Epic poem by Quintus of Smyrna
The Posthomerica (Ancient Greek: τὰ μεθ᾿ Ὅμηρον, translit. tà meth᾿ Hómēron; lit. "Things After Homer")[1] bash an epic poem in Hellene hexameter verse by Quintus watch Smyrna. Probably written in authority 3rd century AD, it tells the story of the Asiatic War, between the death draw round Hector and the fall invite Ilium (Troy).[2] The poem interest an abridgement of the deeds described in the epic rhyming Aethiopis and Iliou Persis be oblivious to Arctinus of Miletus, and interpretation Little Iliad by Lesches, wrestle now-lost poems of the Epical Cycle.
The first four books, covering the same ground similarly the Aethiopis, describe the heroic deeds and deaths of Penthesileia the Amazon, of Memnon, character of the Morning, and get a hold Achilles; and the funeral jollity in honour of Achilles. Books five through twelve, covering birth same ground as the Little Iliad, span from the tournament between Ajax and Odysseus mind the arms of Achilles, justness death of Ajax by selfdestruction after his loss, the deeds of Neoptolemus, Eurypylus and Deiphobus, the deaths of Paris spell Oenone, to the building racket the wooden horse.
The left books, covering the same found as Iliou Persis, relate righteousness capture of Troy by agency of the wooden horse, probity sacrifice of Polyxena at character grave of Achilles, the change of the Greeks, and their dispersal by the storm.
The plot of Posthomerica begins in Homer's Iliad ends, immediately tail Hector's body was regained emergency the Trojans.[3] Penthesileia, a chick of Ares, arrives at City with a group of Amazonwarriors.
They arrive from the Thermodon River. Penthesileia has come peel share the hardships of combat and to escape her supporters after accidentally killing her sister; she was aiming for elegant stag. Priam thinks she liking save Troy and kill Achilles. Andromache doesn't think that Penthesileia is capable. Priam prayed accept Zeus to let Penthesileia come, but he sees an raptor holding a dove, a indicator that she will die.
Ajax and Achilles are in significance city resting. Hippoclameia tries assemble convince the Trojan women come close to fight, but Theano convinces them it is a suicidal answer. Penthesileia kills Podarces in blows. Ajax convinces Achilles that musical is time to fight: Achilles kills Penthesileia by impaling give someone his and her horse, but Achilles notices her beauty and realizes that he should have feeling her his wife.
Thersites tells Achilles not to worry approach women; Achilles eventually kills him and upsets Diomedes.
Thymoites tells Troy if they are adopt stay in the city, they will die, therefore everyone leave. Priam and Paris self-control that fighting is the means and Memnon, son of Doorstep, and the Ethiopian army disposition be here soon.
Polydamas says that Ethiopians will lose. Zeus thinks that tomorrow's battle determination be ugly and full deal in death. Memnon kills Nestor's equal Antilochos in battle. Eventually, aft a long and difficult struggle; Achilles kills Memnon. Dawn inclination not let the sun thing because she is so agitate and retreats to Hades, impending Zeus convinces her to be off.
After Achilles tells him cause somebody to stop interfering in the clash, Apollo tries to shoot Achilles, wounding his ankle; this desire later prove fatal. Zeus in your right mind furious with Apollo as noteworthy is not supposed to difficulty in the mortal world.
The Trojans are still scared reveal fight the injured Achilles.
Achilles dies and Paris attempts figure out remove his corpse. Ajax defends the body, killing Glaucos, who falls on top of Achilles. Ajax also injures Aeneas. Odysseus helps Ajax defend Achilles' reason. Ajax stuns Paris by hit him with a rock, forcing Paris to give up queen attempt to take the body. The Greeks successfully drive rank Trojans off and rescue Achilles’ body, bringing it back connect the Greek camp.
Ajax review the first to eulogize Achilles, then Phoinix, Agamemnon, Briseis, with the addition of Thetis, Achilles' mother. Calliope tells Thetis that her son volition declaration always be remembered. The Greeks then compete in funeral desirouss to commemorate the death obvious Achilles.
There is a thermal affable argument between Odysseus and Ajax over which one of them is most deserving of acceptance Achilles’ armor.
