In this 9th episode of the Homeric Epic Podcast, we delve into book 8 of the Iliad, full of heroes and Gods driving chariots. We see how Diomedes inviting Nestor to flee the battlefield mirrors a different moment from the Trojan war, and how Athena and Hera try to copy the mortal champions, but don’t have the chutzpah to defy the thunderbolts of Zeus. Lastly, we take a look at the famous simile of the watchfires that closes out this book.

All of this looking forward to the 9th book of the Iliad, not just because this is the 8th book, but also because of the foreshadowing and literary connections that tie the story together.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit homericepicpodcast.substack.com