When she had thus spoken swift-footed Iris departed; and Hector leapt in his armour from his chariot to the ground, and brandishing his two sharp spears went everywhere throughout the host, urging them to fight, and roused the dread din of battle. So they rallied, and took their stand with their faces toward the Achaeans, and the Argives over against them made strong their battalions. And the battle was set in array, and they stood over against each other, and among them Agamemnon rushed forth the first, and was minded to fight far in advance of all. ibid. XI
But the Trojans over against them was glorious Hector setting in array. Then verily were strained the cords of war’s most dreadful strife by dark-haired Poseidon and glorious Hector, bearing aid the one to the Trojans, the other to the Argives. And the sea surged up to the huts and ships of the Argives, and the two sides clashed with a mighty din. Not so loudly bellows the wave of the sea upon the shore, driven up from the deep by the dread blast of the North Wind, nor so loud is the roar of blazing fire in the glades of a mountain when it leapeth to burn the forest, nor doth the wind shriek so loud amid the high crests of the oaks – the wind that roareth the loudest in its rage – as then was the cry of Trojans and Achaeans, shouting in terrible wise as they leapt upon each other. ibid. XIV
But when the Trojans in their flight had passed over the palisade and the trench, and many had been vanquished beneath the hands of the Danaans, then beside their chariots they stayed, and were halted, pale with fear, terror-stricken; and Zeus awoke on the peaks of Ida beside Hera of the golden throne. Then he sprang up, and stood, and saw Trojans alike and Achaeans, these in rout, and the Argives driving them on from the rear, and amid them the lord Poseidon. And Hector he saw lying on the plain, while about him sat his comrades, and he was gasping with painful breath, distraught in mind, and vomiting blood; for not the weakest of the Achaeans was it that had smitten him. ibid. XV
So saying, he [Hector] led the way, and the other followed with him, a godlike man. And the Argives did great Telamonian Aias urge on, saying: ‘My friends, be men, and take ye shame in your hearts, and have shame each of the other in the fierce conflict. Of men that have shame more are saved than are slain; but from them that flee springeth neither glory nor any avail.’ ibid. XV
But Achilles went to and fro throughout the huts and let harness in their armour all the Myrmidons, and they rushed forth like ravening wolves in whose hearts is fury unspeakable … even in such wise the leaders and rulers of the Myrmidons sped forth round about the valiant squire of the swift-footed son of Aeacus. And among them all stood warlike Achilles, urging on both horses and men that bear the shield. ibid. XVI
Then the Trojans drave forward in close throng, and Hector led them. And as when at the mouth of some heaven-fed river the mighty wave roareth against the stream, and the headlands of the shore echo on either hand, as the salt-sea belloweth without; even with such din of shouting came on the Trojans. ibid. XVII
So spake he, and a black cloud of grief enwrapped Achilles, and with both his hands he took the dark dust and strewed it over his head and defiled his fair face, and on his fragrant tunic the black ashes fell. And himself in the dust lay outstretched, mighty in his mightiness, and with his own hands he tore and marred his hair. And the handmaidens, that Achilles and Patroclus had got them as booty, shrieked aloud in anguish of heart, and ran forth around wise-hearted Achilles, and all beat their breasts with their hands, and the knees of each one were loosed beneath her. And over against them Antilochus wailed and shed tears, holding the hands of Achilles, that in his noble heart was moaning mightily; for he feared lest he should cut his throat asunder with the knife. ibid. XVIII
Howbeit the whole plain was filled with men and horses, and aflame with bronze, and the earth resounded beneath their feet as they rushed together; and two warriors best by far of all came one against the other into the space between the two hosts, eager to do battle, even Aeneas, Anchises’ son, and goodly Achilles. ibid. XX
But soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, then gathered the folk about the pyre of glorious Hector. And when they were assembled and met together, first they quenched with flaming wine all the pyre, so far as the fire's might had come upon it, and thereafter his brethren and his comrades gathered the white bones, mourning, and big tears flowed ever down their cheeks. The bones they took and placed in a golden urn, covering them over with soft purple robes, and quickly laid the urn in a hollow grave, and covered it over with great close-set stones. Then with speed heaped they the mound, and round about were watchers set on every side, lest the well-greaved Achaeans should set upon them before the time. And when they had piled the barrow they went back, and gathering together duly feasted a glorious feast in the palace of Priam, the king fostered of Zeus. On this wise held they funeral for horse-taming Hector. ibid. XXIV
They don’t like anything adventurous, do they? What happened to her with the fondu? Meantime 1983 starring Marion Bailey & Phil Daniels & Tim Roth & Pam Ferris & Jeffrey Robert & Alfred Molina & Gary Oldman & Tolly Vosburgh & Paul Daly & Leila Bertrand & Peter Wight et al, director Mike Leigh, Barbara
Bruce Chatwin was a legendary adventurer and writer who died in 1989. Filmmaker Werner Herzog collaborated with Chatwin in the last years of his life. This film follows Herzog on a series of encounters inspired by Chatwin’s travels. Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin, Werner Herzog, captions, BBC 2019
1977: In Patagonia … ‘The Brontosaurus, I learned, was an animal that had drowned in the flood, being too big for Noah to ship aboard the Ark.’ ibid. Chatwin
Llanthony Priory, Wales: The landscape around here became one of the essential locations where he would find his inner balance. ibid.
