HTC210 War and the Hero Classical Epic Lachlan Nicolson

Minor Assessment Student ID: 124670

Priam and Achilles: A Journey to the Underworld

The Iliad is an epic rich with death imagery, however it is the depth of the last book that truly
shows the extent of Homers focus on death and the Underworld. This paper will analyze the
passage describing Priams journey to the Achaean campsite. It will focus on this voyage as a
metaphor for journeying to the Underworld. It will discuss the cultural significance of catabasis
in epic literature as well as specific literary tools used by Homer to represent the unworldly
voyage. These include the night time setting, divine intervention and the representation of
Achaean camp.
Priams journey to Achilles shelter at the Achaean campsite not only depicts the Kings venture
to reclaim the body of Hector, but also his own catabasis or crossing into Hades. The theme of
travelling to the Underworld is culturally traditional in a range of epic poetry, both Greek and
Near Eastern
1
. Many gods, protagonists or heroes are often depicted making the journey
between worlds. For example, characters such as Gilgamesh, Heracles, and Innana have all
transcended to the land of the dead accomplish a task.
2
In Priams case he must reclaim the
body of his son Hector as it symbolically represents the social fabric of Troy and the importance
of the family institution. The metaphor of catabasis is further supported through the manner in
which Priam travels to the campsite. The methods of Priams entry to the Achaean campsite are
synonymous with ways that other characters have entered the Underworld in other epics.
Divine help, swift movement and sleep are consistently used as approaches to overcoming the
descent to Hades in epic literature.
3
The aid of Hermes, as directed by Zeus, allows Priam to
complete the journey. Such a feat would not likely have been possible without help from the
gods. This theme of divine intervention is a common occurrence in epic literature. For example,
the manner in which Hermes puts the Achaean guards to sleep can be likened to the Sibyl

1
Miguel Herrero De Juregui, Priams Catabasis: Traces of the Epic Journey to Hades in Iliad 24, Transactions of
the American Philological Association 141 (2011) p. 39.
2
De Juregui, Priams Catabasis, p. 39.
3
De Juregui, Priams Catabasis, p. 46.
HTC210 War and the Hero Classical Epic Lachlan Nicolson
Minor Assessment Student ID: 124670

making Cerberus sleep in Aeneid.
4
Such reoccurring themes symbolize the cultural importance
of the gods and their influence in Homeric literature. Priams catabasis also reflects the theme
of heroic journeys to unknown lands, which are not uncommon in classical epics. A journey into
the land of the dead would be perceived as being one of the longest and most treacherous of
expeditions. This is a reflection of the expedition undertaken by the Achaeans in order to
retrieve Helen, but now it is Priam who must reclaim Hectors corpse.
In addition to the cultural significance of catabasis, there are also many literary devices and
signifiers used by Homer that allude to the interpretation that Priams journey to the Achaean
camp as a metaphor for his descent into the Underworld. The appearance of Patroclus in Book
23 serves as a premise for the introduction of the Hades representation in Book 24.
5
This
suggests that the Underworld will soon be present in the poem once again. Further it implies
that the Underworld may resolve issues for characters such as Priam and Achilles. The main
signifiers of the descent into Hades in this passage include: the river, the night, the guidance of
Hermes and the nature of Achilles royal shelter. The river in this case represents the river Styx,
a physical boundary between this world and Hades. The mention of Ilus tomb before the river
especially reinforces the notion of death and indicates that Priam and Idaeus are crossing the
boundary to the Underworld. Ilus tomb, mentioned earlier in Books 10 and 11, separates the
frontier between the Trojans and the Achaeans. In a metaphysical sense the river and the
tomb represent the barrier which separates the world of the living from that of the dead. The
nighttime setting of the passage further alludes to an environment of darkness and gloominess.
Ways in which the realm of Hades is often described. However it also provides a sense of hope.
If Priam can complete the journey then dawn will meet him, meaning that he will have
succeeded in recovering the corpse of his son.
Lastly there is the likeness between Achilles camp and the realm of Hades. Achilles royal
shelter inside the camp is described as being a large, tall and imposing lodge with a roof, a
spacious courtyard with a secure fastened gate.
6
This symbolizes the palace complex inside

4
De Juregui, Priams Catabasis, p. 48.
5
Robert Fagles, trans., The Iliad of Homer (New York: Penguin Books USA), p. 561.
6
Fagles, Iliad, p. 603.
HTC210 War and the Hero Classical Epic Lachlan Nicolson
Minor Assessment Student ID: 124670

Hades. Homer then writes on, describing that it takes three men to open or close the gate
7
.
These three men or guards may be interpreted being the three heads of Cerberus, the guardian
of Hades. Also in this sense the guards of the camp represent the danger of Cerberus to one
who tries to enter Hades. As mentioned, this danger is quelled by Hermes putting the guards to
sleep. The next representation is the structure of the gate to Achilles tent. It is described as
having a single pine beam and that Achilles himself could ram [the pine beam] home itself.
8

This is consistent with the god Hades being described as the fastener of the gate.
9
The notion
that Achilles lodging is part of Hades and that he is not dissimilar to the god of the Underworld
suggests that Achilles already belongs to the land of the dead. This signifies to the reader that
Achilles is destined to die soon. The premise of Thetis weeping in the earlier passage further
reinforces this notion as she is already mourning for the future passing of her son.
10

Homers Iliad focuses on many themes and issues however death and the Underworld is one of
the most prevalent. The passage describing Priams descent to Achilles camp to collect Hectors
body is a metaphor for his journey to the realm of Hades. The cultural significance of catabasis
is demonstrate through recurring themes in other works of epic literature as well as reoccurring
themes of accomplishing a task by visiting the land of the dead reinforces this point. Further,
literary devices such as the premise of Patroclus ghost, the night time setting, divine
intervention and the representation of the river Styx also contribute to this metaphor. Finally
the analogy between the Achaean camp, shown through likenesses in guards and building
structures, further supports this argument.

Word count: 1043



7
Fagles, Iliad, p. 603
8
Fagles, Iliad, p. 603.
9
De Juregui, Priams Catabasis, p. 46.
10
Fagles, Iliad, p. 591.
HTC210 War and the Hero Classical Epic Lachlan Nicolson
Minor Assessment Student ID: 124670

Bibliography

De Juregui, M., Priams Catabasis: Traces of the Epic Journey to Hades in Iliad 24,
Transactions of the American Philological Association 141 (2011): 37-68
Fagles, Robert, trans. The Iliad of Homer, New York: Penguin Books USA New York, 1990.