Patroclo e le tribolazioni degli Achei

Hi, there are only a few hours left, because it has settled in the showcase of all the bookstores of the summer Erakle, the road of heroes, the second book born from this podcast. Inside its pages you will find the events dealt with in ancient episodes and many others of unpublished, never heard before here. As you may remember, the first episodes of this podcast tell of the twelve struggles of Erakle. They are the very first episodes of a few minutes each, in which, at the beginning of this project, I did not stop to underline all the adventures and accessories around the struggles of our hero, as it was possible to do on the pages of this book. What emerges from these pages is an Erakle that you get to know in depth, until you share with him epic, funny and worrying events. Well, I hope you can enjoy how much you liked the first book, The King of the Gods. It was precisely its success to suggest to the house of the author Spelling and Kupfer to propose me a second literary adventure. So thank you for making it possible for me to experience this emotion again, to find myself here to announce the release of my new book. Thank you. If you want to take a look at it, you will find a link in the description. I leave you to today's episode, which is like a boa inside the Iliad. Good listening. What you are listening to is mythology, the wonderful stories of the ancient world. I am Alessandro Gelain, teacher of philosophy, psychology and human sciences. If you want to stay in my company, I will offer you the most interesting stories of Greek and Roman mythology. The myth still has a lot to teach us and sometimes, like a mirror, it is able to better show us what we are. Episode number 160. Patroclus and the tribulations of the Achaeans. He gets up from the bed in which he lies with his beloved Titus. He rises to bring light to men and immortals. Zeus sends Eris, the goddess of discord and struggle, with the fury of war towards the ships of the Greeks. The goddess alleges on the ships of Odysseus, Achilles and Iacetus and Ammonia. All the soldiers now desire in their hearts to return to fight and in their minds they feel that the war is sweeter than returning home. Agamemnon, strong in information and recovered during the night by Odysseus and Diomedes, organizes the attack strategy and encourages his men to arm their weapons. He also wears the armor. Splendid gift of Cynera, king of Cyprus, the armor is made of armor and wonderful parastinches. His sword is decorated with gold and silver. The shield has a gorgon head to instill terror in the opponents, just like Athena's eagle. With his helmet and double bow on horseback, Agamemnon appears majestic, almost divine. Athena and Hera ring to express their admiration and goodwill for this day that appears campy. Zeus, on the other hand, causes turmoil in the Achaean troops, excited by the desire to fight. On the opposite side, Hector leads the Trojan troops and begins to traverse the descent that leads from the walls of Troy to the plain. Like a shining star that sometimes disappears behind a dark cloud and then reappears, Priam's son is noticed in the vanguard. And then three soldiers in second or third row, always ready for battle. Dressed in a bronze armor, he shines like a lightning released by the king of the gods. The clashes do not spare the Achaean-Trojans, the two parties falsify opponents with alternate fortune. In fact, it happens that the divinity of the fight, having fun on the battlefield, keeps the fates in parity, so in certain areas the Achaeans prevail, in others the Trojans. Then, after half the day, Agamemnon and his men seem to be starting to get the better of it. Even Agamemnon rams and kills nobles and soldiers and comes to take lives and weapons from two sons of Priam. He kills mercilessly and for revenge also two sons of Antimachus, who in the second embassy of the Greeks in the assembly of the nobles in Troy proposed, as you will remember, to capture Menelaus and Odysseus and keep them hostage. Agamemnon is not today, he seems invincible. He seems a hunter who, with his slings, almost without effort, kills tens and tens of lives. Hector sees him approaching more and more and orders his men to back up in an orderly way towards the gates of Shea. Zeus descends from Olympus and takes himself to his beloved lonely peaks of Mount Ida. From here he sends Iris, the messenger of the gods, to Hector with a message. He must avoid fighting with Agamemnon and he must order his army to point the interest away from the king of Mycenae until Agamemnon does not suffer a wound. At this event, Zeus assures, Hector will feel invaded by the new vigor that will lead him and his troops to the Greek ships. When Hector receives this message in his ear, he reorganizes the troops and, with precise orders, reinstalls the hearts of the soldiers who will fight with new vigor. Many leave this life fighting with Agamemnon. Iphidamante, a son of Antenor, manages, avoiding the spear of the son of Atreus, to stab him in a hole in the armor, but he fails to sink him into the king's flesh. Agamemnon takes that dangerous spear in two hands and makes it fly away. Fast, with the sword, he kills the very close and unarmed Iphidamante. Coene, brother of Iphidamante and eldest son of Antenor, with his eyes veiled by pain, sends an arrow towards Agamemnon, who injures his body. Angry with the pain, but not defeated, as soon as he manages to recover from that bitter suffering, the king sees Coene, who tries to drag away the body of his killed brother to prevent him from being stripped of his weapons. Two steps and Agamemnon also takes Coene's life. But the wound begins to heal and the wounds become unbearable. Agamemnon, inciting his