make new armour for her son that he might go into the battle. She no sooner finished speaking. Then her faistus went to his workbench and set his bellows. Twenty were there working, and the twenty bellows blew into the crucibles and made bright and hot fires. Then Her Faistos threw into the fires Bronze and tin

Starting point is 00:06:33 And silver and gold He set on the anvil Stand at Great Anvil And took in one hand his hammer And in the other hand his tongs For the armour of guineas He made first a shield And then a corslet

Starting point is 00:06:49 That gleamed like fire And he made a strong helmet To go on the head and shining greaves to wear on the ankles. The shield was made with five folds, one fold of metal upon the other, so that it was so strong and thick that no spear or arrow could pierce it.

Starting point is 00:07:13 And upon his shield he hammered out images that were a wonder to men. The first were images of the sun and the moon and of the stars that the shepherds and the seamen watch. The Pliades, the Heades, and Orion and the Bear that has also called Wayne. And below he hammered out the images of two cities.

Starting point is 00:07:43 In one there were people going to feasts and playing music and dancing and giving judgments in the marketplace. The other was a city besieged. There were warriors on the walls And there was an army marching out of the gate To give battle to those that besieged them And below the images of the cities He made a picture of a ploughed field With ploughmen driving their yokes of oxen

Starting point is 00:08:14 Along the furrows And with men bringing them cups of wine And he made a picture of another field where men were reaping and boys were gathering the call. And there was a servant beneath an oak tree, making ready a feast, and women making ready barley for a supper, for the men who were reaping, and a king standing apart and watching all, holding a staff in his hands, and rejoicing at all he saw.

Starting point is 00:08:50 And another image he made of a vineyard, with clusters of grapes that showed black, and with vines hanging from silver poles, and he showed maidens and youths in the vineyard, gathering the grapes into baskets, and one amongst them a boy, who played on the vial. Beside the image of the vineyard,

Starting point is 00:09:18 he made images of cattle with herdsmen and with nine dogs' gardens, them. But he showed two lions that had come up and had seized the bull of the herd, and the dogs and men strove to drive them away but were frightened. And beside the image of the oxen, he made an image of pasture land with sheep in it and sheetfolds and roofed huts. He made yet another image. A dancing place with a with youths and maidens dancing, with their hands upon each other's hands, beautiful dresses and wreaths of flowers the maidens had on, and the youth saw daggers of gold hanging from

Starting point is 00:10:10 their silver belts. A great company stood around those who were dancing, and amongst them there was a minstrel who played on their lyre. around the rim of the shield, Herphaeus, the lame god, that an image of ocean, whose stream goes round the world. Not long was he making the shield and other wonderful pieces of armour. And soon as the armour was ready, Thetus put her hands upon it, and flying down from Olympus like a hall, brought to the feet of a caters, Achilles, her son, and Achilles, who saw the splendid armour that Hephistos the lame God and made for him, rose up from where he lay, and took the wonderfully wrought piece in his hands,

Starting point is 00:11:13 and he began to put the armour upon him, and none of the Mermedons who were around could bear to look upon it, because it shone with such brightness. because it had all the marks of being the work of a god. Chapter 17. Then Achilles put his shining armour upon him, and it fitted him as though it were wings. He put the wonderful shield before him, and he took in his hands the great spear that Chiron the centaur

Starting point is 00:11:51 had given to Pellios his father. That spear that no one else but Achilles could wield, He bade his charioteer, harness the immortal horses, Xanthos and Balios. Then as he mounted his chariot, Akinny spoke to the horses. Zanthos and Balios, he said, This time, bring the hero that goes with you back safely to the ships, and do not leave him dead on the plane. As he left the hero, Patroclus.

Starting point is 00:12:29 Then Zathos, the immortal steed spoke, answering for himself and his comrade. Akinies, he said, with his head bowed and his mane touching the ground. Achilles for this time, he will bring back thee safely from the battle, but a day will come when we shall not bring you back, when you two shall lie with the dead. before the walls of Troy. Then was Achilles troubled, and he said, Azanthos my steed,

Starting point is 00:13:07 Why doused you remind me of thy prophecies of what I already know, that my death too is appointed, and that I am to perish here, far from my father and my mother and my own land? Then he drove his immortal horses into the battle, The Trojans were frightened when they saw Achilles himself in the fight, blazing in the armour that Her Faistos had made for him. They went backward before his onset, and Achinny shouted to the captains of the Greeks, no longer stand apart from the men of Troy, but go with me into the battle and let each man throw his whole soul into the fight.

