The funeral of Hector

BOOK 24
Achilles is suffering from depression over the death of Patroclus, so much so he could not sleep. He decides to drag Hector’s body behind his chariot; three times he did this around the tomb of Patroclus. When he is done, Achilles leaves the body of Hector on the ground face down. The gods assembled look down from heaven and take notice of this and pity Hector, expect for Hera, Athena and Poseidon. Zeus speaks and tells Iris to go to King Priam, where she finds Priam, his sons, daughters and daughters in-law weeping and mourning Hector, and tells him to go and ransom Hector’s body. He is to have no fear in doing this, Achilles will not harm him, and taking a trusted honored servant he departs for the Greek ships.
Hermes meets Priam and his servant on the plain before Troy in the form of a young man and escorts them pass the gate and to the gate of Achilles tent. He opens the gate for Priam then departs for Olympus, giving advice on meeting with Achilles. Priam and Achilles meet, Achilles admires Priam’s courage for coming to the ships and to the one that killed so many of his sons.
After the ransom paid and Hector’s body is loaded on the wagon, they sit down to eat. Later on during the night, Hermes tells Priam to leave the ships lest Agamemnon find him there and take him captive. They make their way back to Troy, people from the city come out to mourn Hector until Priam speaks, telling to let him take the body home they then can have their fill of weeping. Andromache, Hecuba and Helen lead in the sad lament, and then the people go out and gather wood for nine days. On the tenth day they take Hector’s body to the pyre and on the eleventh day Hector’s body is burned and his ashes buried. Hector the tamer of horses