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In trying to persuade Achilleus to rejoin the fighting, who makes the most compelling arguments? Odysseus? Phoinix? Aias? The messengers found Achilleus in his camp, playing a lyre and singing about man’s fame. It’s important that Homer showed Achilleus as a musician who sings a little epic song within a big epic that is Iliad. As the messengers arrived they received a warm welcome from Peleus’ son who said to them “Welcome. You …

…he is so hard that he doesn't even listen to his friends, and he is being selfish: There is no pity in him. A normal man will take the penalty” (Il.2.769-70), meaning accept the offer of blood price. But strangely enough, this short and direct appeal of Aias succeeds more than of the others--at least enough for Achilleus to promise to return to the battle if the Trojans fight their way to the ships.