Starting point is 00:13:56 And on the Trojan side, Hector cried to his captains and said, Do not let Achilles drive you before him, even though his hands are as irresistible as fire and his fierceness, as terrible as flushing steel, I shall go against him and face him with my spear. But Achines went on, and captain after captain of the Trojans, went down before him. Now amongst the warriors, whom he caught sight of in the fight, was Polydorus, the brother of Hector, and the youngest of all came Priam's sons.

Starting point is 00:14:43 Priam forbade him ever to go into the battle because he loved them, as he would love a little child. But Polydorus had gone in this day. trusting to his fleetness of foot to escape with his life. Achilles saw him and pursued him and slew him with the spear. Hector saw the death of his brother. Then he could no longer endure to stand aside. He came straight up to where Kinnies was brandishing his great spear. And when Achilles saw Hector before him, he cried out,

Starting point is 00:15:24 here is the man who most deeply wounded my soul, who slew my dear friend to Patroclos. Now we two fight each other, and Patroclos shall be avenged by me. And he shouted to Hector, Now Hector, the day of thy triumph, and the day of thy life, is at its end. But Hector answered him without fear, not with words, its Achilles, can you frighten me? Yet I know that thou art a man of might, a stronger man than I, but the fight between us depends upon the will of the gods. I shall do my best against thee, and my spear before has been found to have a dangerous edge. He spoke, and lifted up his spear

Starting point is 00:16:20 and flung it at Achilles. Then the breadth of a god. turned Hector's spear aside, for it was not appointed that either he or Achilles should be then slain. Achilles darted at Hector to slay him with his spear, but a God hid Hector from Achilles in a thick mist. Then in a rage, Achilles drove his chariot into the ranks of the wall, and many great captains he slew, He came to Scamondros, the river that flows across the plain before the city of Troy, and so many men did he slay in it that the river rose in anger against him for choking its waters with the bodies of men. Then on towards the city he went like a fire raging through a glen that had been parched with heat.

Starting point is 00:17:22 Now on the tower of the walls of Troy Priam and the old king stood And he saw the Trojans coming in a route towards the city And he saw Achilles in his armour Blazing like a star Like that star that has seen at harvest time And is called Orion's dog The star that is the brightest of all stars

Starting point is 00:17:47 But yet is a sign of evil And the old man Priam sorrowed greatly as he stood upon the tower and watched Achilles because he knew in his heart whom this man would slay Hector his son the protector of the city Chapter 18 So much of the story of Achilles did Telemachus the son of Odysseus hear from the lips of King Menelaus as he sat with his comrade by Cisteratus in the king's feasting hall. And more would Melaleus have told them if Helen his wife had not been seen to weep.

Starting point is 00:18:42 Why do you weep, Helen, said Melaleus. Ah, surely I know, it is because the words that tell of the death of Hector are sorrowful. to you. And Helen, the lovely lady, said, never did Prince Hector speak a hard or a harsh word to me in all the years. I was in his father's house, and if anyone unbraided me, he would come and speak gentle words to me. Uh, greatly did I lament for the death of of noble Hector. After his wife and his mother, I wept the most for him. And when one speaks of his slaying, I cannot help but weak, Menelaus said. Relieve your heart of its sorrow, Helen, by praising Hector to this youth and by tending your memories of him. Tomorrow I shall do so,

Starting point is 00:19:55 said the Lady Helen. She went with her maids from the hall, and the servants took Telemachus and Pysistratus to their sleeping places. The next day they sat in the banqueting hall. King Menelaus and Telemachus and Pisistratus and the Lady Helen came amongst them. Her handmaidens brought into the hall her silver work basket and had wheels beneath it with the rims of gold and her golden distoff that with her basket had been presents from the wife of the king of Egypt and Helen sat in her chair and took the distaff in her hands and worked on the violet-coloured wall that was in her basket.