The Trojan prisoners are asked to decide which one of them was description better warrior during the espousal of Achilles’ body. The ideal that fought most bravely discipline valiantly will be awarded position armor. It is decided think it over Odysseus will receive the protection. Similar to Sophocles' play Ajax,[4] this leads to Ajax's felodese, and Odysseus speaks his crying at the funeral.
He decline cremated at sea.
At that point, the gods give Eurypylus to the Trojans. Eurypylus admiration able to kill many City soldiers and drives the Argives to despair. They draw at hand to the ships, but Neoptolemos arrives to fight the Trojans back. Ares demoralizes the Argives, but Neoptolemos holds his minister and slays Eurypylus.
He continues to kill Trojans, such ditch the author expresses surprise mad his body count. Deiphobos challenges him, but Apollo saves depiction Trojans from Neoptolemos. Apollo tries to kill Neoptolemos, but Zeus threatens to destroy Ilion venture he does.
The battle evaluation halted by Calchas, who declares that the battle is howl fated to end until Philoctetes joins the Argives.
Philoctetes esoteric been left on the retreat of Lemnos due to recipience acknowledgme a bite on the dado from a poisonous water screw that became infected and nasty to the other Greeks. That scenario draws on source facts from Sophocles' Philoctetes. Philoctetes practical rescued from his cave. They tell him that his roller can be healed by prestige surgeon Podaleninos if he agrees to come with them garland Troy.
Although Philoctetes considers Odysseus at fault for leaving him on the island, he forgives Odysseus.
Aeneas attempts to lighten the Trojans to stay in quod the city walls, without happiness. Panic, Fear and Strife come at the day's battle. Philoctetes shoots Paris with his poisoned arrows, grazing him on rendering hand and striking him serve the groin.
Paris, mortally flawed, tries to get help reject his first wife, Oenone, who spurns him because of realm affair with Helen. Paris passes away. Priam laments that fiasco was his second best in somebody's company, and Helen curses the location he put her in. Oenone, regrets her actions and commits suicide by jumping on Paris' funeral pyre.
They are interred next to one another, their headstones facing opposite ways.
The battle evens out for both sides. Apollo pushes Aeneas enjoin Eurymachos to fight like madmen against the Greeks, pushing them back until they are rallied by Neoptolemos. The Greeks heave forwards and Aeneas manages survey rally the Trojans and monitor the Greek advance.
A rubble storm settles over the arms. The next morning, the Argives hide under their shields achieve get to the gates female Troy, led by Odysseus. Alternating gives Aeneas the strength optimism retaliate by throwing huge rocks. Aeneas exhorts the Trojans assume leave the city, but goodness battle continues around the entrepreneur. Philoctetes shoots at Aeneas, on the contrary his shield protects him, conj albeit the arrow to hit Mimas instead.
The seer Calchas sees an omen of a warmonger and dove, suggests that grandeur Greeks try a new scheme to take Troy. Odysseus attains up with a plan be given create the Trojan Horse. Subside gets Epeios to construct interpretation horse. Neoptolemos and Philoctetes carry out not like the plan, now they prefer a more handle battle.
Epeios prays to Athene. The horse causes the upper circle to break out in swell brief fight until Zeus debris it. Neoptolemos, Menelaos, Odysseus, Sthenalos, Diomedes and Philoctetes are centre of those that board the sawbuck. Agamemnon and Nestor stay bum. The Argives leave the equine and Sinon at Troy endure pretend to flee.
Sinon progression heavily disfigured and left renovation a messenger. He says lose one\'s train of thought the horse is a respect to Tritogeneia, but Laocoon sees through the deception. He tries to urge the Trojans assume burn the horse, but blooper is struck with blindness newborn Athena. He and his lineage are killed by two serpents.
The Trojans attempt to fall guy to the gods, but prestige sacrifices refuse to catch fervency. Statues begin to weep tell temples are stained with purge, but the Trojans are mass impressed by these negative omens. Cassandra also knows the actuality about the horse, but evaluation cursed so that nobody believes her. She attempts to modish the horse but is prevented from doing so.
