III. The Middle Ring of Achilles’ Shield: WARTIME
III.1: CITY UNDER SIEGE
Middle Ring: CITY UNDER SIEGE. From the Shield of Achilles by Kathleen Vail
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“Wartime, next, in the other city, displayed in preparations:
Two columns of well-armed troops surrounded the walls of a city for sieging.
But they disagreed on the plan of action; some wished to conquer completely,
While others wished to negotiate peace and set terms for half the town’s treasure.”
[Homer’s Iliad, Book 18, Lines 509-512, Vail’s translation]
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III.2: ARMING FOR A RAID
Middle Ring: ARMING FOR A RAID. From the Shield of Achilles by Kathleen Vail
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“The townsmen were hungry, but bowing to neither, they quickly armed for a raid.
Women and children kept watch from the walls, with men too old or disabled.”
[Homer’s Iliad, Book 18, Lines 513-515, Vail’s translation]
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III.3: ARES AND ATHENA LEAD THE RAID
Middle Ring: ARES AND ATHENA LEAD THE RAID. From the Shield of Achilles by Kathleen Vail
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“The men filed out through a secret gate led by Ares and Athena.
So splendidly armed were these glorious two, ornate in immortal gold,
That men were small in comparison and humbly marched behind them.”
[Homer’s Iliad, Book 18, Lines 516-519, Vail’s translation]
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III.4: WARRIORS HIDING
Middle Ring: WARRIORS HIDING. From the Shield of Achilles by Kathleen Vail
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“When the warriors came to their ambush point, a stream where flocks were watered,
They hid together among bronze hills and stationed two lookouts at hand.
There the two hid, awaiting the sight of the sheep and the curving-horned cattle.”
[Homer’s Iliad, Book 18, Lines 520-524, Vail’s translation]
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III.5: PEACEFUL HERDSMEN
Middle Ring: PEACEFUL HERDSMEN. From the Shield of Achilles by Kathleen Vail
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“Then the flocks and herds both came in view, followed by two men piping.
In peace they trailed behind their beasts, with no hint of the imminent danger.”
[Homer’s Iliad, Book 18, Lines 525-526, Vail’s translation]
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III.6: THE RAIDING PARTY ATTACKS
Middle Ring: THE RAIDING PARTY ATTACKS. From the Shield of Achilles by Kathleen Vail
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“In a sudden rush the signal blared and the raiding troop surprised them.
Quickly they killed both herdsmen at once, and captured the frightened beasts.
Then guiding the straying silver-grey sheep, others quickly regrouped the flocks.”
[Homer’s Iliad, Book 18, Lines 527-529, Vail’s translation]
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III.7: THE TROOPS ARE ALERTED
Middle Ring: THE TROOPS ARE ALERTED. From the Shield of Achilles by Kathleen Vail
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“The troops at the city walls heard the sounds of lowing and stampeding cattle,
So climbing behind their brisk-trotting steeds, they raced their chariots onward.”
[Homer’s Iliad, Book 18, Lines 530-532, Vail’s translation]
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III.8: BATTLE!
Middle Ring: BATTLE! From the Shield of Achilles by Kathleen Vail
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“Upon the riverbanks fighting began as foes threw spears at each other.
Then Strife and Tumult entered the skirmish, together with terrible Fate,
Who kept barely living a man with wounds, and preserved another unwounded;
And yet another she grasped by the foot and dragged him to death in the clamor.
Fate wore a cloak fully covered in blood, and appeared a gruesome figure,
And the warriors fought as in real war and pulled their dead away.”
[Homer’s Iliad, Book 18, Lines 533-540, Vail’s translation]
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Continue to IV. Outer Ring: PEACETIME
THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES 