Agamemnon

Book 7, Part 2.2: Nestor’s Speech

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ Leave a comment

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read Previous Post Click HERE.

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Nestor amuses me every time. Every. Time. His speech is actually important to many academics for Reasons, but I cut most of it BECAUSE we don’t have time for that.

Talthybius, the messenger dude. KEEPS. SHOWING. UP. One of the problems of reading and writing as I go and not planning anything means I don’t actually know who is going to be important. Like, BTW, there are two Sarpedon’s and I was like: “Make sure you don’t mix up the Sarpedon’s Naomi,” AND I’M PRETTY SURE I DID ANYWAY.

Um. Anyway.

Thoas and Eurypylus will probably die so I hope you are not attached. I tried not to make them too remarkable. I don’t really know why they pop up here with our other main characters *shrugs* But who knows?

And, same as last week, we will be skipping over Monday and the next post will be Wednesday. I am hoping, hoping, hoping, I can make some sort of progress, but with Christmas Season on its way (yay for retail) I honestly Can Not Make Promises because I will probably break them. I also have a short wedding celebration trip in October, sooooooo…. Not a lot of extra time *cries* BUT OH WELL.

Hope you are having a lovely week!

Join us next Wednesday for: Lots are Chosen.

Book 7, Part 2.1: Menelaus Tries to Be Brave

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 1 Comment

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read Previous Post Click HERE.

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And lo! I have returned! I’m not dead! July my depression kicked me in the gut, which messed with my anxiety, which was – – – –

So……… I started this post 24 August and now that it’s ALMOST AN ENTIRE MONTH LATER. -_- My hours went up which was Great, because Monies, but ALSO then I had no time at all for projects. It is a difficult struggle to balance Money and Projects. Ehk.

Ah, Menelaus. He tries. I love his nameless attendants and how relieved they are.

Annnnnnd…. That’s all for now folks! We are skipping Monday and there won’t be another post until Wednesday. I know, I know. I wish I could be more consistent with this, but my room is half-organized, my WIP is only one chapter edited, my other WIP needs to be pieced together, sewn, and cut. Also, I need to edit my Song of Roland Comedy that I have needed to do since 2016. -_-

ANYWAY. I HOPE YOUR DAY IS MAGNIFICENT. I LOVE YOU ALL.

Book 7, Part 1.2: Hector’s Challenge

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 1 Comment

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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I wonder if it’s painful at all for Helenus to suddenly have this kind of information beamed down into his head. Does he have visions? Does he just suddenly know? So many questions. #allofthequestions

And ah, the ol’ “You’re not going to die, that isn’t your Fate yet.” And you’re so relieved you’re not going to die you COMPLETELy FORGET that little word “YET.”

I find it fascinating that in order to get everyone to sit down and to call a ceasefire all you have to do is stand in between the armies with your spear horizontal in front of you. So the next time your in an ancient Greek war… Now you’ll know.

See you next week for the Greeks’ response to this challenge!

 

Book 6, Part 1.1: No Mercy

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 3 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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I was excited because Acamas showed up again and I didn’t think he would… And then Ajax happened.

What I love about the Iliad are how many stories are untold. Like Axylus. There is a whole story there we are only given a peek of.

I feel like there’s more I wanted to say, but this is my first day without having to go to work or do paperwork and I feel a little bit like death. Or maybe like Tisiphone, or whoever it is who stands over the lake of fire in the Aeneid. ANYWAY. I hope you have a good day lovelies! I’ll get you Part 1.2 and recaps at some point. I have a less crazy life for the next to weeks so *fingers crossed* I can get caught up on life.

To Read The Advice of Helenus Click HERE.
To Read About Hittite Prayers & Terror and Panic Click HERE.

Book 5, Part 5.2: Ares and the Lessons of War

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read  the Previous Post Click HERE.

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I love how Homer goes out of his way to prove Agamemnon wrong and incompetent as a leader. He says you can never retreat, but both Aeneas and Diomedes do it, and they both have gained glory and honour. Both show up later in The Aeneid (although, yes, Aeneas has a greater role, but still) and both are important cult figures.

Also, Ares turned out better in these ones. He had some weird body issues happening in The Wounding of Aphrodite. I think this just proves that he is better in battle than at waiting by Scamander. Right? Right.

I want the scene between Aeneas and Apollo when Apollo just wakes up, healed. I want that entire temple scene with Aeneas and Leto and Artemis and Apollo waiting outside patiently. OH. I think it is important to note that Apollo was connected to healing (especially through his son Asklepios).

If you’re wondering who Enyo is…. I’ll explain later. Hopefully. If I have time. *dies laughing at the idea of having time*

ALSO I never want to work two jobs and put up three posts in a week while ALSO prepping Sunday posts for the next month and a half because it is way too stressful.

I have a lot of family things happening this weekend so I’m worried about having the post up in time on Monday, but I don’t want to get out of sync again -_- Ugh to being an adult and having to work long hours *faints*

ANYWAYS, have a good weekend my lovelies!

To Read Sarpedon vs. Tlepolemos Click HERE.

Book 5, Part 1.2: The Death of Trojans

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
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Athena randomly being angry at Ares and pulling him aside seems kind of sudden and odd – – until we remember that Athena just gave the Argives an advantage and wants to be sure Ares doesn’t think to do the same. She wants the Argives to have as much time as possible to kill as many Trojans as possible.

I find Idomeneus to be slightly unhinged and his brother Meriones as being a bit bloodthirsty. I also see both counting the deaths they deal as sacrifices to their gods. I’m not sure why I’m thinking this? I don’t know much about early Crete… But that’s what Idomeneus is doing in the fourth panel, looking up to his god and trying to honour Him with Phaestus’ death. I’m not sure that Phaestus appreciates this…

Honestly, this part of the story I find to be very depressing and I found myself emotional as I drew it. Homer gives us these little windows into the lives of the Trojans who are being killed. The question is why? Are we supposed to feel bad for them? To see their deaths as useless and pointless? Or maybe it’s supposed to make us feel like their deaths are valid. Phereclus has a really horribly painful death – – but he IS the one who made the ships for Paris, so this war is, in some respects, his fault. Pedaeus is an illegitimate son. And yet… Phaestus was just a local Trojan ally. Odios probably was as well. Scamandrios has dedicated himself to Artemis, which means he would have been a young, virgin dude who really had no business being at war. Hypsenor was the son of a priest. Did any of these guys really deserve to die? I think Homer is saying, “Absolutely not.” Which. Is not surprising. The Iliad is usually thought of as a Greek work, because it has come down to us from Greeks. However, Homer is said to be from Lydia. Lydia is in Asia Minor. He was from the same area as Trojans. The Iliad is often way more pro-Trojan than pro-Achaean/Argive/Greek. The Greeks are vicious and bloodthirsty and angry and cruel. The Trojans are merely trying to defend their city.

I think this is especially clear when we consider the final panel. The Argives toil in war, but the Trojans that they have just killed? They are traders and merchants, craftsmen and artisans, farmers and shepherds. They are innocent.

To Read The Wounding of Diomedes Click HERE.

Book 4, Part 2.2: Agamemnon is Annoying and Eris Awaits

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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Don’t mess with Odysseus, hehehe…

ALSO, I drew Diomedes with a little bit of scruff to show that time has past, because I feel like so much time has gone by with people just staring at each other or being dramatic.

Sthenelus looks a lot like how I drew Macbeth back when I was teaching. Whoops.

Also, also: yes. I have a ridiculous love of Alliteration that borders on the absurd. Shhh…

In the second to last panel you will see Terror and Panic. Panic actually showed up riding a horse in one of the previous posts. If you can find him you will prove that you have way too much time on your hands. Haha… Ahem. Sorry. One day I will actually have prizes of some sort that I will award you. I’ll be working on that this month *fingers crossed*

ANYWAYS. Next week will be “First Blood” and everything gets serious for awhile. If there is humour it will be rather macabre. BUT ALSO DIOMODES is going to be starring in most of Book 5 & 6, so we can all look forward to that.

Thank you, lovelies, and have a wonderful rest of your day!

To Read First Blood Click HERE.

Book 4, Part 2.1: Agamemnon and His Troops

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start from the Beginning, Click HERE.

To Read the Previous Post, Click HERE.

For Recaps of Book 2 & 3, Click HERE and HERE.

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This second perusal of the troops is one of the reasons why people think The Iliad was written by more than one author. It was not that long ago where we were introduced to all of the generals. Also, it’s a little awkward. I mean. Paris and Menelaus were just fighting. Agamemnon calls for war. And meanwhile, all of the Trojans are just STANDING there, twiddling their thumbs, waiting. HOWEVER, one could argue that we’re just about to plunge into battle, it’s a good idea to remind your audience of some of the Most Valuable Players, especially considering this was originally a tale that was being told outloud from memory to a crowd that may not be consistent. Repetition is important to remind people of what is going on and who is going on

Also, Nestor does not speak consistently at all, and while normally I am all about having consistent dialogue I have come to accept that Nestor just does what he likes and really doesn’t care what I think.

Also, I don’t really care about the Ajax’s (at least, not in The Iliad. Sophocle’s play is another story).

Also, also, Idomeneus finally gets to speak. Hooray for him!

Join us next time for Book 4, Part 2.2: Agamemnon is Annoying and Eris Awaits.

Book 4, Part 1.2: A Fine Fool

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 4 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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This part of the story leaves us with a question. A question that may not have an answer. Does Agamemnon actually care about his brother? We haven’t really seen him show any affection to anyone. At all. Or is he simply using Menelaus’ wound to re-start the battle and convince his soldiers to fight? Honestly, I’m not sure. I think it would be easy to say he’s just using Menelaus since he’s an arrogant illegitimate son of a lady dog HOWEVER, there is something to this freakingout-panicattack-ohgods-Agamemnon that feels legit to me. I just don’t know. I tried to leave the comic open to both possible interpretations.

Also, poor Menelaus.

Also, also: here is another question. Who is the fine fool? Is it Pandarus, who is simply listening to what a god told him to do who wanted honor and glory just as any fine soldier would? Or is it the man shouting unreasonably at the front of a battle line? I will always love my little Panda-Pandarus, so… I am biased and you’ll know what my answer is. ;P

Also, also, also: Talthybius shows up way more often than I thought he would. It really makes me want to do a mini-retelling of that one play he shows up in (Hekuba, I think?). Maybe after I finish The Iliad…*daydreams of that wonderful day*

Last Also: if you can correctly guess who all of the soldiers are in the first panel I will give you a round of applause.

NEXT WEEK we will we back with Part 2.1: Agamemnon and His Troops. Nestor is there and some random dudes and pretty much Nothing. Happens. Huzzah?

To Read Agamemnon and His Troops Click HERE.

Book 3, Part 2.2: Preparing for the Duel

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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I love how everyone is convinced Paris is going to lose the duel *cry-laughs*

My text says that Odysseus was thoughtful right in the middle of sacrifice-time and duel-time and doesn’t say why. Honestly, who knows with that man. He could be thinking about a speech, or some sort of plot, or dreaming about french fries. I know I would be.

Polydamas shows up (he’s in the panel with Diomedes). I’ve only drawn him sitting down and I kind of regret having him stand. I feel like he just always lounges around everywhere.

ALSO, if you need a reminder of who the Trojans are click HERE.

In the last panel Odin shows up. He really needs to be wearing a fabulous wizard hat, but I wanted one of his ravens to be sitting on top of his head (yes, that is a raven *ahem*). For those of you who don’t know, Odin sacrificed his eye in order to gain wisdom/knowledge. He is not actually in The Iliad, but when I imagined Zeus complaining about the burden of knowing things (which he was born with and didn’t need to sacrifice body parts for) Odin just popped up being all, “Really?” and I knew I had to sneak him in here. Mwahahahaha…

Next time we will actually be able to get to the dueling part. SPOILERS, Paris doesn’t die.

To Read a “Scary Story” Click HERE.
To Continue and Read Aphrodite Intervenes Click HERE.