Agamemnon says he was afflicted by _____ when he insulted Achilles

ate (divine blindness) sent by the gods

What does Agamemnon offer to Achilles?

-Briseis (Agamemnon swears he has no slept w/ her)

-precious goods

-slaves

-offers to marry one of his daughters to Achilles

Who were the three ambasadors chosen by the assembly of Greek leaders?

Phoinix

Ajax

Odysseus

Odysseus Presents Agamemnon's Offer

-omitts leaders final command that Achilles must respect him as the greater king

-makes appeal on the basis of the glory he will win in the eyes of the army if he kills Hector

Achilles Rejects Offer: Why?

-says he loves Briseis as any man loves his wife

-emotional connect to Briseis shows the impossibility of reducing the value of a person to material goods

-material goods as tokens of exchange that signify one's value is not always sufficient to adress emotional/psychological grievances 

Phoinix's Appeal

and Achiiles' Rejection

-is a surogate father figure

-emotional appeal, tells of his story and how he came to be part of Achilles' family and in fact helped to raise him

-argues that Achilles' anger is beyond the level of a god, because gods can be appeased w/ prayers

-rejects appeal; says they are philoi, Phoinix should side w/ him not Agamemnon

-

Ajax's Speech

-Ajax is 2nd only to Achilles as a fighter

-Ajax is shocked/offended that Achilles is rejecting his philoi in this fashion, he is dishonouring them by his rejection

-also notes that compensation works as a means to diffuse conflict in even the most extreme cases (as when a murderer pays for his crime and is allowed to remain in his community)

Achilles' final position

-Ajax's final words are partially successful

-says he will not leave for home tomorrow but will wait by the ships and will only enter battle when the fighting comes up to/threaten his own ships and the Myrmidons

Embassy Reports to Agamemnon