Book XVI
16 argumentative units
- 01Jove and Juno Debate Sarpedon's Fate
Jove considers saving his son Sarpedon, but Juno persuades him to let fate unfold.
- 02Patroclus Slays the Mighty Sarpedon
After Jove assents to his son's doom, Patroclus engages Sarpedon in single combat and delivers a mortal wound.
- 03Sarpedon's Dying Command to Glaucus
The dying Sarpedon urges Glaucus to protect his body, and the wounded Glaucus prays to Apollo for strength.
- 04Apollo Heals Glaucus to Rally Troy
Glaucus prays for healing, Apollo grants it, and he immediately rebukes Hector to incite the Trojans to defend Sarpedon's body.
- 05The Battle for Sarpedon's Body
Hector rallies the Trojans while Patroclus rallies the Greeks, and a fierce battle erupts over Sarpedon's corpse.
- 06The Shifting Tides of Combat
Hector kills Epigeus, but Patroclus drives the Trojans back until Glaucus turns the tide by slaying Bathyclaeus.
- 07Aeneas and Merion Exchange Taunts
After Merion kills a Trojan priest, he and Aeneas trade boasts until Patroclus urges them back to the fight.
- 08Jove Decrees More Glory for Patroclus
As the battle rages over Sarpedon's body, Jove decides to grant Patroclus more glory before his inevitable death.
- 09Apollo Prepares Sarpedon for Burial
After the Greeks capture Sarpedon's body, Jove sends Apollo to cleanse it and deliver it to Sleep and Death.
- 10Patroclus's Rampage Halted by Apollo
Patroclus slaughters many Trojans and attacks Troy's walls, but Apollo directly intervenes and warns him to retreat.
- 11Apollo Goads Hector into Battle
Disguised as Asius, Apollo urges Hector to attack Patroclus, who then kills Hector's charioteer Cebrion with a stone.
- 12The Fight for Cebrion's Corpse
After taunting the dead Cebrion, Patroclus fights Hector over the body, and the battle descends into chaos.
- 13Apollo Strikes Patroclus Down
After a final, furious charge, Patroclus is struck from behind by an invisible Apollo, who dazes him and knocks off his helmet.
- 14The Killing of Patroclus
Disarmed by Apollo and wounded by Euphorbus, the retreating Patroclus is finally speared and killed by Hector.
- 15Patroclus's Final Prophecy to Hector
Hector taunts the dying Patroclus, who retorts that fate and the gods defeated him before prophesying Hector's death by Achilles.
- 16Hector's Defiance and Patroclus's Death
After Patroclus dies, Hector dismisses the prophecy, pulls out his spear, and pursues the escaping charioteer Automedon.