In the Iliad, which warrior's sulking in his tent led to greater losses for the Greeks?

• A. Hercules
• B. Perseus
• C. Achilles
• D. Paris

Answer: (C)

A leader’s withdrawal from the field, driven by pride or grievance, can undo a whole army’s momentum. In the Iliad, Achilles refuses to fight and stays in his tent, depriving the Greeks of their strongest warrior. That absence lets the Trojans gain ground and inflict heavier losses, since the Greek army loses its edge and confidence without Achilles’s leadership. The situation becomes even more costly when Patroclus, Achilles’ close friend, is killed by Hector while wearing Achilles’ armor—an event that directly follows Achilles’ withdrawal and becomes the catalyst for the Greeks’ greatest near-disaster and the war’s turning point. This sequence shows how a single commander’s sulk can ripple outward, increasing losses for his side until he finally returns to battle. The other figures mentioned belong to different myths or contexts and do not align with this specific episode of hindrance in the Greek camp.