The ninth-century author Photius provides a possible reason for Pompey’s reading of that particular book of the Iliad in his Bibliotheca. In this collection of book ‘reviews’, he mentions in his discussion of Ptolemy Hephaestion’s lost New History that Pompey was an admirer of Agamemnon (Codex 190, 151a).
Agamemnon is, however, absent for more than twothirds of the book, and the remainder contains a lengthy account of combat between Achaean and Trojan heroes on both sides. Combat rages throughout the book with various heroes reinforcing the line of battle at the right moment or encouraging resistance when a section wavers. Commanders encourage their men, leading from the front, from behind the lines, and in their midst. What is more, gods are relatively absent from the action of Book 11; the action is mostly between mortals. This section of the epic poem, therefore, seems ideal as the subject of reflection and contemplation before facing the exigencies of a campaign of your own.
Before we explore Book 11 specifically, however, it is worth reiterating that Homer’s was seriously regarded as a handbook for generals by several important ancient commanders, most famously Alexander the Great. Pompey’s contemporary Posidonius was also aware of his attachment to Book 11, quoting line 784 to the general when he visited him on Rhodes in around 67 BC (Strabo 11.1.6): “ever be bravest, and pre-eminent above all.” Pompey may have thought that Book 11 contained more martial insights than any other book of the , hence his attachment. It will, therefore, be
