Book XVIII

Achilles sits by his ships, sensing doom, just before Antilochus arrives with terrible news.

Antilochus tells Achilles that Patroclus is dead, and the hero collapses in violent grief.

Hearing her son's cries, Thetis gathers the sea-nymphs and laments her own sorrowful fate.

Thetis comes to Achilles, who tells her he has lost the will to live without Patroclus.

Achilles accepts that he will die after Hector, vowing to avenge Patroclus and win glory.

Thetis promises to get new armor from Vulcan, while the battle for Patroclus's body continues fiercely.

The goddess Iris, sent by Juno, commands Achilles to show himself at the trench to terrify the Trojans.

Aided by Pallas, Achilles appears at the trench and his terrifying shout throws the Trojan army into chaos.

The Greeks bear Patroclus's body away while the Trojans, fearing Achilles, hastily call a council.

Polydamas wisely advises the Trojans to retreat behind the city walls before Achilles can attack.

Hector scorns this advice, vowing to face Achilles, and the Trojans foolishly applaud his plan.

Achilles mourns over Patroclus's body, vowing to kill Hector and sacrifice twelve Trojans at his pyre.

While Patroclus's body is prepared for burial, Jove and Juno bicker about her aid to the Greeks.

Thetis reaches Vulcan's celestial home, where the god is at work and his wife Charis welcomes her.

Vulcan recalls how Thetis saved him and approaches her, supported by two living statues of gold.

Thetis tells Vulcan of her sorrows and begs him to forge new, immortal arms for her son.

Vulcan agrees to Thetis's request and begins to forge a magnificent shield depicting the heavens and earth.

The shield depicts a city at peace, with scenes of a wedding festival and a public legal trial.

Another part of the shield shows a city under siege, an ambush, and a bloody battle.

The shield also portrays scenes of rural life: ploughing, harvesting grain, and gathering grapes in a vineyard.

Vulcan adds a scene of a cattle herd attacked by lions, followed by a depiction of a complex dance.

Vulcan completes the shield by adding the ocean and forges the remaining armor for Thetis to deliver.