Source-groundedThe Iliad
All entities

Item · Individual

Achilles's chariot

Published entity metadata

Read-only identity and editorial metadata.

Canonical name
Achilles's chariot
Disambiguator
None
Kind
Item
Scope
Individual
Editorial note
The chariot Dolon seeks as the promised reward for his mission.

Aliases

1

bronze-bedizened chariot

Descriptive reference · Reported

Location presence

Phase 6 currently covers 24 processed books.

2
tomb of Patroclus2 observations
·Direct

Achilles’s chariot carried Hector around Patroclus’ tomb.

See evidence text
“There they made ready their supper, and then bethought them of the blessed boon of sleep; but Achilles still wept for thinking of his dear comrade, and sleep, before whom all things bow, could take no hold upon him. This way and that did he turn as he yearned after the might and manfulness of Patroclus; he thought of all they had done together, and all they had gone through both on the field of battle and on the waves of the weary sea. As he dwelt on these things he wept bitterly and lay now on his side, now on his back, and now face downwards, till at last he rose and went out as one distraught to wander upon the seashore. Then, when he saw dawn breaking over beach and sea, he yoked his horses to his chariot, and bound the body of Hector behind it that he might drag it about. Thrice did he drag it round the tomb of the son of Menoetius”
·Reported

Apollo reported Achilles’s chariot carrying Hector around Patroclus’ tomb.

See evidence text
“whereas Achilles, now that he has slain noble Hector, drags him behind his chariot round the tomb of his comrade”

Claims

8
·Hypothetical

Dolon demands Achilles’s bronze-adorned chariot as the sworn reward for his planned scouting.

See evidence text
“give me the chariot, bedight with bronze, and the horses that now carry the noble son of Peleus.”
·Reported

Dolon says Hector promised Achilles’s bronze-adorned chariot as payment for scouting.

See evidence text
“the horses of the noble son of Peleus and his bronze-bedizened chariot”
·Direct

Achilles’s chariot stands stock-still outside the fight as the grieving horses refuse both return to the ships and entry into battle.

See evidence text
“The horses of the descendant of Aeacus stood out of the fight and wept when they heard that their driver had been laid low by the hand of murderous Hector. Automedon, valiant son of Diores, lashed them again and again; many a time did he speak kindly to them, and many a time did he upbraid them, but they would neither go back to the ships by the waters of the broad Hellespont, nor yet into battle among the Achaeans; they stood with their chariot stock still”
·Reported

Jove declares that Hector shall drive neither Achilles’s horses nor their chariot.

See evidence text
“still, Hector son of Priam shall drive neither you nor your chariot. I will not have it.”
·Direct

Achilles’s chariot is borne swiftly into the fighting between Trojans and Achaeans by the divinely strengthened horses.

See evidence text
“he breathed heart and strength into the horses so that they shook the dust from out of their manes, and bore their chariot swiftly into the fight that raged between Trojans and Achaeans.”
·Direct

Automedon lays Aretus’s bloodstained spoils on Achilles’s chariot, then remounts with hands and feet steeped in gore.

See evidence text
“he took the blood-stained spoils and laid them upon his chariot; then he mounted the car with his hands and feet all steeped in gore”
·Direct

Achilles’s chariot axle and surrounding railing are bespattered with blood clots thrown up by the horses’ hoofs and the wheel tyres.

See evidence text
“The axle underneath and the railing that ran round the car were bespattered with clots of blood thrown up by the horses’ hoofs, and from the tyres of the wheels”
·Direct

Achilles’ chariot bears Hector’s fastened corpse and the stripped armour.

See evidence text
“thus he made the body fast to his chariot, letting the head trail upon the ground. Then when he had put the goodly armour on the chariot”

Additional evidence

Evidence records not already represented by a claim.

7
·Hypothetical
“the chariot, bedight with bronze, and the horses that now carry the noble son of Peleus”
·Direct
“pole of the chariot cracked”
·Direct
“neither you nor your chariot”
·Direct
“drawing the reins back towards the chariot”
·Direct
“the car were bespattered with clots of blood”
·Direct
“thus he made the body fast to his chariot”
·Direct
“he yoked his horses to his chariot”

Passage preview

Book 10 · Passage 28

They all held their peace; but there was among the Trojans a certain man named Dolon, son of Eumedes, the famous herald—a man rich in gold and bronze. He was ill-favoured, but a good runner, and was an only son among five sisters. He it was that now addressed the Trojans. ‘I, Hector,’ said he, ‘Will to the ships and will exploit them. But first hold up your sceptre and swear that you will give me the chariot, bedight with bronze, and the horses that now carry the noble son of Peleus. I will make you a good scout, and will not fail you. I will go through the host from one end to the other till I come to the ship of Agamemnon, where I take it the princes of the Achaeans are now consulting whether they shall fight or fly.’