Upon the Face of Agamemnon

Upon the Face of Agamemnon

“and also he [King Priam of Troy] admires Agamemnon for his beauty”

~ Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae, XIII, 906

Forget that Helen for a moment.  Think

Of gorgeous men.  The King of Troy could not

Resist men’s beauty.  Helen caused a stink

That lasted years and years and it was fraught

With Troy’s death—but don’t forget the king

Of Mycenae.  Old Priam’s eyes fixed on

The royal one of Argos.  Homer had him sing

The wonders of his beauty.  His height, brawn

And other qualities exalted him

Above the other royal heroes.  Some

Stood taller and they might be strong of limb,

But he was of the lot the royal sum.

..Commanding grandeur of the heights, his face

….Gave Agamemnon’s beauty god-like place.