500 years ago an unrecognizable ship arrived in the port of Saville. Its crew was reduced to just 18 emaciated and starving men. But the ship had just completed a voyage of huge importance that changed the shape of history and changed the way we live today. It was 1522 and the Victoria had just become the first ship to circumnavigate the world. Voyages of Discovery s1e1, Paul Rose, BBC 2019
The course that [Ferdinand] Magellan was planning would take him beyond chartered waters into the unknown; it was a journey many believed was impossible. ibid.
One night nearly 250 years ago a ship ran aground on a treacherous reef in the Pacific ocean. Water poured into the wooden hull threatening to sink her and all those on board. The ship that faced a watery grave appeared to be nothing more than an unremarkable coaling vessel captained by an unknown commander on an obscure scientific field trip. But this ship had a secret mission: one that would redraw the map of the world, and make a hero of her undistinguished hero: the ship was called The Endeavour and her captain was called James Cook. Voyages of Discovery s1e2
The Endeavour sailed from Plymouth on 26th August 1768. It was the age of enlightenment, an era of intellectual ferment. ibid.
Cook would have to navigate his ship to the other side of the world … The Endeavour travelled alone. ibid.
Conditions below must have been appalling let alone the smell. And disease was rife. ibid.
Over 2,000,000 sailors had died from scurvy. ibid.
Banks had accidentally stumbled across the cure for scurvy. ibid.
After 33 weeks at sea land was finally spotted: Cook had arrived … in paradise. ibid.
The Transit of Venus is an incredibly rare event. ibid.
Cook’s mission was now revealed: the discovery of the fabled Great Southern Continent. ibid.
In the Spring of 1892 a charismatic Norwegian explorer called Fridjtof Nansen announced a daring plan to venture into all this: the Arctic, unmanned and unconquered. At the top of the world was the ultimate goal – the North Pole. Voyages of Discovery s1e3: Fridjtof Nansen
The most extraordinary voyage in history. ibid.
Nansen’s crew now faced years alone in the Arctic. ibid.
Cadbury’s sponsored the expedition. ibid.
His voyage of discovery had failed … His obsession would not die. ibid.
Nansen had an extraordinary new plan. To leave the ship and ski the remaining 600 kilometres to the Pole. ibid.
You can lose over four litres of liquid a day … Melting as much snow as he needed … His remarkable talent for invention served him well. ibid.
They were almost going backwards. It was a gut-wrenching blow. ibid.
Victoria Falls: a white man arrived accompanied by over 200 Africans: his name was David Livingstone. Neil Oliver, The Last Explorers s1e1: David Livingstone, BBC 2019
He was here to save souls. David Livingstone was one of a small group of explorers who took the stage as the great age of exploration was drawing to a close. ibid.
Livingstone was thee first European to cross the entire African continent from west to east. ibid.
The team that Livingstone had gathered together was mission impossible. ibid.
Livingstone saw Arab slave ship plying back and forth forcing African people for hundreds of miles around to flee the slavers. ibid.
Africa stubbornly refused to be tamed … A man in the grip of an obsession. ibid.
In 1902 an expedition set out from Scotland to Antarctica in the name of Science. It was led by a man called William Speirs Bruce. In 2011 I agreed to retrace Bruce’s journey to Antarctica, following in the footsteps of a scientific explorer and photographer who has become all but lost to history. Neil Oliver, The Last Explorers s1e2: William Speirs Bruce
After Ben Nevis he continued his cold-weather training with expeditions to the Arctic. He toured the country giving illustrated lectures that brought the polar regions to the public for the very first time. ibid.