Combat & Classics Ep. 81 Homer’s “Iliad” Book 23

After our antepenultimate Iliad episode comes... the penultimate episode! In Book 23, Hector is dead, and Achilles mourns Patroclus, who comes to Achilles in a dream and demands a funeral. So Achilles organizes funeral games: chariot and foot races, boxing and wrestling, and more. The Argives compete, and contend over the justice of their competition. We ask: why does Homer's description Continue Reading …

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Combat & Classics Ep. 80 Homer’s “Iliad” Book 22

Here's our antepenultimate episode on the Iliad! In Book 22, Apollo, disguised as Agenor, lures Achilles away from Troy. When he sees through the deception, Achilles goes after Hector, and chases him around the city's walls. This goes on until Athena disguises herself as Deiphobus, and tricks Hector into facing Achilles. Then Achilles kills Hector, and drags his corpse around behind his Continue Reading …

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Combat & Classics Ep. 79 Homer’s “Iliad” Book 21

We're back, with our preantepenultimate episode on the Iliad! In Book 21, we get into the action. Achilles kills so many Trojans that the river Scamander protests the mess he is making. So Achilles fights the river, and nearly dies. Then there is a war between the gods; they lay it on without restraint. Meanwhile, Achilles kills two of Priam's sons, Continue Reading …

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Combat & Classics Ep. 78 Homer’s “Iliad” Book 20

In Book 20, Achilles gets new armor from his mom, and rejoins the battle. Zeus tells the gods to take sides, and to go nuts. And Achilles faces Aeneas and Hector, and fights them, so that the gods have to save them. Brian, Shilo, and Jeff talk about why Achilles' single combat with Aeneas is the centerpiece of the book, Continue Reading …

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Combat & Classics Ep. 77 Homer’s “Iliad” Book 19

We're back! And so is Achilles. But what is he back for? Join Brian, Shilo, and Jeff as we ask why the Iliad isn't over, now that Achilles says his wrath is done. We discuss whether Achilles has a new cause for wrath, against Hector, for the death of Patroclus', and whether this new cause is the same or different from Continue Reading …

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Review: Uncovering the layers of history and politics in Andrew Lawler's "Under Jerusalem"

Science and archeology journalist, Andrew Lawler, has made a name for himself writing unique and compelling books on somewhat unconventional subjects. His first book, Why Did the Chicken Cross the World?, explored the cultural history of the domesticated chicken and how it spread across the globe. — Read the rest

C&C Ep. 76 Homer’s “Iliad” Book 18

Achilles is crushed by Patroclus' death.  Thetis, his mother, helps him to revenge himself on Hector by asking Hephaestus to make Achilles some new armor.  We ask about the elaborate and famous description of Achilles' shield.  How should we understand the details on this shield, which looks like the world of the living?  Does the shield conceal the world of Continue Reading …

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C&C Ep. 75 Homer’s “Iliad” Book 17

Shilo gets a new gig, and we offend a whole county!  But back in the Iliad, Patroclus is dead, and the Greeks and Trojans fight over his body.  Why is a whole book concerned with Patroclus' body?  And why do we care about the armor and the horses of Achilles?  Brian, Shilo and Jeff talk about how this book contributes to Continue Reading …

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C&C Ep. 74 Homer’s “Iliad” Book 16

In this book, Achilles comes upon the crying Patroclus, and pities and chides him.  Then Patroclus puts on Achilles' armor, joins the fight, is stunned by Apollo, and killed by Hector.  Brian, Shilo and Jeff ask why Achilles lets Patroclus join the fight wearing Achilles' armor, when Achilles himself says he is ready to return to battle?  We explore Achilles' Continue Reading …

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