1. Book XXI
The aristeia of Achilles continues.
He captures twelve young men to be used as sacrifices
at Patroclus’ funeral.
He kills the unarmed boy Lykaon, whom he had
previously captured and accepted ransom.
He kills many Trojans and dumps their bodies in the
river, which angers the river god.

5. Achilles fights the river

6. The river god Skamandros attacks
Achilles, and battle rages
Hephaestus is
sent to set the
river on fire
and rescue
Achilles.

7. The gods continue fighting

8. The fight comes to the very gates of Troy

9. The Trojan Agenor
stands firm. He faces
Achilles, fights and
dies, but this
diversion allows the
rest of the Trojans to
escape into their
city.

11. Book XXII

12. Priam opens the gates, and the Trojans
retreat inside the city

13. Although his parents plead with him not to go, Hector
decides to face Achilles outside the wall of the city

15. Achilles and Hector Fight

16. Achilles chases Hector around the walls of
Troy

19. Apollo encourages Hector to fight

21. Athena helps Achilles

22. Apollo abandons Hector

23. Achilles kills Hector

25. Priam and Hekuba beg Achilles to respect their
son’s body

26. Before Hector dies, he begs to have his body
returned to his family. Achilles refuses, instead
dragging Hector’s body behind his chariot

29. Priam,
Hekuba, and
Andromache
lament the
death of
Hector.

31. Book XXIII
Achilles still mourns for Patroclus, who comes to
him in a dream and asked to be buried. The
pyre is assembled and lit. Achilles drags
Hector’s body around the pyre many times.

34. Finally, the spirit of Patroclos comes to Achilles,
asking for his funeral. He wants his bones in the
same urn as Achilles’

40. Achilles holds funeral games in honor of
Patroclus

41. First is the chariot race, won by Diomedes

43. Though there is some squabbling about the prizes,
Achilles soothes everyone, and even awards a
wisdom prize to Nestor

44. Epeios wins at boxing

45. Odysseus and Ajax wrestle to a draw

46. Odysseus wins the foot race

47. Diomedes and Ajax battle to a draw with
spears

48. Polypoitus wins the shot put

49. Meriones wins the archery contest

51. Achilles names Agamemnon best at the
javelin without a contest

52. Book XXIV
Nine days pass.
On each of those
days Achilles
continues to drag
Hector’s body.

53. Iris is sent to Priam to encourage him to
ransom Hector’s body

55. Priam prepares for this dangerous mission

56. Hermes is watching over him

57. Priam supplicates Achilles

59. Although Achilles is a respected warrior, Priam’s
lineage is longer and more impressive

61. Note
Hector’s
body under
the couch.

62. Achilles finally
agrees to return
Hector’s body

63. A truce is called for Hector’s funeral

64. Elegiac speeches are given by
Andromache, Hekuba

65. And Helen

66. The poem ends with the funeral of Hector
and the mourning of the Trojans