King Agamemnon began a chain of disastrous events when he foolishly and selfishly refused to return Chryses to her pleading father. As Chryse returned empty-handed, he prayed a request to the Lord Apollo. Apollo, who adored Chryse for his generous sacrifices, then began a nine day attack by raining needle-tipped arrows upon the Greek camp. When assembly was called on the tenth day, things became low down and dirty between the untouchable Achilles and king Agamemnon. As Achilles expressed the feelings of not only himself, but the entire Greek army, Agamemnon went too far by snapping at Achilles.
             '...I'm coming to your hut and taking Briseis,
             Your own beautiful prize, so that you will see just how much
             Stronger I am than you, and the next person will wince
             At the thought of opposing me as an equal.' (Line 194-197)
             When Achilles heard this, I bet he wanted to tear the beating heart out of the imprudent Agamemnon. Athena even had to be sent by Hera to make Achilles withdraw from this bloody temptation. Agamemnon was aiming directly at Achilles' pride and honor when he so proudly said those words he would later regret. For a Greek warrior, attacking the pride and honor would be the worst of the worst. People lived and died for honor, and when the high public figure attacked the highly respected Achilles, there was no chance for reconciliation of any sort.
             I believe that these lines are the most essential to Book 1 of the Iliad. When I approached this assignment, truthfully, I had no idea where to start. I had no idea which lines to choose, and which lines were the most important. I finally found what I was looking for when I decided to search for the indispensable line that the whole story of the Iliad could not be without. Achilles' anger fully reached the summit as the lowly, 100% human Agamemnon embarrassed him in front of all his fellow soldiers and respected comrades. Achilles w...