Book 24 Summary

The games end, and each man returns to his ship. Achilles, however, still weeps over his friend and sleep eludes him as he lies tossing and turning. Then he gets up, yokes his horses to his chariot, and vents his feelings by dragging Hector around a bit before throwing him face down again in the dust.

Apollo protects the body through all of these maneuvers so it isn't mutilated, but by now the gods are losing patience with Achilles, and his treatment of Hector's corpse. Finally, Apollo scolds the rest of the gods for not intervening. He is outraged that after the many sacrifices Hector made to them all, none of the gods can stir themselves to save the body so his family will have something to look upon and mourn.

Eventually, Thetis is summoned to go to Achilles. She tells him that...