#ilios

„All over the town tall buildings were collapsing On every side and choking dust was mixed with the smoke. The noise was frightful and the shock was felt in the streets. Aineias’ home was burning and burning too was all The house of Antimachos. Immense was the blaze that engulfed The height of lovely Pergamon, the shrine of Apollo, Tritonis’ holy temple and the altar of Zeus The Guardian. Fire had consumed the lovely chambers Of Priam’s offspring. The city was totally destroyed. Some of the Trojans were done to death by the sons of Argos, Others by the destructive fire and their own buildings, Which formed at once their fated end and their tomb. Some of them drove swords through their own throats, When fire and foes were seen together in front of their doors. Others put to death their children with their wives And fell dead after the monstrous deed to which they were driven. Another, supposing that he was well away from the foe, Quickly seized a pitcher out of the fire god’s flames, Ready to go in search of water. But an Argive Found him first and with a spear blow took his life, Heavy with strong wine as he was. Inside his house He fell and the empty pitcher fell beside him. Another was fleeing through his hall when the central beam Collapsed in flames on him and brought immediate death. Many were the women who took to anguished flight, And as they ran they remembered their precious children Left in their beds at home. So, turning at once in their tracks, They perished with their children under the fallen building. All through the city horses and dogs in panic Fled from the furious fire that they feared. Beneath their feet They trampled the dead and on the living inflicted harm By constantly dashing against them. A cry rang through the town, As some young man went running through the flames and shouting. The people in Troy all met a pitiless doom, But varied ways took them to their miserable deaths.” - Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 13.430–63