Mnemosyne — Classical Greek Myth Library

In the tenth year of the war, Chryses, priest of Apollo, came to the Achaean camp with ransom for his daughter Chryseis, captive prize of Agamemnon. The army urged acceptance; Agamemnon refused with insults and drove the old man away. Chryses prayed to Apollo Smintheus; the god came down in anger and shot a plague into the camp—first mules and dogs, then men—for nine days. On the tenth, Achilles, prompted by Hera, called an assembly. Calchas, protected by Achilles’ word, declared that Apollo would not lift the plague until Chryseis was returned unransomed and a hecatomb sent to Chryse. Agamemnon agreed to give her back but demanded another prize in compensation, threatening to take Ajax’s or Odysseus’s or Achilles’ own. Achilles answered with open rage: the spoils were already shared; Agamemnon always took the larger share while Achilles bore the fighting. Agamemnon seized the insult and announced he would take Briseis from Achilles’ hut. Athena, sent by Hera, caught Achilles by the hair as he drew his sword and ordered him to abuse with words only; he obeyed, sheathing the blade, and cursed Agamemnon before the host. Nestor tried to reconcile them; both refused. Odysseus took Chryseis home by ship with the hecatomb; Agamemnon’s heralds Talthybius and Eurybates fetched Briseis from Achilles, who let her go weeping and did not resist. Achilles sat apart by the sea, withdrew from battle, and swore by the sceptre that the Achaeans would need him when Hector drove them among the ships—and Agamemnon would regret dishonoring the best of the Achaeans.