HOMER

original: "Ο Μ Η Ρ Ο Υ"

When the countless tribes wandering across the land pressed upon the deep-breasted earth, Zeus saw them and felt pity; in his thick-beating heart, he resolved to lighten the earth, the nourisher of all, of the burden of men. He fanned the great flame of the Ilian Trojan war to empty the weight through death. And so, at Troy, the heroes were slain, and the Will of Zeus original: "Διὸς δ' ἐτελείτο βουλή" - This is a central theme in the Iliad: that the war was a divine plan to reduce the human population. was fulfilled. These matters are discussed by more recent writers regarding the Will of Zeus; however, we follow the opinion of Aristarchus and Aristophanes. They believe this "Will" refers to what the poet says in the following lines: that Zeus, having been petitioned, would avenge the dishonor shown to his son Achilles. Just as the main points are laid out in the prologue of the poem: "from the time when..." original: "ἐξ οὗ δὴ" meaning from that specific time.

at the first.) original: "ταπρῶτα" Firstly. At the beginning.
stood apart.) original: "διαστήτην" They were separated. having quarreled.) original: "ἐρίσαντι" Having contended out of a love for victory.
Son of Atreus.) original: "Ἀτρείδης" The son of Atreus, Agamemnon. According to Homer, he is the son of Atreus, son of Pelops; but according to Hesiod, his lineage is from Pleisthenes, a Mycenaean. He led the ships to Ilium. After sacking Troy, he did not return home safely but was killed by Aegisthus and Thyestes at a banquet. For while Agamemnon was away, Aegisthus committed adultery with Agamemnon's wife, Clytemnestra. According to the tragic poets, Clytemnestra herself killed him with a robe that had no opening for the head or arms A famous detail from Greek tragedy: Agamemnon was trapped in a "filter-less" garment like a net.. By her, he had a son, Orestes, and four daughters: Laodice, Chrysothemis, Iphigenia, and Electra.
Lord.) original: "Ἄναξ" King. Divine.) original: "δῖος" Noble-born...

From the time when they first stood apart in strife,
The son of Atreus, lord of men, and divine Achilles.
Which of the gods brought the two of them together to fight in strife?
10The son of Leto and Zeus. For he, being angry at the king,
Stirred up a foul plague throughout the army, and the people perished,
Because the son of Atreus had dishonored Chryses the priest.
For he had come to the swift ships of the Achaeans
To ransom his daughter, bringing boundless ransom,
Holding in his hands the ribbons of far-shooting Apollo,
Upon a golden staff, and he entreated all the Achaeans,
20But especially the two sons of Atreus, the marshals of the people.
"Sons of Atreus, and you other well-greaved Achaeans,
May the gods who hold dwellings on Olympus grant to you

...well-born, or having his lineage from Zeus. He dishonored. Either Aegina or the daughter of the river Asopus was the mother of Aeacus; from Aeacus came Telamon and Peleus; and from Peleus came Achilles.
Which of the two of them?) original: "τίς τ' ἄρσφωε" Which indeed of these two: Agamemnon and Achilles? Again, the poet asks this of the Muse.
In strife.) In a contest for victory.
Brought together.) He threw them together, he mixed them in conflict.
The son of Leto and Zeus.) The child of Leto and Zeus is Apollo. Again, this is the answer from the Muse. Zeus, having fallen in love with Leto, the daughter of Coeus (one of the Titans), made her pregnant with Phoebus Apollo. She wandered for a long time across the sea toward the west, until she reached Delos, one of the Cyclades islands. Arriving there, she grasped two plants—an olive and a palm—and gave birth to twin children:
30Artemis and Apollo. She called the island Delos because it "became visible" original: "δῆλος" means clear/visible from an "unseen" original: "ἀδήλου" base.
For he.) This one.
At the king.) Against the king Agamemnon.
Being angry.) Being enraged.
Disease.) A plague-like sickness.
Throughout the army.) Throughout the camp.
Stirred up.) He aroused it.
Foul.) Destructive.
Perished.) They died.
People.) original: "λαοί" The crowds. According to Pindar, the word for people (laoi) is derived from "stones" (laas).
The commentator here tells the myth of the Great Flood. Deucalion was the son of Prometheus. While ruling the regions around Mount Othrys, he married Pyrrha, daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora (the first woman, whom the gods fashioned). When Zeus wished to destroy the Bronze Race of men, Deucalion—following the advice of Prometheus—built an ark, placed provisions inside, and climbed in with Pyrrha. Zeus poured a vast rain from heaven and flooded most of Greece, so that all men were destroyed except for a few who fled to the nearby high mountains. At that time, the lands of Thessaly were split, and everything outside the Isthmus and the Peloponnese was submerged. Deucalion, carried through the sea in his ark for nine days and nights,
40landed on Mount Parnassus. When the rains ceased, he stepped out and sacrificed to Zeus Phyxios Zeus, the god of escape/refuge. Zeus sent Hermes to him and allowed him to ask for whatever he wished. Deucalion asked for "people" to be created for him. At Zeus's command, he picked up stones and threw them over his head. Those that Deucalion threw became men; those that Pyrrha threw became women. This story is found in Apollodorus.
Because.) On account of the fact that.
He dishonored.) He insulted him without honor.
The priest.) original: "ἀρητῆρα" A priest, from the word "to pray" (arasthai).
For he.) This one.
Came.) He arrived.
Swift.) original: "θοάς" Fast; it also means "sharp."
To the ships.) To the vessels.
To ransom.) To set free by paying a price.
Boundless.) Infinite in number; many.
Ransom.) original: "ἄποινα" Gifts given for release.
Ribbons/Garlands.) original: "στέμματα" Religious wreaths.
The commentator explains the origin of the laurel (Daphne) used in Apollo's garlands. Daphne was the most beautiful daughter of the river Ladon in Arcadia. Apollo fell in love with her and pursued her. As she was being caught by the god, she prayed to her mother, Earth, to be swallowed up. This happened, and the Earth produced a tree of the same name. Apollo,
50astonished, called the tree "Daphne" after the girl. Taking a branch from it, he crowned himself.
Holding.) Gripping or possessing.
In his hands.) In his physical hands.
Far-shooting.) Shooting from afar, or from a distance, or by means of his bow.
Upon a golden staff.) Around the gilded scepter, which is the golden royal rod.
He entreated.) He supplicated; he called upon them.
All the Achaeans.) All the Greeks.
Especially the two sons of Atreus.) Especially the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus.
Marshals.) Those who arrange or lead the people.
May the gods grant.) May the gods provide to you.
Who hold dwellings on Olympus.) Those who inhabit Mount Olympus. According to Homer, Olympus is a mountain in Mace-