Desperate to wear his armor, Patroclus spews to Achilleus the hardships of the Greeks . Achilleus agrees and the two exchange armor, followed by a prayer to Zeus that Patroclus returns unharmed in addition to the ships returning unharmed. This we know to be unlikely. Patroclus is able to slaughter a great deal of brave men, including Sarpedon, to the angering of Zeus. It is within this anger that Zeus decides to kill Patroclus through the help of Apollo and Hektor. Hektor stands over Patroclus, taunting him in his last moments only to be bemused by the foretelling of his own death. By acting shamefully in his taunting of the mortally wounded, Hektor diminishes his ability to claim any credit for the killing, although some τιμή will become his. Upon Patroclus' death, Euphorbus first tries to retrieve Achilles' armor from him but is brutally killed in pursuit. Ajax and Menelaus are able to protect the body from desecration despite Hektor retrieving the armor for himself.
In understanding of Hektor's ominous fate, Zeus enstils great power to Hektor, knowing all the well his futile prospects at living. As the Achaeans force the Trojans to run, Aeneas summons the fleeing men to turn around and prepare for battle. In an effort to secure the chariot, Hektor unsuccessfully throws a spear at Automedon, who dodges the attack and instead strips a then slain Trojan of his armor under the understanding that it eases the grief of Patroclus's spirit. Not cool.
It is then that I decide, disguised as a Phoenix, to give renewed strength to Menelaus. Zeus directs battle toward Trojan favor as Meriones and Menelaus carry Patroclus's body off.
Achilles loses his grip when he discovers Patroclus died. His sorrow is so great that he flails around like a wet dust cloth, crying continually. Thetis hears Achilles' pain and appears amongst an army of water-nymphs, lending an ear of comfort. Vowing to avenge Hektor, Achilleus agrees to Thetis' request to hold off until a new set of armor is made. Prompted by, Hera, Achilles appears on the battlefield alongside me and lets out a freightning cry that scares off the Trojans. Hektor then convinces the Trojans to again enact a full assault, aided by my enchantment of decreased decision-making powers on behalf of the Trojans. Meanwhile, Patroclus' body is prepared for burial pending Achilles' regengeful slay of Hektor. Thetis meanwhile is able to convince Hephaestus to create an elaborate shield for Achilleus in addition to various armor.
Although Achilleus is a brave and just man, it is within his instruction to Patroclus that I see an audible illustration of his true nature. Like a fitting Greek, Achilleus is primarily concerned first with his τιμή. To obtain this τιμή, Achilleus does so by upholding to the classification of ἄριστος through his godlike combat. Achilleus is indeed the best warrior. Reciting to the doomed man, “But obey to the end this word I put upon your attention so that you can win, for me, great honor and glory in the sight of all the Danaans, so they will bring back to me the lovely girl, and give me shining gifts in addition. When you have driven them from the ships, come back; although later the thunderous lord of Hera might grant you the winning of glory, you must not set your mind on fighting the Trojans, whose delight is in battle, without me. So you will diminish my honor.” (83) It is from the gifting of the lovely girl and the shining gifts that Achilleus seeks to acquire more τιμή. Achilleus only wants to trick the Trojans into thinking it is himself raging on that battlefield. However, he only succeeds in transferring the bullseye of death from one hero to another, to the great, unfortunate sorrow of only himself.
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