men, warns that he must for the moment abandon the battle to heal in the back roads. The heart of Hector rejoices At the sight of the dear Agamemnon who is moving away with the king to the ships, Hector's heart rejoices. Trojans and allied friends, the time has come for everyone to admire your courage. Zeus has just given me a glorious gift, to see the strongest hero among our enemies who is fleeing. Launch your horses against the Greeks and you will obtain the honor of the strong. The Trojan troops, like a terrible mutiny, take to the ranks, exterminating soldiers and heroes. The same Hector appears unstoppable. It is like a deadly storm wind that shakes the waves like this and smashes anyone who stands in front of him. Under his weapons fall nine commanders of the Achaean army and an incalculable number of anonymous and unfortunate soldiers. The Achaean army backs up in the face of such fury and seems to want to retreat towards the ships. Odysseus shouts to Diomedes who fights not far from him. My friend, how could we forget our strength? Come closer to me and let's fight together. Unbearable shame for the whole of Greece if Hector the Glorious comes to destroy our camp. And Diomedes, here I am at your side, Odysseus. I fear that even if we oppose a valiant resistance, our effort will be of little use. It is clear that Zeus today grants glory to the Trojans rather than to us. Like two infernal boars that face an immense number of dogs, Odysseus and Diomedes attack and overwhelm the opponents and Zeus, pleased with their fighting spirit, gives them the strength to temporarily equalize the clash. Then Diomedes sees Hector, who is gaining positions towards them. He warns Odysseus of the thing and together they prepare to face it. Fearing the Trojan, who today is protected by a god, Diomedes unleashes his spear and hits Hector on the head, making him falter and then laying a hand on the ground. The sight of the Trojan darkens, but he is still alive. His helmet has three layers, given by Apollo, saved his life. Hector gets up again and takes a few steps back to regain his strength. And Diomedes, damn dog, has escaped again and again to fate. The spirits of death were close to you this time, but your continuous invocation to Apollo saved you from the bite of my spear. If the gods will grant the same protection to me too, you are sure that I will take your life, even if I will have to wait for the time that fate will want before killing you. Two slashings and other Trojans fall. Then, a sudden pain on the right foot. An arrow shot from the precise bow of Parides immobilizes the hero, putting him at the mercy of his enemies. Parides rejoices and apostrophes Diomedes, shouting that his arrow condemned him to succumb to the Trojan forces, even if he, Parides, would have preferred to pierce his chest. With superior calm, Diomedes responds to Parides' words. Superb archer, keep your insults to yourself, you annoying courtier of other women. If only I had the courage to face you in a face-to-face duel, well, then bow and arrows would not be of any use to you. Do you dare to boast so much just to have caused me a scratch on the foot? I do not feel any pain, so much so that it seems to me that I have been hit by the branch thrown by a boy, because the dart of the cowardly man is weak. Look at my spear, instead. When it is flying, it causes death even if it barely touches the skin of my opponent. The cheeks of his wife are already wounded, and his children are orphans. Odysseus stands before Diomedes to defend him. The son of Tydeus tears the arrow from his foot, and from the wound he spills blood in a copious way, so much so that he must get on his chariot and return to the camp to be cured. Odysseus is left alone. The soldiers begin to flee in a disorganized manner. Fast thoughts overlap in his mind. If I flee, I will certainly be pursued. If I remain in combat alone, I could, and this is worse, be captured. Now Zeus has made all my soldiers flee. Whatever Zeus wants, the vile ones flee the battle. The brave ones remain to fight, keeping their spirits strong when they hurt the enemy forces, and even more so when they receive wounds from the enemy. The king of Ithaca is surrounded by the Trojans, only with his own weapons and his ability to manage them. Intrepid, he sends many adversaries to the Aden, even if, in the end, the spear of the noble Trojan Soko pierces his shield and armor, hurting him on the side. Odysseus' spear, as a reminder, puts an end to Soko's life. Odysseus forcefully pulls the Trojan spear out of his own body, and, even without deigning it with a glance, he feels that the wound is serious and that it will lead him to succumb to the enemy. He shouts for help to his companions in flight, and this invocation is heard by Menelaus, who, together with Iace, runs to his aid. Like wolves around a wounded deer, the Trojans wait for the blood to take away the strength of Odysseus to attack him. He, in fact, is holding them all at bay with spear and sword ready to strike, but he is gradually succumbing to weakness. Iace, with his immense rectangular shield, with a leap, comes to defend Odysseus. The Trojans, terrified by the arrival of the gigantic hero of Salamis, retreat and give time and opportunity to Menelaus to drag Odysseus away. Iace massacres him, many dare to approach the position of the companion, and he also begins to advance. While this happens, Macaone, one of the two sons of the demigod Asclepius, is also wounded by an arrow of Paridae. Immediately, Macaone is brought to the back roads in a hurry. He is the healer of the Greeks. Each wound is imagined faster than thought when this formidable doctor uses his herbs. Irreplaceable, he is one of the most precious components of the Achaean