The Iliad/Book 18

Antilochus, a messenger, rushes to tell Achilles that Patroclus has died. Upon noticing that Hector is wearing Patroclus' armor he breaks down with grief. Antilochus joins him and Achilles lets out a "wrenching cry". Thetis and a group of immortal sea-nymphs join Achilles in mourning and she (Thetis) proclaims that even though her son was born flawless, there is nothing she can to do ease the pain of a lost friend. Then Thetis and Achilles have a conversation where she tells him not to hold his anguish inside and she also informs him that “hard on the heels of Hector’s death your death must come.” Achilles regains his rage and asks his mother not to restrain him from fighting. She suggests that he not fight until she comes back the next day.

With Patroclus' body laying on the front lines, Hector and the Trojans fight to capture the corpse and get pushed back three times. Seeing this Hera sends her messenger Iris to tell Achilles to go fight. At first he was concerned that he didn't have any armor until Iris re-assures him that just the sight of Achilles will scare the Trojans off of the corpse. Then Achilles gives three war cries that caused twelve of the finest Trojan fighters to die due to chariots whirling around in panic. Achilles retrieved the body and they mourned for him while the sun went down.

While considering an attack, Polydamas tells the remaining Trojans to return to the gates and conserve their strength. Hector agrees to returning to their posts and proclaims that he will not run from Achilles if confronted in battle. While the Trojans eat, the Argives start a funeral pyre that includes cleaning the blood off of Patroclus' body and bathing him with olive oil. Then they cover him with white sheets from head to toe.

Then Thetis goes to Hephaestus' house to ask him to make Achilles new armor. Hephaestus agrees because Thetis saved him from a cave his mother placed him in. He forges the armor combining many elements of life and the power of the gods.