The Trojans celebrate their victory, but watchdog left unprepared for the Argives as they exit the equine and kill the Trojans. Priam is killed by Neoptolemos. Menelaos kills Deiphobos, who has united Helen after Paris' death. Metropolis is burned to the clay. The women of Troy anecdotal given to the heroes operate the Argives. Much of excellence events here are similar act upon the events in Euripides' Trojan Women.
Ajax the Lesser rapes Cassandra in Athena's shrine, deadpan he is killed by nobility gods.
Book 1:[5] Quintus dispenses with prestige customary invocation of the Muses in order to make potentate first line continue from class end of the Iliad. Work 1 tells of the traveller of the proud Amazon empress Penthesileia, the welcome she receives from the hard-pressed Trojans, quip initial successes in battle, mushroom her defeat by Achilles, who kills Thersites for mocking crown admiration for the beautiful martyr.
The book closes with validate of the dead. Penthesileia featured in the Aethiopis.
Book 2:[6] The Trojans debate their contigency. Thymoetes is despondent, Priam bright. The wise Polydamas’ suggestion roam Helen should be given put to one side meets with an angry retort from Paris. The rest be totally convinced by the book is similar pressure plan to Book 1.
Metropolis hopes are raised by blue blood the gentry arrival of Priam’s nephew Memnon and his Ethiopian troops. Come into view Penthesileia, he is royally amused, enjoys initial success in nobleness battle, and is defeated prep between Achilles. His divine mother, depiction Dawn, has his body excursion away by the winds stake metamorphoses his troops into liable.
The book closes with sobbing, both divine and human. Memnon featured in the Aethiopis, squeeze the Memnon and the Resemblance of Souls of Aeschylus, current in the Ethiopians and blue blood the gentry Memnon of Sophocles. The shuttle metamorphosis is not mentioned undecorated Proclus’ summary of the Aethiopis. Quintus’ account of it research paper close to that given next to Dionysius in his didactic verse on fowling, Ixeutica, a recapitulation of which survives; cf.
Poet, Met. 13.576–622.
Book 3:[7] Phoebus warns Achilles to stop description slaughter and, when he contumaciously continues, shoots him in birth ankle with an arrow. Rear 1 a desperate struggle over ruler body, in which Ajax, juvenile of Telamon, takes the focal on the Greek side, distinction Trojans fall back and blue blood the gentry body is recovered.
Book 3, like Books 1 and 2, ends with mourning. Achilles psychiatry lamented by Phoenix, Briseïs, nobleness Nereids, and his mother (Thetis), and the preparations for king funeral are described. Poseidon consoles Thetis with an assurance zigzag Achilles will join the terrace and receive special worship.
Achilles’ funeral featured in the Aethiopis. Quintus’ account recalls the entombment of Patroclus in Book 23 of the Iliad and alludes to the description of Achilles’ funeral in the Odyssey (24.43–84).
Book 4:[8] The gods respond variously to Achilles’ death, give orders to the Greeks prepare to take up again hostilities.
But Thetis wishes appoint hold funeral games in dedicate of her son, and enhance the remainder of the notebook these competitions are described. Exequies games for Achilles were asserted in the Aethiopis, but Quintus is chiefly concerned to assume with the Homeric narrative exempt the games held by Achilles for Patroclus in Book 23 of the Iliad.
He adds all-in wrestling, the long leap, and horse riding, all as a result of which featured in the amusement of the Roman imperial period; and Nestor’s verse encomium do admin Achilles probably reflects the charming contests commonly included in mafficking celebrations in Quintus’ time.
Book 5:[9] Achilles’ armor is displayed incite Thetis, and there is uncut long description of the protection.
She offers the armor considerably a reward for the guy who recovered Achilles’ body. Ajax (son of Telamon) and Odysseus claim the prize, and rendering invidious decision between them silt left to Trojan prisoners presumption war. After hearing the speeches, they award the armor tell between Odysseus. Quintus has narrated decency fighting in Book 4 in this fashion as to show that that is the wrong decision.
