Mnemosyne — Classical Greek Myth Library

Menelaus stood over Patroclus like a mother cow over her first calf and killed Euphorbus. Hector, urged by Apollo in the shape of a man, drove Menelaus back and seized Achilles’ armor, then put it on—Zeus filled him with war-strength for a brief term. Ajax and Menelaus shielded the corpse; a long, dust-choked struggle swayed over it while Automedon fought on with the immortal horses. Antilochus ran to Achilles with the news: Patroclus was dead, the body contested, Hector had the armor. Achilles poured dust on his head and lay huge in grief. Thetis heard him from the sea-depths, rose with her sister Nereids, and clasped his head. He told her he would not live unless he killed Hector; she reminded him that his own death was fated to follow Hector’s, and he accepted it. She forbade him to enter battle unarmed and went to Olympus to beg new armor from Hephaestus. Meanwhile Iris, sent by Hera, told Achilles to show himself at the ditch. Athena cast her aegis about his shoulders and a golden cloud with flame about his head; he stood and shouted thrice—Trojans reeled, twelve died on their own spears—and the Achaeans drew Patroclus’s body in. That night the Trojans debated flight; Hector refused to retreat to the city. On Olympus Thetis found Hephaestus at his forge. He made a shield depicting earth, sky, sea, cities at peace and at war, fields, flocks, and the dance of youth; then breastplate, helmet, and greaves. She brought them at dawn to her son—the new panoply that will carry Achilles back into the war.