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Some literature is irreparably tied to a particular place or a particular time. When I learned of the Resistance War being fought in Marmara, started by Max McFarland 2 (many of our brave American and Allied fighters are there right now) I was immediately reminded that the first great documented war was fought in the same place! Yes, history-buffs, I recognize that in Egypt there are references to the Battle of Megiddo as the earliest recorded battle, but the Siege of Troy is the earliest, most celebrated, war in Western Civilization (even if we consider that most of THE ILIAD is probably fictitious).

In honor of those fighters who have crossed the sea to fight in the Marmara region (which includes present day Istanbul and the site of ancient Troy), "Hunter's Library" presents the duel of Hector and Achilles from Book 22 of THE ILIAD by the ancient Greek rhapsode Homer. Oddly enough, the Greek epic paints the Trojans as the more noble civilization, and Hector as its most admirable hero, all the while showing how the Greeks topple and eradicate the civilization. Achilles is "godlike" in his anger and his battlefield butchery. If you just can't sit through twenty-four books of this most excellent epic, and you'd like the short version, go see the film "Troy" with Brad Pitt and Eric Bana. It's not 100% true to the story, but it's close enough that you'll get the essence of THE ILIAD.

ENJOY!

When they'd approached each other, at close quarters,
great Hector of the shining helmet spoke out first:

“I'll no longer try to run away from you,
son of Peleus, as I did before, going
three times in flight around Priam's great city.
I lacked the courage then to fight with you,
as you attacked. But my heart prompts me now
to stand against you face to face once more,
whether I kill you, or you kill me.
So come here. Let's call on gods to witness,
for they're the best ones to observe our pact,
to supervise what we two agree on.
If Zeus grants me the strength to take your life,
I'll not abuse your corpse in any way.
I'll strip your celebrated armour off,
Achilles, then give the body back again
to the Achaeans. And you'll do the same.”

Swift-footed Achilles, with a scowl, replie😛

“Hector, don't talk to me of our agreements.
That's idiotic, like a faithful promise
between men and lions. Wolves and lambs
don't share a common heart—they always sense
a mutual hatred for each other.
In just that way, it's not possible for us,
for you and me, to be friends, or, indeed,
for there to be sworn oaths between us,
till one or other of us falls, glutting Ares,
warrior with the bull's hide shield, on blood.
You'd best remember all your fighting skills.
Now you must declare yourself a spearman,
a fearless warrior. You've got no escape.
Soon Pallas Athena will destroy you
on my spear. Right now you'll pay me back,
the full price of those sorrows I went through
when you slaughtered my companions.”

With these words, he hefted his long-shadowed spear,
then hurled it. However, anticipating the throw,
splendid Hector saw it coming and evaded it
by crouching down, so the bronze spear flew over him,
then struck the ground. But Pallas Athena grabbed it
and returned it to Achilles, without Hector,
that shepherd of his people, seeing what she'd done.
Hector then called out to Peleus' noble son:

“You missed, godlike Achilles. So it seems
you learned nothing from Zeus about my death,
although you said you had. That was just talk.
You were telling lies to make me fear you,
so I might forget my strength and courage.
Well, with your spear you won't be striking me
in my back as I run away in fear.
You'll have to drive it through my charging chest,
as I come right at you, if a god permits.
Now, see if you can cope with my bronze point.
I hope you get this whole spear in your flesh.
This war would then be easier on Trojans
with you dead, for you're their greatest danger.”

With these words, Hector balanced his long-shadowed spear,
then threw it. It struck the shield of Peleus' son,
right in the centre. That spear didn't miss its mark.
But it bounced some distance off the shield. Hector,
angry that the spear had flown from his hand and missed,
stood dismayed, for he had no substitute ash spear.
So he shouted out, calling to Deïphobus,
who carried a white shield, asking him with a yell
to pass him his long spear. But Deïphobus
was nowhere to be seen. Then Hector in his heart
saw everything so clearly—he sai😛

“This is it, then.
The gods are summoning me to my death.
I thought warrior Deïphobus was close by.
But he's inside the walls, and Athena
has deceived me. Now evil death is here,
right beside me, not somewhere far away.
There's no escape. For a long time now,
this must have been what Zeus desired,
and Zeus' son, the god who shoots from far,
and all those who willingly gave me help
in earlier days. So now I meet my fate.
Even so, let me not die ingloriously
without a fight, but in some great action
which those men yet to come will hear about.”

Hector finished speaking. He pulled out his sharp sword,
that strong and massive weapon hanging on his thigh,
gathered himself, then swooped like some high-flying eagle
plummeting to the plains down through the murky clouds
to seize a tender lamb or cowering rabbit—
that's how Hector charged, brandishing his sharp sword.
Achilles attacked, as well, heart full of savage anger,
covering his chest with that richly decorated shield,
his shining four-ridged helmet nodding on his head,
the golden plumes Hephaestus had set there
shimmering around the crest. Just like that star
which stands out the loveliest among all those
in the heavenly night sky—the star of evening—

that's how the sharp point then glittered on the spear
Achilles hefted in his right hand, intent on
killing noble Hector. He inspected his fine skin,
to see where it was vulnerable to a blow.
But Hector's entire body was protected
by that beautiful armour he'd stripped off
powerful Patroclus, once he'd killed him,
except for that opening where the collar bones
separate the neck and shoulders, at the gullet,
where a man's life is most effectively destroyed.

As Hector charged, noble Achilles struck him there,
driving the spear point through his tender neck.
But the heavy bronze on that ash spear did not cut
his windpipe, so he could still address Achilles
and reply to him. Hector fell down in the dust.
Lord Achilles then cried out in triumph:

“Hector, I suppose you thought you could safely strip
Patroclus, without giving me a thought,
since I was far away. That was foolish!
By our hollow ships he'd left me behind,
a much greater man, to take out my revenge.
I've drained strength from your limbs—now dogs and birds
will tear you into miserable pieces,
while Achaeans are burying Patroclus.”

His strength fading, Hector of the shining helmet
answered Achilles:

“By your life, I beg you,
by your knees, your parents—don't let dogs eat me
by Achaean ships. No, you should accept
all the bronze and gold you want,
gifts my father and lady mother give you,
if you'll send my body home again,
so Trojans and Trojans' wives can bury me,
with all the necessary funeral rites.”

Scowling at Hector, swift-footed Achilles then replie😛

“Don't whine to me, you dog, about my knees
or parents. I wish I had the heart and strength
to carve you up and eat you raw myself
for what you've done to me. So there's no one
who'll keep the dogs from going at your head,
not even if they bring here and weigh out
a ransom ten or twenty times as much,
with promises of more, or if Priam,
son of Dardanus, says he'll pay your weight
in gold. Not even then will your mother
set you on a funeral bed and there lament
the son she bore. Instead, the dogs and birds
will eat you up completely.”

Then, as he died,
Hector of the shining helmet said to Achilles:

“I know you well. I recognize in you
what I expected— you'd not be convinced.
For your heart and mind are truly iron.
But think of this—I may bring down on you
the anger of the gods that very day
when Paris and Phoebus Apollo,
in spite of all your courage, slaughter you
at the Scaean Gate.”

As Hector spoke,
death's final end slid over him. His life slipped out,
flying off to Hades, mourning his fate to have to leave
such youthful manliness. Over dead Hector,
godlike Achilles then cried out:

“Die there. As for my own death, I accept it
whenever Zeus and the immortal gods
see fit to bring it to me.”

Saying this,
He pulled his bronze spear from the corpse, set it aside,
and stripped the blood-stained armour from the shoulders.


- monsterhunter