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Book Eleven
but once committed to action sacrificed the possibility of manoeuvre (cf.
Thuc. 5.71—2) and could not rally if broken.
gi-283 As the Trojans flee Agamemnon launches a ferocious attack and slays eight
named Trojans with great brutality. Hektor does not oppose him, having been warned
by Z eus through Iris to hold back until Agamemnon is disabled and withdraws.
Agamemnon's last victim, Koon, maddened by the death of his brother, wounds the king
in the arm before he is killed. Agamemnon keeps the field for a time, but at last is
overcome by pain and is driven off to the ships
In broad terms - and in some details - Agamemnon's onslaught is told in
similar fashion to that of Akhilleus at 20.353-21.135. Hektor is kept out of
sight by divine agency; the Achaean executes a massacre; his pursuit of the
routed Trojans is compared to forest fire; the rout is described; the hero's
hands drip blood (169 = 20.503); the massacre is then resumed.
The form of the narrative and particularly its balance will best be apprehended
by a schematic summary:
84-91 Prefatory general description, with a quasi-simile.
91-100 Agamemnon slays Bienor and Oileus. They are not identified.
The manner of Bienor's death is unspecified, Oileus is
speared through the head.
101-21 Agamemnon slays the brothers Isos and Antiphos.
102-4: they are identified as sons of Priam.
104-6: brief anecdote.
Isos is speared, Antiphos killed with the sword.
113—19: simile.
122-47 Agamemnon slays the brothers Peisandros and Hippolokhos.
123-5: they are identified by a brief anecdote.
126-47: they are petrified and surrender but Agamemnon
spears Peisandros and decapitates Hippolokhos with his
sword
148-62 General description, with simile.
A 163-4 Zeus keeps Hektor out of trouble.
165-80 More general description, with simile.
BX 181-210 Zeus, through Iris, warns Hektor to keep away until
Agamemnon is wounded and withdraws. Hektor will then
have victory.
211 -16 Trojan rally.
216-63 Resumed aristeia (216-17, ev 8' 'Ayaueuvcov | Trpcoxos
opoua' = 91-2).
Agamemnon slays Iphidamas and Koon. The slayings are
231