Ars Politica - Ep26: The Iliad, bks 16-21 - a podcast by Stephen Wolfe

Books 16-21 - Second Turning Point
The Death of PatroclusSituation for the Greeks is dire. Nestor suggests that Patroclus help the Greeks by asking Achilles for his armor, to pretend that Achilles has returned, giving courage to the men. Achilles tells him not to pursue the Trojans beyond the plain back to their gates. He does anyway. Apollo comes to stop Patroclus, hits and stuns him, knocks his armor off him. A Trojan comes and stabs him, then Hector stabs him to death. 
Fight over Patroclus’ BodyTrojans fight Greeks for Patroclus’ body. Hector takes the armor off of Patroclus, but the Greeks recover the body and take it back to bury it properly. Homer says that Hector took the “deathless” armor, which is ironic since a man just died in it, indicating that Hector will die soon. 
Achilles hears of Patroclus’ death and loses his mind, all he wants to do is kill Hector now. Problem: His mother says that the Fates determined that Achilles will die right after Hector dies. Achilles recognizes that his anger has led to the death of his comrades and his best friend. Gall feeling. But he doesn't give up his anger, he turns it from Agamemnon to Hector. Achilles anger refuses healing, reconciliation. He had the opportunity to do so with Agamemnon’s offer, but he turned it down because the gall and bitterness had become sweet to him. He relished in his hurt. Bitterness digs a hole in your soul. Reconciliation was offered to him but he turned it down, because healing and justice wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to kill, and now he’s got the opportunity to do it. 
New Armor for AchillesThetis goes to Hephaestus to make armor. The entire cosmos is shown and then two cities: one at war and one at peace, city life, farming, dancing, disputes, wedding ceremonies, the Ocean river encircling the shield.
The Quarrel is EndedThe issue between AG and AC is finished. 
Achilles Leads the ArmyReturns to battle in fire. 
AC has his aristeia. 
He’s hunting for Hector. He piles up dead bodies of Trojans. 
The Fight at the RiverImage of the Shield of Achilles: http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Shield-of-Achilles.jpg

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