Book 16 Summary

Patroklos speaks to Achilles, in tears at the destruction of the Greek ships and his friend's refusal to fight. He tells Achilles his parents must have been the gray sea and the towering rocks to make his heart so stony. However, Patroklos considers that Achilles may be holding back because of the prophecy his mother revealed to him. He pleads that if this is the case, Achilles will at least give Patroklos his armor and let him go out in his stead.

Achilles denies that there is any such prophecy in his mind - he is still angry over Agamemnon's actions in the matter of Briseis. However, he claims that he is ready to let it be in the past, but he must stick by his word that he would not give over his anger until the fighting came all the way up...