Greek Epics XXIV: Iliad Book 23, or That’s Your Funeral (If Your Name is Patroklos)

Posted byTriumvir ClioPosted inGreek Epics, The Greeks

The Ancient Greeks knew how to throw a funeral!

Before we get to the discussion prompts, I did promise to share the song from whence I derived the subtitle of this episode. For those of you to whom this is new, enjoy! And for those of you who already know the song, enjoy singing along!

And for your listening pleasure, a little Anna Russell. And by “a little”, I mean almost 30 minutes. The funeral line I mentioned in the episode comes near the end, but the entire thing is funny whether or not you know opera, Shakespeare, or Italian.

Discussion Prompts
  1. Human sacrifice? Discuss.
  2. Aphrodite and Apollo keep Hektor’s body from decomposing and being eaten by the dogs. What does this say about Hektor? What does it say about Achilles?
  3. What do the funeral games symbolize?
  4. Why do you think Achilles announces that Agamemnon has won the spear toss?
  5. Does the ghost of Patroklos really appear? Or is it just a dream? Why?

Published by Triumvir Clio

I have a BA in History and Classical Civilization from Loyola University Chicago and an MPH from Western Michigan University. I've been a geometry teacher, a religion teacher, a writing tutor. I'm a writer, a knitter, a dancer, a singer, an actor. And, yes, for fun I like to reread everything that was assigned while getting my classics degree.

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