One of the most visceral passages of Homer's Iliad (in what is, let's face it, a thoroughly visceral tale) is in Book XVII where Patroclus is killed. A battle is then fought over his body. Achilles has quarrelled with Agamemnon and sits brooding in his quarters, but his companion Patroclus has borrowed the great hero's armour and led his loyal Myrmidons to the defence of the Achaean camp. However, despite fighting bravely and almost reaching the walls of Troy, Patroclus is brought low by the fickle Gods – in this case, Apollo – who knocks him down, after which he is hit by a spear thrown by Euphorbus, and then finished off by Hector.
A furious battle then erupts over Patroclus's corpse. Hector wants
