I'm John Batchel with the very generous Professor Emily Wilson at the University of Pennsylvania.

Her new work is the Iliad by Homer.

And we've been approaching this scene for some moments now, Petroclos, the boon companion of Achilles, son of Palaeus.

And at some point, the conviction is brought to Achilles' son of Palaeus' camp, that he must

enter the battle because the Greeks are losing. And the Greeks have built a rampart and a moat,

and Hector, the great fighter of Troy, penetrates the wall,

and they're trying to burn the ships.

And if the ships are destroyed,

the understanding is the Greeks can't go home again.

They will be defeated.

So Achilles is persuaded that while he will not enter the battlefield, Petroclos has had planted

in his mind earlier in the drama that he can wear.

Thank you.

That he can wear Achilles' armor.

And fool people? They'll think he is Achilles, Professor. Is that the idea? Yes, at least initially the Trojans will think Achilles has come back to battle, and the concept is that that will frighten them enough that they'll be routed and start turning back towards Troy, and at least the fleet won't be burnt, and there might still be a chance for the Greeks to have a Nostar so homecoming.

Achilles warns him. What does he tell him? He says, drive Hector from the ships, but then

turn around. Don't push on right to the city because that's not a good idea for you to do

that by yourself without me. Turn around, come back to our hut.

Don't keep pushing on driving Hector back to Troy.

But of course, Petroklis has so much in common with Achilles,

including the desire for honour and the enormous skill in massacre that every great Homeric hero has.

And he doesn't want to turn around.

...