Sympathy with the Spear: Iliadic Tree Similes and Achilles’ Entanglement with the Pelian Spear

Abstract:This paper examines how, in the Iliad, remembering through wooden objects— and alongside wooden objects—is a powerful way of connecting to the hidden, imbricated pasts of a more-than-human world. While Iliadic tree similes anticipate the transformation of trees into craft items, Achilles foregrounds the arboreal origins of wooden objects, for example, in his oath on the scepter. The capacity to see the tree in the wood accounts for Achilles’ exclusive ability to wield the Pelian spear. Assisted by Ian Hodder’s concept of “entanglement,” I demonstrate that similar experiences, overlapping histories, and a mutual recalcitrance to human agency constitute a complex and sympathetic connection between warrior and weapon.