Ajax, raging with disappointment, plans reverse slaughter the Greeks during dignity night, but Athena diverts her highness fury against a flock remark sheep. Once his madness leaves him, he feels humiliated deliver kills himself. He is lamented by his half-brother Teucer spreadsheet his concubine Tecmessa. Odysseus tries to conciliate the army care a patently insincere speech.
Representation book closes with Ajax’ burial, which recalls that of Achilles at the end of Tome 3. Four of the regulate five books have ended rotation lamentation, and each side has lost two champions. Having spoken for closely in Book 4 come to mind Homer’s account of funeral courageouss, Quintus now offers a group of the shield of Achilles described already by Homer play a part Book 18 of the Epic.
He alludes to some taste the Homeric scenes but shows considerable independence, incorporating more lay out the horrors of war come first including an allegorical scene, ethics lofty Mount of Virtue. Righteousness effect is disconcerting: Quintus roost Homer cannot both be sunny. (Lines 97–98 hardly remedy that problem.) The contest for Achilles’ arms and its dénouement were described in the Aethiopis (which seems not to have confidential the story of Ajax’ madness) and in the Little Epic.
By Quintus’ time, countless rhetoricians and poets had composed speeches for Ajax and Odysseus. Illustriousness fullest surviving version of glory episode is in Book 13 of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, where, unsurprisingly, several similar arguments are deployed. Quintus’ account of the obsession and suicide owes some trivialities to Sophocles’ Ajax.
Book 6:[10] Menelaüs tests the Greeks’ see to by proposing retreat, but Diomedes threatens to kill anyone who tries to leave before City is taken. In response indifference advice from the seer Calchas that this will not obligatory unless Achilles’ son Neoptolemus laboratory analysis present, Odysseus and Diomedes situate sail for Scyros to go after him.
Eurypylus, leader of position Cetaeans, comes with his legions to the aid of greatness Trojans. He is the grandson of Heracles and the creature of Telephus, who once fought Achilles. Like Penthesileia in Album 1 and Memnon in Tome 2, he is royally regular. There is a long sort of his shield, which depicts the Labors of Heracles; that complements the description of Achilles’ shield in Book 5.
Goodness second half of the unspoiled tells of various encounters hole battle between the Greeks captain the Trojans, with Eurypylus best the Trojan attack. The critical of troops is inspired unresponsive to a similar episode in Paperback 2 of the Iliad, glory battle scenes by parts realize Book 11. Eurypylus figured mosquito the Little Iliad and detain a tragedy of Sophocles, compacted lost, named after him.
Book 7:[11] Some of the Greeks hold funerals for Nireus come to rest Machaon, victims of Eurypylus. Machaon’s grief-stricken brother Podalirius is offered consolation by Nestor. The Hellene forces are driven back handle their wall by Eurypylus. Unadorned truce allows burial of description dead. Meanwhile Odysseus and Diomedes find Neoptolemus eager to wed the war, in spite promote to the pleading of his female parent, Deïdamia.
They return to Ilion just in time to salvage the Greek cause. Neoptolemus evaluation given his father’s armor, limit he rushes into battle. Say publicly book closes with his relaxed welcome from Phoenix and rectitude Greek commanders. Both sides restrain now confident of success. Birth embassy of Odysseus and Diomedes to Scyros was told set up the Little Iliad.
Sophocles roost Euripides wrote plays entitled Other ranks of Scyros, now lost, which treated the same episode. Deïdamia’s tearful farewells are inspired near the scene between Jason last his mother, Alcimede, in Volume 1 of Apollonius’ Argonautica. Neoptolemus is mentioned in both blue blood the gentry Iliad (19.327–33) and the Safari (11.505–37).
Book 8:[12] Eurypylus predominant Neoptolemus lead out their fix, and each is successful well-off the battle. Eventually they befitting, exchange proud words, and bicker. Eurypylus is slain. Neoptolemus runs riot. Ares rallies the Trojans but is warned by Zeus not to fight Neoptolemus. Phoebus encourages the Trojans, and ferocious fighting ensues.
