Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

contest over the dead hero's arms

contest_over_the_dead_hero_s_arms

A motif of the Heroic Funeral Rites and Memorialization family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

2 occurrences

2 traditions

greek (1) · roman (1)


greek

  • Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica THE THEBAID / THE EPIGONI / THE CYPRIA / THE AETHIOPIS; lines 7926-7961 confidence: high

    The Achaeans pile a cairn and hold games for Achilles; a dispute then arises between Odysseus and Aias over Achilles' arms.

    Odysseus and Aias dispute over the arms of Achilles after Achilles' death and honors.

    read in the book

roman

  • The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / BOOK THE THIRTEENTH.; lines 8540-8622 confidence: high

    Ajax says the Trojans brought fire, sword, and Jove against the Greek fleet, and that he protected a thousand ships; he asks for the arms in return.

    The passage centers on rival claims by Ajax and Ulysses to receive Achilles' arms after Achilles is no longer present.

    read in the book