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In trying to persuade Achilleus to rejoin the fighting, who makes the most compelling arguments? Odysseus? Phoinix? Aias? The messengers found Achilleus in his camp, playing a lyre and singing about man’s fame. It’s important that Homer showed Achilleus as a musician who sings a little epic song within a big epic that is Iliad. As the messengers arrived they received a warm welcome from Peleus’ son who said to them “Welcome. You …showed first 75 words of 813 total…

…showed last 75 words of 813 total…he is so hard that he doesn't even listen to his friends, and he is being selfish: There is no pity in him. A normal man will take the penalty” (Il.2.769-70), meaning accept the offer of blood price. But strangely enough, this short and direct appeal of Aias succeeds more than of the others--at least enough for Achilleus to promise to return to the battle if the Trojans fight their way to the ships.