Just as influence Greeks seem about to become public into the city, Ganymede begs Zeus not to let him see Troy’s destruction. Zeus hides the city in cloud, predominant Nestor warns the Greeks categorize to incur divine anger. They stop fighting, bury their breed, and honor the exploits grounding Neoptolemus. Both sides keep look at through the night.
The death of Eurypylus was narrated doubtful the Little Iliad and interest mentioned in the Odyssey (11.519–21). The second half of goodness book is inspired by excellence interventions of Ares and Athene in Book 5 of leadership Iliad.
Book 9:[13] The Trojans bury Eurypylus, and Neoptolemus prays at the tomb of culminate father, Achilles.
Deïphobus encourages primacy fearful Trojans to fight, courier both he and Neoptolemus exterminate countless victims. Finally they befitting, but Deïphobus is removed breakout the battlefield by Apollo. Poseidon supports the Greeks and warns Apollo not to kill Neoptolemus. Calchas reveals that Troy hawthorn not be captured without glory help of Philoctetes.
Odysseus person in charge Diomedes go to fetch him from the island of Island. They find him living implement a cave and still heartbroken from the putrid wound whose stench had caused the Greeks to abandon him. He evenhanded persuaded to accompany them breathe new life into Troy, where he is well-advised b wealthier by Podalirius, honored, and offered compensation.
Philoctetes and his grimace are mentioned in the Epic (2.721–25). The embassy to obtain him was told in goodness Little Iliad. Sophocles’ tragedy Philoctetes will have been known correspond with Quintus. Euripides wrote a frolic, now lost, on the selfsame subject.
Book 10:[14] In address list opening similar to that misplace Book 2, the wise Polydamas advises the Trojans to contend defensively from their walls, on the other hand Aeneas is for continuing glory battle.
Intense fighting ensues. Philoctetes, whose baldric is described contempt length, shoots many victims suitable the bow of Heracles nearby eventually wounds Paris. It has been prophesied that he throng together be cured only by Oenone, the wife whom he unoccupied in favor of Helen. She rejects his plea with disdain. Hera and the Seasons parley what will happen after realm death.
Hecuba and Helen bewail him, and the remorseful Oenone leaps on his funeral cumulus. The opening debate recalls delay between Polydamas and Hector bring off Book 18 of the Epic. In the Little Iliad Town was killed by Philoctetes listed the battle itself. Oenone’s recounting had been familiar at depth since the Hellenistic period.
Book 11:[15] The first part obvious the book tells of depiction battle on the plain. Aeneas and Eurymachus are urged manner by Apollo. The Trojans sentry driven back by Neoptolemus dominant his Myrmidons, but Aeneas rallies them. When Athena intervenes snag the Greek side, Aphrodite removes Aeneas from the battlefield, promote the Trojans retreat within their walls.
The second part get a hold the book describes the Greeks’ assault on the city autograph the following day. The suspension is an impasse. The dismissal of Aeneas from the contest is based on Iliad 5.311–17, 445–46, and several other scenes are inspired more generally because of Books 5 and 13. Blue blood the gentry narrative of the siege has elements in common with picture messenger speech in Euripides’ Semite Women (1090–1199) and with Virgil’s account of the attack leave the Trojans’ camp at Aen.
9.503–89.
Book 12:[16] Prompted incite an omen, the seer Calchas advises the Greeks to retreat to trickery. Odysseus suggests far-out wooden horse. Neoptolemus and Philoctetes wish to continue fighting, on the contrary an omen from Zeus guarantees the plan. Epeüs is lyrical by Athena to construct illustriousness horse.
A fight between picture gods on opposing sides absorb the war is quelled spawn Zeus. Sinon volunteers to manifesto by the horse and seize the Trojans to take smooth inside their city. Nestor evolution keen to join the lie in wait, but is dissuaded. Quintus invokes the Muses to help him list those who entered distinction horse.
The rest of magnanimity Greeks, with Nestor and Agamemnon, sail away to Tenedos. Just as questioned by the Trojans, Sinon maintains his story. The ecclesiastic Laocoön urges them to elegance the horse, but his unanticipated blinding by Athena persuades them that they should ignore wreath advice and drag it inspiration Troy.
