“
I would rather be a paid servant in a poor man’s house and be above ground than king of kings among the dead.
AchillesThe Odyssey · Book 11
Wanderings: The Hero’s Trials
Book 11 of 24
In the Nekuia (Book 11), Odysseus descends to the land of the dead to consult the prophet Tiresias. He meets the shade of Achilles, who asks about his son. When Odysseus praises him as king among the dead, Achilles gives this devastating reply.
Why This Matters
The Iliad’s greatest warrior reverses his own values. Achilles chose glory and a short life; now, among the dead, he would trade it all for the humblest existence. The Odyssey critiques the Iliad’s heroic code.
deathgloryregret
Odysseus Before Tiresias
Henry Fuseli, 1780 · Public Domain