Phoenix plays an important role in Book 9 of the Iliad of Homer. Achilles, the Greeks' greatest warrior, has withdrawn from the war because of his great anger at his ill treatment by the Greek commander Agamemnon. Phoenix, who had been in charge of Achilles's upbringing, now an old man, has accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War. Phoenix is sent by Agamemnon to Achilles's tent, as part of an embassy with Ajax and Odysseus, to persuade Achilles to return to the battle.Hard, pp. 463–464; Gantz, p. 613; Homer, Iliad 9.165–169. Odysseus speaks first, presenting Agamemnon's offer of reconciliation,Homer, Iliad 9.225–306. an appeal which Achilles rejects utterly, saying that he will leave with his ships the next morning.Homer, Iliad 9.307–429. Next Phoenix—who as his tutor, as he reminds Achilles, has taught him "to be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds"—begins himself a long speech covering 172 lines.Homer, Iliad 9.434–605. For a detailed discussion of Phoenix's speech, see Rosner, pp. 314–327. Several scholars have questioned the authenticity of this section of the Iliad see Rosner, p. 314; Scodel, p. 129 with n. 4. Phoenix, "bursting into tears",Homer, Iliad 9.432–433. pleads passionately with Achilles to put down his anger and return to the war. Phoenix's speech presents an "exposition of heroic, traditional ethics".Scodel, p. 129.
Phoenix plays an important role in Book 9 of the Iliad of Homer. Achilles, the Greeks' greatest warrior, has withdrawn from the war because of his great anger at his ill treatment by the Greek commander Agamemnon. Phoenix, who had been in charge of Achilles's upbringing, now an old man, has accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War. Phoenix is sent by Agamemnon to Achilles's tent, as part of an embassy with Ajax and Odysseus, to persuade Achilles to return to the battle.Hard, pp. 463–464!; Gantz, p. 613; Homer, Iliad 9.165–169. Odysseus speaks first, presenting Agamemnon's offer of reconciliation,Homer, Iliad 9.225–306. an appeal which Achilles rejects utterly, saying that he will leave with his ships the next morning.Homer, Iliad 9.307–429. Next Phoenix—who as his tutor, as he reminds Achilles, has taught him "to be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds"—begins himself a long speech covering 172 lines.Homer, Iliad 9.434–605. For a detailed discussion of Phoenix's speech, see Rosner, pp. 314–327. Several scholars have questioned the authenticity of this section of the Iliad see Rosner, p. 314:; Scodel, p. 129 with n. 4. Phoenix, "bursting into tears",Homer, Iliad 9.432–433. pleads: passionately with Achilles to put down his anger and return to the war. Phoenix's. speech presents an "e.xposition of heroic, traditional ethics".Scodel, p. 129.