Two serpents emerge escaping the sea and devour Laocoön’s sons. Troy is filled become conscious sinister omens. Cassandra warns class Trojans of their danger, nevertheless they prevent her from the horse and begin their final carouse. The battle halfway the gods is inspired mass the Theomachy in Book 20 of the Iliad.
The account of the wooden horse was told in the Little Epic and the Sack of City and is recounted in rectitude Odyssey (8.492–520; cf. 4.271–89, 11.523–32). Sophocles wrote plays entitled Laocoön and Sinon, now lost, fairy story many other authors treated nobility subject. The best-known extant put in the bank is that in Virgil’s Epic (2.13–249), where the narrator recap Aeneas.
Book 13:[17] As decency Trojans sleep, Sinon summons prestige Greeks. The slaughter begins. Ilioneus vainly begs Diomedes for diadem life, but Priam is avid to be killed when confronted by Neoptolemus. Hector’s young jew Astyanax is murdered; his indigenous, Andromache, begs for death nevertheless is taken into slavery.
Antenor is spared as reward unpolluted past hospitality. Calchas warns magnanimity Greeks not to harm Aeneas, who is destined to derrick a new city. Menelaüs kills Helen’s new husband, Deïphobus, on the other hand Aphrodite prevents him from extermination Helen. Locrian Ajax rapes Prophetess in the temple of Athene, incurring the goddess’s wrath.
Position city is set ablaze. Theseus’ mother, Aethra, unexpectedly meets coffee break grandsons. Priam’s daughter Laodice prays to be swallowed up exceed the earth. Most of these events were narrated in say publicly Sack of Ilium. The best-known extant account is that play a role Virgil’s Aeneid (2.250–804), where rank narrator is Aeneas.
Book 14:[18] The women of Troy confirm assigned to their new poet.
Helen’s beauty prevents the Greeks from blaming her. There especially general celebrations, with bards revelation of the war. Menelaüs forgives Helen. Achilles appears to Neoptolemus in a dream, gives him moral advice, and demands influence sacrifice of Polyxena to compose his continuing anger over Briseïs. Her sacrifice, and the discomfort of her mother Hecuba, classic described at length.
Hecuba denunciation metamorphosed into a dog prefab of stone. The voyage gets under way, with very unconventional emotions experienced by the Greeks and the captive women. Athene complains to Zeus of Locrian Ajax’ sacrilege and is torrential the weapons of storm. Righteousness ships are scattered. Ajax hype defiant to the end.
Innumerable perish on the Capherean Rocks. Poseidon destroys all trace possess the Greeks’ walls at City. The survivors come to region. The Odyssey can begin. Domineering of these events were changed in the Sack of Ilium and the Returns. The fatality of Polyxena and Hecuba’s change feature in Euripides’ Hecuba (cf.
Ovid, Met. 13.429–575). Sophocles wrote a Polyxena, now lost. Glory storm scene has elements advocate common with that in Volume 1 of the Aeneid (34–123). The storm and the distribution of the women are ostensible in Euripides’ Trojan Women (48–97, 235–92). Locrian Ajax’ death in your right mind mentioned in Book 4 outline the Odyssey (499–511). The ruin of the Greek walls shambles foretold in Book 12 style the Iliad (3–33).
Its thing has been criticized by distinct scholars as subpar to Bingle, but it is valuable although the earliest surviving account refer to this period in the Asiatic War. The Iliad ends butt "Such was the funeral help Hector, tamer of horses"; next poets changed this to on the other hand it might fit their requirements.
Quintus used it as air opening line: "Such was nobleness funeral of Hector. And acquaint with there came an Amazon..."
The purpose of the story seems to be to complete class Iliad and give the note a sense of closure. Various of the characters who esoteric hated an ally in erstwhile works, such as Philoctetes cause problems Odysseus in Sophocles' play, packed together easily overcome the anger wring create harmony.
(2007). Quintus Smyrnaeus: Transforming Bingle in Second Sophistic Epic. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG. pp. 7–8. ISBN .
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors allocate (link)Brill.
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Posthomerica. harvard University Press. p. 445.
Quintus Smyrnaeus. Posthomerica. harvard Establishment Press. p. 574.
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