So, 20 pages into the Illiad and we are by now at prophecy Nr. 4 that tells the main cast they will DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH and TROY WILL FALL, this time told by no other than A LITERAL SEA GOD. Idk how common it is that gods just appear to people in the Ancient Greek Myths, given that this is the 2nd time it has happened. But, I'd think that they'd at least take HIS warning seriously. Well, needless to say Paris did not listen, and I quote: Paris had listened in horror, but as the wind returned to fill their sails, he forgot about the prophecy in the arms of the stolen Queen [...]. My guy is pussy whipped to the max, excuse the language.
Idiots ignoring prophecies aside, I love how we get introduced to Odysseus as "Odysseus of Ithaca, husband of Penelope" I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT. Not King of Ithaca or anything, just this smart guy who is married to Penelope. Also, Achilles apparently wasn't dipped into the Styx by his mother? In this version I'm reading (Illias, translated by Gustav Schwab, German edition) she put him into holy fire to burn away the mortal parts of him. Then at 9 y.o. there's ANOTHER PROPHECY that tells everyone Troy will fall to the Greeks but only with Achilles' help, so his mother yoinks him, pretends he's a girl and puts him onto the island Skyros to hide him, where he is then raised as a woman the entire time til Odysseus and Diomedes show up to bring him with them to Troy. Now here's where it gets whack imo: they couldn't tell which of the girls was supposed to be Achilles, so they left a spear and a shield in the palace, then let someone blow war horns to simulate an attack. The rest of the girls ran away in fear, only Achilles stayed and grabbed the spear and shield to fight. First of: Did he ever get trained when he was raised as a woman? I don't think spear fighting was a common activity for women back then. Second: If he was raised and socialized as a woman from 9 y.o. onwards til, let's say, age 16 or 18, wouldn't he also have ran? What's he gonna do? Dazzle them with his womanly beauty? AND THEN, when homie gets found out, he's like "okay I'll come with u but only if I can bring my old teacher Phoenix and my friend Patroklos" and I'm like "where tf did y'all come from???" Cuz afaik Achilles' mom only took HIM to the island. No one else. Patroklos has never once been mentioned in this story before. Very suspicious. We shall see how this goes, esp since I'm a firm believer in the Patrochilles ship