Heroes of Troy: 5. Lament
Patroclus joins battle wearing Achilles's golden armour. He meets Hector, the Trojans' superhero, and Patroclus is slain. Achilles returns to the battle to avenge his young friend...only one outcome will satisfy him.
That moment - it was brutal vengeanceThe Soldier on Achilles
Patroclus returns to the battle wearing Achilles's armour but Hector spots him in the fray and the young warrior freezes. Their battle is short and soon Patroclus lies dead in the sand. But the Soldier sees an opportunity: he returns to Achilles and tells him everything... and his words have the desired effect. When Achilles gets to the battlefield it is dusk so he spends the night lamenting his lost cousin, makes peace with Agamemnon and in the morning the gods deliver him a new set of golden armour. When the battle resumes Achilles seeks out Hector and has his vengeance. He drags Hector's body back to the Greek lines and does not return it until some days later when King Priam comes in person to request his son's body. Later there are funerals for Patroclus and Hector.
In this episode
| Name | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Patroclus | The young cousin of Achilles; he is slain by Hector |
| Hector | Eldest son of King Priam of Troy; chief warrior on the Trojan side but will meet his match in Achilles |
| Achilles | Key warrior on the Greek side - but refuses to fight until his cousin Patroclus is killed |
| Agamemnon | Brother of Menelaus and leader of the Greek army; involved in a feud with Achilles over the two female servants Chryseis and Briseis |
| Priam | King of Troy and father to Hector; goes to Achilles to request the return of his son's body |
Extended vocal warm-up
Join David Grant to sing the extended vocal warm-up
Story questions
Why does the return of Patroclus to the battle cheer the Greeks?
He is wearing Achilles's armour so the Greek soldiers believe it is the return of their hero
Who fights with Patroclus and what is the outcome?
Hector - chief warrior of the Trojans - fights Patroclus and kills him
How does the Soldier react to Patroclus's death?
He goes to Achilles - he realises this event will persuade Achilles to join the Greek side once more
What time of day is it when Achilles returns to the battle?
Dusk - so he spends the evening lamenting the loss of his young cousin, Patroclus
Why does King Priam come to see Achilles?
To request the return of Hector's body
Resources
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Heroes of Troy - Notes
Information on the episodes (pdf)
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Lyrics - Lament
Download / print the lyrics (pdf)
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Music - Lament
Download / print the music (pdf)
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Story transcript
Download / print Episode 5 (pdf)
