Catalog Entry by Peter C. Sutton

In Homer's Iliad, the Greek campaign to subdue Troy and avenge the abduction of Helen was jeopardized when Achilles angrily withdrew from the field and retired to his tent. Achilles' wrath was provoked by Helen's husband, Agamemnon, the leader of the campaign, who took away his favorite slave, Briseis; the latter had been consigned to Achilles when the town of Lyrnessus was conquered by the Greeks and her husband killed. Achilles only agreed to resume fighting to avenge the death of his best friend, Patroclus, who had been killed by Hector, the most valiant of the Trojans. To placate Achilles, Agamemnon returned Briseis to him along with gifts of seven tripods, ten bars of gold, twenty cauldrons, twelve stallions, and seven women (Iliad 9.148-56). At Ulysses' suggestion, Agamemnon further solemnly swore to several deities that he had not slept with Briseis...

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