Classic Mythology, Nestor Was the Wise King Term Paper

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classic mythology, Nestor was the wise king of Pylos, and son of Neleus (or Peleus) and father of Antilochus. He was one of the Argonauts and fought the centaur with the Lapiths. In the "Iliad," he was on the side of the Greeks at the Trojan War. He survived three generations, but he throughout that time, he remained strong and brave and continued to be an honored counselor to the warriors. In the "Odyssey," we see that the same wisdom and piety in him led the gods to allow him to return to Pylos after the Trojan War, without incurring any harm.

In Book 1 of the "Iliad," the elderly Nestor tries to pacify the quarrel between King Agamemnon and Achilles, a foremost Greek soldier. It was the last year of that War and that time, the god Apollo punished the Greeks for the crime of their king, Agamemnon. He violated the daughter of one of the priests of the god.

They soon found out that Agamemnon was responsible for the crime, but Agamanon is not willing to give the girl up so that the god Apollo will withdraw the plague from among them. Instead, he angrily asks Achilles to give a slave girl in exchange. Achilles turns furious too and Athena, the goddess of wisdom, comes to calm them down and prevent bloodshed between them. The two engage in a heated argument, neither willing to give up, and Achilles sulks, leaves the Greek camp and will not come out to fight unless and until Agamemnon asks for forgiveness.

At this point, Nestor enters the scene, counseling them that their quarrel is a victory to their enemies and a loss to them:

Of a truth.

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.. A great sorrow has befallen the Achaean land. Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice, and the Trojans be glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two, who are so excellent in fight and counsel." (254-256)

Nestor tells them how those who listened to him - greater men than them -- were correctly guided and succeeded:

I am older than either of you; therefore be guided by me. Moreover, I have been the familiar friend of men even greater than you are, and they did not disregard my counsels. Never again can I behold such men as Pirithous and Dryas shepherd son of Aegeus, peer of immortals. These were the mightiest men ever born upon this earth:

mightiest were they, and when they fought the fiercest tribes of mountain savages, they utterly overthrew them. I came from distant Pylos, and went about among them, for they would have me come, and I fought as it was in me to do. Not a man now living could withstand them, but they heard my words, and were persuaded by them. So be it also with yourselves, for this is the more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong, take not this girl away, for the sons of Achaeans have already given her to Achilles; and you, Achilles, strive not further with the king, for no man who by the grace of Jove wields a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon. You are strong, and have a goddess for your mother; but Agamemnon is stronger than….....

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