Combat and Classics is a series of podcasts and online seminars that explores the nature of man in conflict and cooperation through socratic dialogue and the great books. For more info visit 
Achilles is crushed by Patroclus' death. Thetis, his mother, helps him to revenge himself on Hector by asking Hephaestus to make Achilles some new armor. We ask about the elaborate and famous description of Achilles' shield. How should we understand the details on this shield, which looks like the world of the living? Does the shield conceal the world of the dead, who are under the shield just like Achilles is? We also think about Hephaestus' intentions in making Achilles' shield. Is he the artisan who makes the artifact that must fail? Is Hephaestus the wisest god because he can sum up human life?
Leave a Reply