Metamorphoses · Chapter
Trojan War explained
The Greeks prepare to invade Troy, but are delayed at Aulis by unfavorable winds.
What happens
The Greeks prepare to invade Troy, but are delayed at Aulis by unfavorable winds. A serpent devours a sparrow and her eight chicks, which Calchas interprets as a sign that the war will last nine years and end in victory on the tenth. To appease Diana, Agamemnon's daughter Iphigenia is to be sacrificed, but the goddess substitutes a hind and calms the seas, allowing the fleet to sail.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of Telethusa’s de…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Fate and Prophecy
Calchas interprets the omen of the serpent and birds, foretelling the nine-year war and eventual Greek victory.
- Divine Power and Human Folly
Diana demands a human sacrifice, but relents and substitutes a hind, showing divine intervention over human plans.
- Violence and Revenge
The war is motivated by the abduction of Helen, and the narrative includes the near-sacrifice of Iphigenia.
Characters to notice
- Diana
Goddess who demands a virgin sacrifice but relents, substituting a hind for Iphigenia.
- Apollo
Phoebus, who inspires Calchas with prophetic knowledge of the war's duration.
- Hector
Mourns at the cenotaph of his metamorphosed brother, unaware of the true fate.
- Neptune
God of the sea, who initially disobeys the Greeks by sending contrary winds.
- Jove
Honored with sacrifice by the Greeks on the shore at Aulis.
Key passages
“A snake of size immense ascends a tree, and in the leafy summit spied a nest, which o'er her callow young a sparrow press'd; eight were the birds, unfledged; their mother flew and hover'd round her care, but still in view, till the fierce reptile first devour'd the brood; then seized the fluttering dam, and drank her blood.”
A huge snake climbs a tree and finds a nest with eight baby sparrows; it eats the chicks and then catches and drinks the blood of the mother bird.
This omen is interpreted by Calchas as a prophecy of the nine-year Trojan War.
“Fair Iphigenia, the devoted maid, was, by the weeping priests, in linen robes array'd. All mourn her fate, but no relief appear'd; the royal victim bound, the knife already rear'd when that offended power, who caused their wo, relenting ceased her wrath, and stopp'd the coming blow.”
Iphigenia is dressed in linen and bound for sacrifice, but just as the knife is raised, the angry goddess Diana relents and stops the killing.
Diana substitutes a hind for Iphigenia, saving her life and allowing the Greek fleet to sail.
