A Companion to The Iliad

Thersites in the Iliad

“…. a menial, a nonentity among dynastic aristocrats, has no other dimension to his being than his physical appearance' 3 and by Mueller as 'the aristocrat's image of a perfect plebeian, an ugly loudmouth and coward'; 4 to Redfield he is 'dishonourable', 5 to Silk he is an 'upstart'; 6 and all stress his background, or rather his lack of it: 'the only common man who takes any part in the Iliad\ 7 'a noisy man of the people who is not supported by the people'. 8 In general then he is seen as a loud-mouthed common soldier who has made himself unpopular both with the leadership and with his fellow-soldiers by his verbal attacks upon the leaders, and who in Iliad 2 oversteps the mark completely by criticizing the commander-in-chief Agamemnon and in consequence receives at Odysseus' hands a punishment which is both deserved and heartily condoned by the other Achaians.…”

The Primacy of Ownership and the Problem of Plunder in Archaic Greece

“…While Geddes argues that Thersites is not a man of lesser or common rank based on the Greek, he ignores the preceeding lines where Odysseus treats leaders and officers differently from rank-and-file soldiers. Willcock (1976), p. 20, views Thersites as a common man. 59 Another instance of a herald passing the scepter to the speaker: Il.…”

“…A failed attempt at reconciliation: custom, once breached, is not a viable argumentThe evidence in Book Nine of the Iliad further clarifies the importance of ownership rights and brings to the fore a new factor, the place and importance of custom.108Willcock (1976), p. 13.AfterDespite this knowledge, they still willingly support their king.After the three Achaeans arrive and are feasted, Odysseus proceeds with his entreaty to Achilles; his speech consists of four parts, each appealing to different parts of Achilles' psyche: 1) the Trojans are bragging that no one can stop them, 2) remember your father's advice to avoid quarrels that you may win greater honor, 3) Agamemnon will give you many gifts, and 4) even if you still hate Agamemnon, take pity on us Achaeans. But, for all of Odysseus' tact, his speech does not sway Achilles;…”

The Primacy of Ownership and the Problem of Plunder in Archaic Greece

“…While Geddes argues that Thersites is not a man of lesser or common rank based on the Greek, he ignores the preceeding lines where Odysseus treats leaders and officers differently from rank-and-file soldiers. Willcock (1976), p. 20, views Thersites as a common man. 59 Another instance of a herald passing the scepter to the speaker: Il.…”

“…A failed attempt at reconciliation: custom, once breached, is not a viable argumentThe evidence in Book Nine of the Iliad further clarifies the importance of ownership rights and brings to the fore a new factor, the place and importance of custom.108Willcock (1976), p. 13.AfterDespite this knowledge, they still willingly support their king.After the three Achaeans arrive and are feasted, Odysseus proceeds with his entreaty to Achilles; his speech consists of four parts, each appealing to different parts of Achilles' psyche: 1) the Trojans are bragging that no one can stop them, 2) remember your father's advice to avoid quarrels that you may win greater honor, 3) Agamemnon will give you many gifts, and 4) even if you still hate Agamemnon, take pity on us Achaeans. But, for all of Odysseus' tact, his speech does not sway Achilles;…”