Editing Phoenix (son of Amyntor) (section)

===The ''Iliad''===
[[File:Akhilleus embassy Staatliche Antikensammlungen 8770- cropped white balanced glare reduced.png|thumb|250px|Embassy to Achilles. On the left, Phoenix standing, [[Odysseus]] seated facing [[Achilles]] seated, and [[Patroclus]] standing on the right. A [[red-figure]] [[hydria]], by the [[Kleophrades Painter]] (c. 480 BC) [[Staatliche Antikensammlungen]] 8770.<ref>Boardman, Griffin, and Murray, [https://books.google.com/books?id=uusmzge9gvsC&pg=PA47 p. 47]; Powell, [https://books.google.com/books?id=aYNuAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA220 p. 220]; Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/03DA0793-E680-4AC0-845F-7491EDC95B5D 352474]; ''[[Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae|LIMC]]'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-73f89469060d5-9 6001]; AVI Web [https://www.avi.unibas.ch/DB/searchform.html?ID=5580 5361].</ref>]]

Phoenix plays an important role in Book 9 of the ''[[Iliad]]'' of [[Homer]]. [[Achilles]], the Greeks' greatest warrior, has withdrawn from the war because of his great anger at his ill treatment by the Greek commander [[Agamemnon]]. Phoenix, who had been in charge of Achilles's upbringing, now an old man, has accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War. Phoenix is sent by Agamemnon to Achilles's tent, as part of an embassy with [[Ajax the Great|Ajax]] and [[Odysseus]], to persuade Achilles to return to the battle.<ref>Hard, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA463 463]&ndash;[https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA46 464]; Gantz, p. 613; [[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.162-9.204 9.165&ndash;169].</ref> Odysseus speaks first, presenting Agamemnon's offer of reconciliation,<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.205-9.243 9.225&ndash;306].</ref> an appeal which Achilles rejects utterly, saying that he will leave with his ships the next morning.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.286-9.327 9.307&ndash;429].</ref> Next Phoenix&mdash;who as his tutor, as he reminds Achilles, has taught him "to be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds"&mdash;begins himself a long speech covering 172 lines.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.417-9.452 9.434&ndash;605]. For a detailed discussion of Phoenix's speech, see Rosner, pp. 314&ndash;327. Several scholars have questioned the authenticity of this section of the ''Iliad'' see Rosner, p. 314; Scodel, p. 129 with n. 4.</ref> Phoenix, "bursting into tears",<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.417-9.452 9.432&ndash;433].</ref> pleads passionately with Achilles to put down his anger and return to the war. Phoenix's speech presents an "exposition of heroic, traditional ethics".<ref>Scodel, p. 129.</ref>

Phoenix begins his appeal, in personal terms, by reminding Achilles how he came to be a second father to Achilles.<ref>Hard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA464 464]; [[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.417-9.452 9.434&ndash;495]. For a detailed discussion of the autobiographical part of Phoenix's speech see Rosner, pp. 315&ndash;318; Scodel, pp. 128&ndash;136. Rosner, p. 315, describes the theme of this section of the speech as one of "paternal love and duty". Scodel, p. 128 n. 3, notes that the scholarly consensus sees this part of Phoenix's speech "as serving to stress the emotional ties between Phoenix and Achilles".</ref> Phoenix's father was Amyntor, the son of Ormenus, and a king in [[Achaea Phthiotis|Hellas]].<ref>For the "hopeless confusion" in Homer's statements concerning the location of Amyntor's kingdom see Leaf's note to ''Iliad'' [https://archive.org/details/cu31924011101643/page/n443 9.447, p. 403].</ref> When Amyntor forsook his wife, Phoenix's mother, for a concubine, at the urging of his jealous mother, Phoenix had sex with Amyntor's concubine. To punish this crime Amyntor called upon the [[Erinyes]] to curse Phoenix with childlessness. Outraged Phoenix intended to kill Amyntor, but was finally dissuaded. Instead he decided to leave his father's kingdom. For nine days some of his friends and family kept watch over him to prevent his leaving, but finally on the tenth day he managed to escape, and fleeing through Hellas, Phoenix came to [[Phthia]], where king [[Peleus]], the father of Achilles, took in Phoenix, and treated him like a son. Peleus made Phoenix a king of the [[Dolopia]]ns. And Phoenix was given charge of the young Achilles, whom Phoenix reared as a son.<ref>Compare with [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' 257.</ref> Having reminded Achilles of all this, Phoenix asks Achilles to "master thy proud spirit; it beseemeth thee not to have a pitiless heart. Nay, even the very gods can bend".<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.492-9.537 9.496&ndash;497].</ref>

Phoenix next relates two stories meant to persuade Achilles to relent. The first story concerns the ''Litai'' ("Prayers"), daughters of [[Zeus]], who follow along after ''Ate'' ("Sin").<ref>Rosner, pp. 318&ndash;322; [[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.492-9.537 9.502&ndash;514].</ref>  This story is meant to show Achilles the dangers inherent in refusing prayers of supplication. After telling the story, Phoenix again asks Achilles to "cast aside thine anger" and heed the supplication of his comrads in arms and return to the battle.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.492-9.537 9.517].</ref> Phoenix reminds Achilles that heroes of old, in their wrath, might be won over by gifts and pleadings.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.492-9.537 9.524&ndash;526].</ref> He then recounts the story of the hero [[Meleager]], with its many parallels to Achilles's situation.<ref>Rosner, pp. 322&ndash;324; Swain, pp. 271&ndash;276; [[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.492-9.537 9.529&ndash;599].</ref> Like Achilles, Meleager has withdrawn from battle in anger. Offering gifts, his friends and family beg Meleager to return to the battle, but he refuses them. But when his own household is threatened, finally heeding the pleas of his wife, he returns to the battle, but received no gifts and honors, for doing so. Finally Phoenix urges Achilles not to be like Meleager, but to accept the gifts and honors Agammenon has offered, before it is too late.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.581-9.619 9.600&ndash;605].</ref>

But Achilles, responding to Phoenix, says he has no need of such gifts and has honor enough already. Further he admonishes Phoenix "not to confound my spirit by weeping and sorrowing," on Agamemnon's behalf. Nevertheless, Achilles invites Phoenix to stay the night "and at break of day we will take counsel whether to return to our own or to tarry here."<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:9.581-9.619 9.606&ndash;619].</ref>

Brief mentions of Phoenix also appear in Books 16, 17, 19, and 23.<ref>Gantz, p. 609.</ref> In Book 16 Phoenix leads a company of [[Myrmidons]] into battle.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:16.155-16.199 16.194].</ref> In Book 17, Athena takes Phoenix's form, as she urges on [[Menelaus]] in the heat of battle.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:17.543-17.566 17.555&ndash;561].</ref> In Book 19, Phoenix is among those comforting Achilles in his tent after the death of [[Patroclus]].<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]''  [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:19.309-19.348 19.309&ndash;313].</ref> In Book 23, Phoenix is an umpire in Patroclus's funeral games.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:23.351-23.387 23.359&ndash;361].</ref>