Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Arrow of Pandaros and Diomedes Aristeia



Mirroring the dispute between the two armies, the Gods are in dispute in Olympos whether or not the Trojans broke the agreement and if the war is over or should be resumed. Zeus wants the war to end with Menelaos awarded Helen for Paris not finishing the duel, but Hera wants to see Troy sacked, as she sides with the Greeks. It is my hope that she wins this argument so I can finish my destiny and achieve the kleos prophesied for myself. Their settlement is that the war will go on but the Trojans must break the truce. Here arrives Pandaros, tricked by Athena, he shoots an arrow at Menelaos, breaking the truce between the two armies, resuming the battle. Athena makes sure the arrow only wounds Menelaos though. Agamemnon then attempts to motivate his army including several main heroes such as Nestor, Odysseus, and Diomedes. Diomedes in fact began his aristeia at this point of the battle, with Athena at his side. Several Gods intervene during Diomedes rage, including Aphrodite and Apollo on the side of the Trojans. Many Trojans are killed and others wounded during this period of the battle. The Greeks are in control…but not for long. Sarpedon and Hektor battle harder to retrieve the body they suspect is the real Aineias, unaware of Apollo taking him away and leaving behind a dummy of sorts. With Ares at their side, the Trojans turn the tide back to their favor. Athena and Hera seek permission from Zeus to enter battle since Ares is fighting with the Trojans, and he approves. Athena then drives Diomedes chariot in order to wound Ares before the Gods all leave the battlefield and return to Olympos. The battle is still going on though without the Gods. Once again the Greeks turn the tide of battle in their favor. It seems as though only when the Gods intervene is when the Trojans can muster a counter effort against us, prolonging the war. Hektor returns within the walls of Troy to find Hecabe (his mother), Paris (brother), Andromache (wife), Astyanax (son), and even Helen. Andromache in particular doesn’t want him to reenter battle, afraid of his death. Hektor wishes to not be thought a coward however and goes back to the battlefield with Paris.  
 During Diomedes period of excellence, first he’s wounded by Pandaros with an arrow, to which he prays for help in killing him. Athena tells him to avoid killing any Gods except for Aphrodite. Pandaros, teamed with Aineias, attack Diomedes, however Pandaros is killed and Aineias wounded while protecting the body of his partner. At the same time while Aphrodite protects Aineias by rescuing him before Diomedes can land the finishing blow, Diomedes also wounds Aphrodite remembering Athena instructions. Apollo then intervenes for Aphrodite and successfully removes Aineias from harm’s way. Next up for Diomedes was Sarpedon and Hektor, along with Ares. Again Athena came to help him and the result was the wounding of Ares.

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