Teichoscopia

The Teichoscopia or teichoscopy [http://www.sacred-texts.com/wmn/rca/rca02.htm Teichoscopy] [http://www.barreland.nl/documenten/dramaturgie/pdf/messenger_reports.pdf Teichoscopy and messenger report] , meaning "viewing from the walls," is a famous passage in the Iliad that takes place in Book 3, lines 121-244.

The Teichoscopia begins with Helen approached in her chamber by Iris, disguised as her sister-in-law Laodike, the daughter of Priam. Helen is then led to the walls of the Skaian gates, where she is summoned by Priam, who asks her to point out the Achaian heroes she sees on the Trojan plane. Below her, the two armies are preparing for the duel between Menelaus and Paris. Helen identifies Agamemnon, Odysseus, Telamonian (Greater) Ajax, and Idomeneus. She also mentions that she does not see her brothers Castor and Pollux, who unbeknownst to her are already dead back in Greece. After this scene, the duel commences, with both armies praying to Zeus and the rest of the gods on Olympus to open the action. [Toohey, Peter. "Reading Epic: An Introduction to Ancient Narratives". New York: Routledge, 1992.]

Analysis

The Teichoscopia is a recurring narrative strategy in ancient Greek literature. Here, according to Maria C. Pantelia, Helen becomes the 'author' of a catalog when she describes for Priam the qualities of the most important Greek warriors." [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/transactions_of_the_american_philological_association/v132/132.1pantelia.html] It has been suggested that the Teichoscopia, as well as the duel between Paris and Menelaus, would have more likely occurred at the beginning of the war rather than during its tenth year. [http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/barrons/iliad3.asp] However, although Homer is not at the beginning of the Trojan War, he is at the beginning of the poem and therefore uses the Teichoscopia as a poetic structure that provides information and suspense important for the remainder of the play and the duel to come.

While the Teichoscopia can be viewed as simply a vignette that surveys the major Greek warriors, some thought has suggested that Homer is also trying to reveal something about Helen. Helen’s open admiration of both the Greek and Trojan warriors is viewed as ironic, as it seems odd that the major cause of a war that has brought devastation to the Trojans should praise the enemy. It is further ironic that she is not aware of the irony she is creating. However, by doing this, Homer is, according to Frederic Will, “insisting on the importance, and centrality, of Helen’s viewpoint. He is integrating a traditional form artistically.” [Remarks on Counterpoint Characterization in Euripides. Frederic Will. "The Classical Journal", Vol. 55, No. 8. (May, 1960), pp. 338-344. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0009-8353%28196005%2955%3A8%3C338%3AROCCIE%3E2.0.CO%3B2-N] .]

References