So, Hector dies like Patroclus said that he would. It ends with his funeral. Homer doesn't really let us know about all of the outcomes of the war, but we do know that the Greeks do eventually win.
Hermes sends a deep sleep over a few people in the trenches and brings in the king. He finds Achilles' tent and he says that Zeus sent him to be his guide and vanishes. I like the imagery of him just... disappearing into thin air.
Priam goes to Achilles and begs for pity from him. He tries to gain sympathy by mentioning his father and comparing his age to his. It's a big deal that he is on his knees and kissing the hands of the man who killed his own sons. Achilles seems to think so as well and he cries thinking of his own lost loved ones. He thinks that Priam has a lot of audacity for coming to talk to him, but lets him stay anyway. Priam doesn't want to stay with his son left unburied and offers him gifts for ransom instead. Achilles says he will give Hector's body back and that Priam should go.
Achilles takes the gifts and has two women clean Hector's body away from his father in case he starts making a scene. Achilles puts his body in a wagon. He then tells Patroclus to not be angry with him for giving his body back to his father because he offered a handsome reward. They party, but then Priam asks to be left alone to sleep because he hasn't slept since his son had died. There is a truce for nine days so there can be a burial.
Hermes comes to Priam again and tells him to leave. He is sleeping amongst enemies. He goes back to Troy with no issue. On the ninth day, they give hector a fantastic funeral. And with that, The Iliad is finished!
Priam and Achilles by Ivanov (Wikimedia Commons)
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