Starting point is 00:20:59 And as she worked, she told Talibicus of Troy and of its guardian Hector. Helen said, The old men were at the gate of the city, talking over many things. and King Priam was amongst them. It was the days when Achinny's first quarrelled with King Agamendon. Come hither, my daughter, said King Priam to me, and sit by me, and tell me who the warriors are who now come out upon the plane. You have seen them all before, and I would have you tell me, Who such and such a one is?

Starting point is 00:21:49 Who is your hero, who seems so mighty? I have seen men who are more tall than he by a head, but I never seen a man who looked more royal. I said to King Priam, the hero whom you look upon is the leader of the host of the Greeks. He is the renowned King Agamemnon. He looks indeed a king, said Priam. Tell me now, who the other warrior is,

Starting point is 00:22:28 who is shorter by a head than King Agamon, but who is broader of chest and shoulder. He is Odysseus, I said, who was reared in a rugged Ithaca, but who was wise above all the kings. And an old man, Antonell, who was by his said, that indeed is Odysseus. I remember that he and Melaleus came on an embassy to the assembly of the Trojans. When they both stood up, Manilaeus seemed to the greater man, but when they sat down,

Starting point is 00:23:12 Edius seemed by far the most stately. When they spoke in the assembly, Melaleus was ready and skillful of speech. Odysseus when he spoke, held his staff stiffly in his hands and fixed his eyes on the ground. We thought, by the look of him, that he was a man of no understanding. But when he began to speak, we saw. saw that no one could match Odysseus. His words came like snowflakes in winter, and his voice was a very resident. And Priam said, Who is that huge warrior? He is taller and broader than any of the rest. He is great Ajax, I said, who was a bulwark for the Greeks, and beside

Starting point is 00:24:10 him stands Idomenius, who has come from the island of Crete. Around him stand the Cretan captains. So I spoke, but my heart was searching for a sight of my own two brothers. I did not see them in any of the companies. Have they come with a host, I wondered, and were they ashamed to be seen with the warriors on account of my wrongdoing. I wondered as I looked for them. Ah, I did not know that even then my two dear brothers were dead,

Starting point is 00:24:51 and that the earth of their own dear land held them. Hector came to the gate, and the wives and daughters of the Trojans came running to him, asking for news of their husbands or sons. or brothers, whether they were killed or whether they were coming back from the battle. He spoke to the mall and went to his own house. But Andromicay, his wife, was not there, and the house dame told him that she had gone to the great tower by the wall of the city to watch the battle, and that the nurse had gone

Starting point is 00:25:33 with her, bringing their infant child. So Hector went down the street and came to the gate where we were, and Adromechee, his wife, came to meet him. With her was the nurse who carried the little child that the folk of the city named Astraynax, calling him, king of the city, because his father was the city's great protector. Hector stretched out his arms to the little boy whom the nurse carried, but the child shrunk away from him because he was frightened of the great helmet on his father's head with its horsehair crest. Then Hector laughed and Andromache laughed with him. And Hector took off his great helmet and laid it on the ground. Then he took up his little son

Starting point is 00:26:35 And dangled him in his arms and prayed O Zeus Greatest of the gods Grant that this son of mine Has become valiant And that like me He may be protector of the city And that after a great king

Starting point is 00:26:55 So that men may say of him As he returns from battle For our greatest is he, than was Hector his father. Saying this, he left the child back in his nurse's arms, and to endromicky his wife, who that day was very fearful, he said, Dear one, do not be over-sorrowful. You urge me to go every day into the battle, but some days to stay behind the walls. But my own spirit forbids me to stay away from battle. For always, I have taught myself to be valiant,

Starting point is 00:27:41 and to fight in the full front. So he said, and he put on his helmet again, and he went to order his men, and his wife went towards the house, looking back at him often, and letting her tears fall down. We know from Melaleas' story, what try to you. triumphs Hector had thereafter. How he drove the Greeks back to their ships and frightened them with thousand watchfires upon the plane. How he drove back the host that Agamendon

Starting point is 00:28:18 led when Diomedes and Odysseus and Machion the Healer were wounded. How he broke through the wall that the Greeks had built it and brought fire to their ships. and how he slew Patrick Kloss in the armour of Aquinis. Chapter 19 King Priam, on his tower, saw Aquinas come ranging across the plain, and he cried out to Hector.