army. Iace is wide, terrible, in what seemed to be a Trojan wall made of men. He, with the fury of his ax, cuts and with his shield he scatters in the air every opponent, and the evil captain ruins the already dead land. Hector, with spear, sword and huge masses, also proceeds penetrating the Achaean lines, but far from the furious Iace. Their roads seem not to meet at the moment. Also because, without any warning, the heart of Iace begins to beat wildly, his breath is short, and the mind begins to be crowded with terrible and scary images that have as protagonist just him. This real panic attack immobilizes the champion of Salamis on the spot. Straight, standing, still, like a statue, Iace fixes nothing in front of him, with a frightened look. It was Zeus to send these scary images, to shake the heart and mind of the brave Achaean hero. Iace turns and runs away, in a disordered way, towards the ships. The Trojans, bewildered, look at that soldier who, until a moment earlier, was mocking opponents and do not realize what happened in the soul of the hero, but thank heaven that his terrible step has stopped. Seeing him on the run, they find courage and begin to throw spears at him. Eurypilus, another Achaean hero, runs to his aid and keeps the Trojan troops at bay, who are about to plunge on Iace. Parida manages, with a well-aimed arrow, to injure a leg of Eurypilus, who lies on his knees on the ground and loudly calls for reinforcements, but not for himself, but for Iace, who will certainly succumb to the fury of the Trojans. Some Achaean lines arrive and Iace, together with wounded Eurypilus, is taken back. Standing on the highest point of the bow of his ship, Achilles is listening to the battle. He is interested, but up to a certain point, in the clashes. He seems more involved in following the return of the wounded behind the wall erected in defense of the ships. He calls for Patroclus, who is quickly by his side. He orders him to go to Nestor's tent to ask who, among the various heroes, is the one that the old king of Pylos has brought to safety. Achilles, due to the distance and the speed of the horses, has not been able to understand who it is. Patroclus rushes to Nestor, who welcomes him kindly. The young man informs him of the order he received from Achilles and states that he does not want to ask Nestor an indication. With his eyes, Patroclus has in fact recognized Macaore, the doctor on the field. Nestor Apostle Patroclus, why did your king and friend send you to verify who was wounded? Perhaps his soul is now beginning to be interested in the fate of his friends that he has abandoned. He has no idea of the pain that the children of Greece are enduring. The most valuable are already here, wounded. Diomedes, Odysseus, Eurypilus and Agamemnon themselves are crudely wounded in the flesh. What awaits Achilles? To see the ships raised from the fire? To see all the Achaeans massacred? Of what value can you then boast? If I were young and had all my vigor, I would go first in line to lead our men to exterminate the Trojans, but that's not how it is. I am old and I remain unheard. But you, dear son of Menezia, you cannot speak to Achilles, so that you may wear the weapons again. I remind you that when you rolled up, your father told you to advise Achilles to act. The word of a trusted friend is worth more than a thousand advice. And then Nestor pronounces those words that will precipitate the events of this war. They are words that contain the death sentence for Patroclus. But if for some obscure prophecy he fears for himself, then let him wear his weapons and lead the glorious Mervidonians to battle. The Trojans, believing in Achilles, will certainly back down out of fear because just seeing you with Achilles' weapons would ignite all the hearts of tired Achaean soldiers. Patroclus, who could not bear this long and endless pause from the clashes, feels that his chest is shaking. In his heart he perceives that Nestor's solution could make the Achaean forces gain time. Without saying a word, he begins to run towards Achilles' quarters. He bumps into Eurypilus, who visibly stumbles because of the wound that no one has yet healed. Merciful, Patroclus stops and helps the hero to get up and bandage his thigh. To Eurypilus' dismay for the situation of the Greeks, Patroclus, smiling, embraces him. My friend, now that I have medicated you, I can return to the tents of the son of Peleus. I want to communicate a precious advice from Nestor wise guardian of the Achaeans. And he runs away, impatient and eager to meet his destiny. Patroclus does not know that if Achilles welcomes Nestor's advice, soon he will walk in the Hade. Let me know if you liked this episode by writing a comment and putting a like. Share with your friends the episodes you liked the most. You have the most beautiful and sincere way to help me make this channel known. If you haven't done it yet, subscribe. In this way you will not miss any new episode. Do you believe in this project and want to give a contribution? Click on the TP link in the description and find out how you can support it. At this same address you will find news and posts that I update regularly. In the posts, among other things, I answer the questions that are posted on the various platforms, but to which it is still not possible to answer. Thanks to Speranza and Giacomo, patrons of this project. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have just listened to an episode of the podcast Mythology, the wonderful stories of the ancient world. Tell them to me, Alessandro Gelaina. Thank you for tuning in. Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Castbox, Spreaker, you choose. Sign up for this podcast on your favorite platform. See you in the next episode.