Irregularities in the Funeral of Patroclus: Indo-European Influences and Explanations

The funerals of the major heroes, Patroclus, Hector, and Achilles, described in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey taken together can be used to construct a model for Homeric funerals. However, the funeral of Patroclus includes two significant deviations from the Homeric funerary paradigm: first, the irregular sacrifices, both animal and human, made by Achilles; and second, the treatment of Patroclus’ bones after his cremation. Achilles conducts a sacrificial slaughter of both animals, including four horses and two dogs, and twelve Trojan youths. This thesis argues that these divergences from the typical Homeric funeral are significant because they refer back to earlier Indo-European traditions associated with kingship, power, and purification.