Funeral Games for Patroclus: Casting the Iron Mass (*Iliad* 23)

Funeral Games for Patroclus: Casting the Iron Mass (Iliad 23)

Catalogue ID: 04-trojan-cycle/168-funeral-games-iron-mass-polypoetes-iliad-23

Cycle: Trojan — Homeric *Iliad* / Book 23 games

Version line: Homeric — weight-throw (solos); Polypoetes victorious

Sources: Homer, *Iliad* 23.826–849

Source file: /workspace/greek-myth-catalogue/04-trojan-cycle/168-funeral-games-iron-mass-polypoetes-iliad-23.md

Characters

Ajax — competitor; outthrown by Polypoetes
Epeius — competitor; laughed at for a poor throw
Eëtion — former owner of the mass (Andromache’s father; background)
Leonteus — competitor
Polypoetes — victor; farthest cast
Trojan assembly — host; sets Eëtion’s iron as prize

Places

Thebe under Placus — source of the iron (Achilles’ sack of Eëtion)
Trojan shore — throwing ground

Themes

Abduction

Narrative

Achilles next set a rough mass of pig-iron—the throw Eëtion once used, which Achilles carried off when he sacked Eëtion’s city—as prize for whoever cast farthest. Four rose: Polypoetes, Leonteus, Ajax Telamonian, and Epeius. Epeius whirled and threw; the Achaeans laughed at his cast. Leonteus threw next; then Ajax, farther; last Polypoetes cast beyond the whole mark, as far as a herdsman throws his staff, and the crowd shouted. Polypoetes took the iron, useful—Achilles notes—for the winner’s shepherd to supply his flock with it for five years without wanting iron for the fold. The event is practical glory: a tool-prize from Achilles’ earlier sack, won by pure strength of throw. Catalogue it apart from spear, archery, and armed duel.