A Noble Warrior and a Loving Companion (BLOG # 3)

3. Patroclus is a noble comrade and warrior. Do you agree?

Prove your answer by citing details from the book. 

Who is PATROCLUS? He is the son of Menoetius, grandson of Actor, King of Opus, and Achilles' favorite companion. Patroclus is a man of loyalty because of his loyalty and devotion to the Greek Army and of course, because of his unbreakable loyalty to his best friend AND/OR LOVER???, ACHILLES (who is his cousin, for your info).
His Loyalty, however, was tested to the Greek Army when he engage himself into battle as a substitute for Achilles who in that time does not want to join the said battle.

(1)

In his childhood, Patroclus accidentally killed his friend, Clysonymus, where they had a quarrel over a game of dice. His father, Menoetius, and him went away in exile to hide from revenge. Eventually, they took shelter at the palace of King Peleus and there, Patroclus first met Achilles and since then they became good companions.
King Peleus, sent the 2 young warriors into the wilderness where Chiron, the cave-dwelling wise king of the Centaurs, will raise them and teach them how to be skilled and wise warriors.

It is said that Patroclus is somehow older than Achilles.


 Patroclus is a loyal brother-in-arms to Achilles. For instance, when Achilles asks Patroclus to search an area and look for any casualties, Patroclus would follow his orders without any question and knowing that he could get himself into risk while doing it during an on-going war. Patroclus does what Achilles asks him to do without any hesitation or regret for the reason Achilles is the leader of the mighty Myrmidons (brave, fierce, and skilled warriors during the Trojan War), and another is that he loved Achilles very much. Patroclus is determined and passionate, but impulsive and reckless, as seen in his actions in the epic poem, ILIAD.

(2)

As the tide of turned away from the Greeks and the Trojans burned their ships, Patroclus cant stand seeing the Greeks further losses to the enemy and convinced Achilles to lend him his armor and lead the mighty myrmidons into battle. By this event, it eventually lead to his death. Patroclus' assault pushed back to the gates of Troy the fearful Trojans, even Hector, the Greatest Trojan warrior, for they thought it was 'Achilles' who is driving them back. He only did this to uplift the spirits of the Greek Warriors and let the Trojans fell back with FEAR. Unfortunately, Patroclus disobeyed Achilles because his order was to only save the burning ships and not attack the Trojans but because of his LUST for combat, he did not listen to the advise of Achilles and with this, he was distracted by Apollo (God of the Sun), wounded by Euphorbos, and finally killed by Hector. Patroclus had killed 53 Trojan soldiers including the Son of Zeus, Sarpedon. 

This shows how noble and loyal Patroclus is to the Greek Army. His death showed that he fulfilled his duty as a warrior and he died with no regrets for he knew to himself that he has done something noble for his land.

***ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT PART OF THE ASSIGNED BOOKS, I WOULD LIKE TO ELABORATE MY DISCUSSION UP TO THE EFFECTS OF THE DEATH OF PATROCLUS!***

The DEATH of Patroclus is the cause of the devastating return of Achilles to the war against the Trojans. Achilles, with mixed rage and grief, set aside his issues with King Agamemnon and went back to the battlefield unarmed. It is said that his mother, Thetis, presented his new armor forged by Hephaestus and used it as he appears back in the battlefield to avenge his beloved, Patroclus. There, Achilles killed Hector, the killer of Patroclus, and desecrated his body, tying it by the heels to his chariot and dragging it through the dust.

Achilles hardly accept the fact that Patroclus is dead and he grieves greatly; he even refused to dispose the body of his beloved but he was soon persuaded as Patroclus appeared to him saying that he couldn't enter the underworld without a proper cremation. 

The funeral of Patroclus takes place where Achilles offered horses, dogs, and 12 Trojan captives before cremating Patroclus in the funeral pyre and his bones were put into a golden urn and eventually buried it.
This event marked the funeral games in honor of his beloved departed. The games include:

• Chariot Race (Won by DIOMEDES)
• Boxing ( Won by EPEIOUS)
• Wrestling (Draw b/w AIAS and ODYSSEUS)
• Foot Race (Won by ODYSSEUS)
• Duel (Draw b/w AIAS and DIOMEDES)
• Discus Throw (Won by POLYPOITES)
• Archery (Won by MERIONES)
• Javelin Throw (Won by AGAMEMNON, unopposed) 

WHAT COULD BE THE POSSIBLE REACTION BETWEEN THE 2 PARTIES???

For the GREEKS:  One possible reaction is that they will feel sad because of the loss of a worthy and noble warrior and comrade. Nestor will feel sad as well because it is not on Hector's plan that Patroclus will die. It is a great shock that Patroclus is dead and all of the Greek soldiers are grieving for they lost a very loyal warrior like him.

For the TROJANS: One possible reaction is that they will think its all a big 'set-up' because they indeed lost a great number of soldiers. They even felt confused because when Hector killed "Achilles" (who is Patroclus), they rejoiced for their hero killed the Greatest Greek Hero. unfortunately, when Hector took of the helmet, they were all shocked of what they saw and it was Patroclus. Another is that they will feel terrified for the fact that Achilles is still alive and is hunting each one of them to have his revenge.

(3)

If you would ask me, it only shows that Patroclus is indeed a NOBLE WARRIOR. Of the given possible reactions, Patroclus put his life into risk just to show how loyal he is to his land and to die with honor. He killed a good number of Trojan troops for an ordinary warrior like him. He is a brave warrior for he wanted to act & dress as 'Achilles' and lead the mighty Myrmidons against the Trojans in battle. Patroclus is considered to be a strong-willed man for he died because of his will to defeat the Trojans.

 PATROCLUS' LOVE STORY

The video above summarizes the topic I discussed to you. I hope this simple video presentation could be a big help. The video also narrates the 'FRIENDSHIP' between Achilles and Patroclus.

I really had fun in doing this one because I am really interested and I even feel intrigued.

Thank you for stopping by to read my post.See you on the next one.

Ciao for now!

- Gelo Gonzales -

REFERENCES:

http://journal.thecanadianmedz.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/achilles-healing-patroclus.jpg

http://www.vroma.org/images/raia_images/achillesmourning.jpg

http://www.deviantart.com/download/150098916/Iliad___Achilles_and_Patroclus_by_xEmoxRazorbladex.png