Question

1.What event did Polydamas witness?

Answer 1

Answer:

1. He saw an Eagle bearing a snake in its talon

2. Polydamas advised Hector to retreat by withdrawing the army

3. No, Hector did not listen

Explanation:

This question was taken from the literary work "The Iliad and the Odyssey", a poem by Homer.

This event happened while they were near the Grecian wall. The Grecians had run into hiding to take cover while Hector and his men had wanted to march forward but it was proving difficult. Upon Polydamas' counsel, the army ditched their chariots and were divided into five troops whic went forward on foot. After this, Polydamas saw the omen of an Eagle clutching a wounded serpent in its talon and the serpent bit the Eagle forcing the Eagle to release the serpent from its grip. Polydamas interpreted this to mean that the Trojan assault would fail and Hector's army defeated. Upon seeing this, he would advise that Hector retreat his army from mounting the pre-planned assault. Hector was defiant, rather than retreat, he urged the army on saying, “Fight for your country—that is the best, the only omen!”. With this Hector drove the Trojans forward