Starting point is 00:28:54 Hector, beloved son, do not await this man's onset, but come within the city walls. Come within that you may live, and be a protection to the men and women of Troy, and come within that you may save thy father who must perish if you are slain. But Hector would not come within the walls of Troy. He stood holding his shield against a jutting tower in the wall, and all around him were the Trojans,

Starting point is 00:29:32 who came pouring in through the gate, without waiting to speak to each other, to ask who were yet living, and who were slain. And as he stood there, he was saying in his heart, The fault is mine that the Trojans have been defeated upon the plain. I kept them from entering the city last night against the council of wise men. for in my pride I thought it would be easy to drive Achilles and the Greeks

Starting point is 00:30:09 back again and defeat them utterly and destroy their hopes of return Now are the Trojans defeated and dishonoured And many have lost their lives Through my pride

Starting point is 00:30:27 Now the women of Troy will say Hector I trust to his own might, has brought destruction upon the whole host, and our husbands and sons, and brothers have perished because of him, rather than hear them say, this I shall face Achilles, and slay him and save the city, or if it must be, perish by his spear. When Achilles came near him, Hector spoke to him and said, said, My heart bids me, stand against thee, although thou art a mightier man than I. But before we go

Starting point is 00:31:12 into battle, let us take pledges, one from the other, with a gods to witness, that if I should slay thee, I shall strip thee of thine armour, that I shall not carry thy body into the city, it shall give it to thy known friends to treat with all honour, and that if thou should slay me, thou shalt give my body to my friends. But again he said, Between me and thee there can be no pledges. Fight and fight with all thy fighting skill. For now, I shall strive to make you pay for all the sorrow.

Starting point is 00:31:59 you have brought to me because of the slaying of Patroclus, my friend. He spoke and raised his spear and flung it. But with his quickness, Hector avoided Achilles' spear, and he raised his own, saying, Thou hast missed me, and not yet is the hour of my doom. now it is thy turn to stand to perform my spear. He flung it, but the wonderful shield of the kinnies turned Hector's spear, and it fell on the ground. Then was Hector downcast, for he had no other spear. He drew his sword and sprang at kinnies, but the helmet

Starting point is 00:32:56 and shield of Achilles. Let none of Hector's great strokes touch his body. And Achilles got back into his hands, his own great spear, and he stood, guarding himself with his shield, and watching Hector for a spot to strike him on. Now in the armour that Hector wore, the armour that he stripped off Patricus, there was a point at the neck where there was an opening.

Starting point is 00:33:32 As Hector attacked, Achilles drove at his neck with his spear and struck him, and Hector fell in the dust. Man Achilles stripped from him the armour that Patroclus had worn. The other captains of the Greeks came up and looked at Hector where he lay, and all marvelled at his size and strength and godliness, and Achilles dragged the body at his chariot and drove away towards the ships. Hector's mother, standing on the tower on the wall,

Starting point is 00:34:16 saw all that was done, and she broke into a great cry, and all the women of Troy took up the cry, and wailed for Prince Hector who had guarded them and theirs from their foes and Dramacky, his wife, did not know the terrible thing that had happened

Starting point is 00:34:40 she was in an inner chamber of Hector's house weaving a great web of cloth embroidering it with flowers and she had ordered her handmaidens to heat water for the bath so that Hector might refresh himself when he came in from the fight.

Starting point is 00:35:05 But now she heard the wail of women of Troy. Fear came upon her, but she knew that such waning was for the best of their warriors. She ran from her chamber and out into the street, and she came to the battlements, where the people stood watching. She saw the chariot of her guineas, dashing off towards the ships,

Starting point is 00:35:35 and she knew that it dragged the dead body of Hector. Then darkness came before her eyes, and she fainted away. Her husband's sisters and his brother's wives thronged round her, and lifted her up, and at last her life came back to her, she wailed for Hector.

Starting point is 00:36:01 O my husband, she cried, for misery were we two born. Now thou hast been slain by Achilles, and I am left husbandless, and oh woe for our young children. Hard-hearted strangers shall oppress him when he lives amongst people that care not for him or his, and he will come weeping to me, his widowed mother, who will live forever sorrowful thinking upon where thou liest. Hector, by the ships of those who slew thee. So Hrameke spoke, and all the women of Troy joined her in grief and wept for great Hector who had protected their city.

Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - The Odyssey and The Tales of Troy - Part 5 - Achilles Fights Hector

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