Reconstructing The Shield of Achilles: Kathleen Vail

Reconstructing the past through illustrations and pictures can bring to light the history of many time periods, the lives of mythological figures and the excitement of seeing each event placed on a shield so ornate, so beautifully crafted that you would think these figures were alive today. From Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, to the story behind Helen of Sparta and the lives of many other mythological figures, author Katherine Vail’s Reconstructing Achilles Shield is more than a work of artistry, photographer or history but a book that entices readers to learn more about each section of the shield and the history behind it. The history behind the Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey is replete within the pages of this historically depicted book as we take many journeys back in time to learn how the many illustrations on the shield were created, the history behind each one and the stories that have kept readers reading and reading Homer’s work for centuries.

Within this book we learn about the Shield of Achilles and that Achilles uses in his fight with Hector which will be focused on in this review as it is described in a passage in Book 18, lines 478-608 of Homer’s Iliad. The detailed illustrations within the book encompasses the imagery on the shield created by author Katherine Vail and the many different interpretations of its significance with no complete or defined answer.

When his best friend, Patroclus borrows his armor to lead the Achaean army into battle and then is killed by Hector in that battle, the armor is taken from the body by Hector as a reward for his feat.

We begin with the history behind the illustrations and then a description of some of the intricate gold illustrations. As we begin with the loss of Achilles’s best friend that sends him back to battle. His mother, Thetis we learn asks the god Hephaestus to replace his armor and he does create one with imagery that far surpasses the first. Ekphrasis is the word that describes that I learned is Homer’s description of the ancient Greek poetry, the ekphrasis is a rhetorical figure which a detailed picture and visual one is both a work of exposition and art. The words enhance the meeting of the artwork and allows readers seeing these illustrations to see past the words and understand the meaning of the art.

The description of how the shield came to be and the influence on later poems is including the Shield of Heracles. The basis for much of the exposition in this book stems from Book 18 of the Iliad. But siting information from Book 18 of the Odyssey first to highlight some of the history shared and beginning with where Athena gives Odysseys extra strength and stature. Arnaeus enters the palace and insulting him challenges him to a boxing match which he would soon regret but now the suitors have taken notice and they want more fighting for their amusement. The ending is tragic and fatal for one as you will learn when you read the exposition about this event. Book 18 of the Iliad brings to light what happens when Achilles learns of his best friend’s death and loses it completely by beating the group with his fist and covering his face with dirt. These emotions are felt as the author tells this part of history. Thetis, his mother hears him and tries to comfort him with her water-nymph sisters. The author shares more history as he relates of the tragedy and will not stop until he takes care of Hector and avenges his friend’s death even if it means his life. The author reminds us that he is fated to die a young death which reminds us that Hector has the armor that once belonged to Achilles and she will ask Hephaestus another one which we know he does.

The history that I found most compelling begins with why the Trojan War is still so popular. Thus, war as the author relates did not significantly differ form any other one in the long history of wars. But it is as sated in the prologue, one of the earliest wars in the long history of recorded history. She continues by explaining: Homer’s brilliant ability to portray legendary deeds from the perspective of an enlightened, reasonable neutral narrator allows us to examine the events from each participants perspective. Continuing by stating that he provides a rich and complex view of human behavior that is timelessly fascinating-creatively blending a narration of ancient history with political analysis and much more.

The next part that I found interesting if the chapter titled Paris of Troy where the author relates how King Piram orders his newborn prince to be abandoned on a hillside and his queen complies. The shepherds find him and rescue him where he is loved and cared for until his reaches manhood and marries Oerone. Be learn about how Paris is asked to choose between the goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. Hera offers him a royal kingdom and wealth, whereas Athena offers him success as a warrior. But Aphrodite promise him the most beautiful woman in the world, alive and he gives her the golden apple. This woman revealed is Helen of Sparta and things get more interesting at this point. Helen of Sparta is the next chapter and we learn about her life, her parents, her suitors and what happens under the many commands that leads to the Trojan War. Within Book 18 of the Iliad we learn that Achille’s mother departs, and Iris is sent by Hera, comes to tell him that he must go outside on the battlefield and only his appearance will scare the Trojans into stopping the fight for his best friend’s body. He leaves his tent, Athena joins him, and he lets loose a huge cry that sends the Trojans away and fast. Deciding his next move with his army, in the Trojan camp, Polydamas urges his comrades to find themselves retreating to the city that Achilles has returned to battle, but Hector does not go with this idea as and dismisses it as cowardly and insists that they repeat what they did the day before. His plan is seriously ridiculous and with the support of the Trojans’ for Athena has robbed them of their wits.

Famous for her beauty even as a child, we learn about Helen of Sparta born a union between Olympian Zeus and the moral Leda. When she comes of age, she is pursued by many suitors to choose from for a husband. But each one is jealous of the other and she chooses Menelaus, the brother of Agamemnon. But Greek and Trojan fates converge with the unwelcome arrival of Paris in Sparta while Menelaus is in Egypt and when he arrives home, he learns that Paris has taken Helen to Troy which starts major wars. The author expands on this by telling more about the ten years of waging wars and followed by the chapter titled Shining Prince of Achilles. That chapter enlightens us to the hoping to spark the fire of compassion in Achilles, and the wonderful gifts offered by Agamemnon if only Achilles will take back his oath and re-enter the war. Page 30 we see his mother receiving the new armor in golden illustration to help us see the beauty of the shield. Page 32 enlightens us to two magnificent illustrations on the left: 1821L Reconstruction of the shield as interpreted by John Flaxman. Page 38 has the one created by Katherine Vail and the history behind it is within chapter IV: Reconstruction of Achilles’ Shield. The next pages depict many different events each created in gold and so lifelike you think you are experiencing the event in the present: The Inner Ring: Civil Life: Conflict in the Market and another Civil Life; Judgment of the Elders.

Each illustration depicts another phase of his life with a huge illustration of his fight with Hekor and Achilles on what looks like a huge urn. I enjoyed the section titled Ancient funeral games give birth to the Olympics. The remainder of the book focuses on the actual reconstruction of the shield and the different historical events depicted within it. There is a total of 145 beautifully depicted illustrations each one related to a specific historical time. The final ones are a Vase that is gold, brown and looks like there is beading intricately weaved in the center with a brown sash. It is a Greek Black-Figure-Hydria -Hadra Vase. The final is different as it is The Great Library of Alexandra which was digitally enhanced and colorized renovation by Vail. This is a book to cherish, keep on your shelf and read repeatedly. But, first read the 18^th Book of both the Iliad and the Odyssey to understand the history behind the reconstruction of the Shield. Katherine Vail has brought to live the history behind the life of Achilles, his trials, tribulations and the wonders of a life worth remembering

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ Network/MJ Magazine