# Nestor — The Iliad character guide

> Nestor in The Iliad by Homer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gerenian Nestor, reverend Nestor, aged Nestor, Neleian Nestor

**First appearance:** 0001-the-iliad

## Snapshot

The aged king of Pylos, whose long memory and longer speeches make him the Greeks' counselor and living link to an older generation of heroes.

## Who they are

Nestor has outlived the men of his youth and now fights from a chariot, exposed and vulnerable when his horse is struck down. Diomedes saves him, and the old man's gratitude and tactical eye shape the battle's next moves. His authority rests on memory and precedent, and his voice repeatedly steadies the Greek coalition when it threatens to fracture.

## In the story

### [Book II: The Trial of the Army, and Catalogue of the Forces](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-ii-the-trial-of-the-army-and-catalogue-of-the-forces)

Advises Agamemnon to review the troops and provides counsel.

### [Book VII: The Combat of Hector and Ajax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-vii-the-combat-of-hector-and-ajax)

Advises the Greeks to hold funeral rites, build a tomb, and fortify the camp; recounts his youthful exploits to shame the Greeks.

### [Book VIII: The Second Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-viii-the-second-battle)

Advises Diomedes to retreat, acknowledging Zeus's will, and helps turn the steeds rearward.

### [Book IX: The Embassy to Achilles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-ix-the-embassy-to-achilles)

Advises a feast for the elders and the posting of guards, urging prudent counsel in the crisis.

### [Book X: The Night-Adventure of Diomed and Ulysses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-x-the-night-adventure-of-diomed-and-ulysses)

Nestor is awakened by Agamemnon and participates in the council, advising on the selection of spies.

### [Book XI: The Third Battle, and Exploits of Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xi-the-third-battle-and-exploits-of-agamemnon)

Converses with Patroclus about the wounded Greeks and the dire state of the battle.

### [Book XIV: The Fraud Practised on Jupiter by Juno](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xiv-the-fraud-practised-on-jupiter-by-juno)

Observes the rout from his tent, consults with Machaon, then seeks Agamemnon.

### [Book XV: The Fifth Battle at the Ships](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xv-the-fifth-battle-at-the-ships)

Nestor exhorts the Greek warriors to stand firm, appealing to their honor and their families, helping to rally the retreating Greeks.

### [Book XXIII: The Funeral of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxiii-the-funeral-of-patroclus)

Receives a prize from Achilles and recounts his youthful athletic prowess.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/nestor
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters