The first book highlights the quarrel between Achilles, the great .
Greek warrior, and Agamemnon, the King of Pyros and the leader .
of the Greeks in the Trojan War. Agamemnon is infuriated that he .
must return Chryseis to her father in order to end a plague sent by .
Apollo against the king and his people. As a replacement for .
Chryseis, Agamemnon demands that Achilles hand over his .
consort, Briseis. Achilles begrudgingly complies, but feels .
shamed by the action. In response, he promises that he and all his .
men will desert Agamemnon and completely withdraw from the .
war effort. He also has his mother, Thetis, intercede with Zeus on .
his behalf. In response, Zeus promises his support to the Trojans .
in their war against Agamemnon and the Greeks. .
Agamemnon and Achilles had already been at odds, for the king .
had criticized the warrior for no longer being personally or .
actively involved in the Greek cause. The wise King Nestor .
understands the depth of the quarrel between the two when he .
points out that the conflict is really between the authority of the .
king and the honor of a Greek hero. Both these concepts carried .
great importance in the time of Homer. It was understood that a .
king was the chief warlord, judge, and priest, who could demand .
complete obedience on the part of his subjects, especially in .
matters of war; but a brave warrior on the battlefield was equally .
respected. .
It is not surprising that the strong personalities of Agamemnon .
and Achilles are in conflict. Agamemnon is infuriated that .
Achilles, the great Greek warrior, does not bow to his power. .
Achilles is equally infuriated that Agamemnon takes advantage of .
his royal authority and steals Briseis from him, wounding his .
pride and honor. This is not the first time Agamemnon has shown .
himself to be a haughty leader. Filled with hubris (excessive .
pride), he even dared to challenge the gods. Although a ransom .
had been offered for the release of Chryseis, Agamemnon had .
