Watching Achilles abuse Hektor's body, Priam bemoans the loss of so many sons whom Achilles has cut down, but of all the sons whom he has lost, he mourns most for Hektor. Wishing that Hektor might have died in his arms is a wish for a stable society, one in which the family functions as a microcosm of society. At the same time, Priam realizes that by overprotecting his son Paris, he undermined the social fabric of Troy. His error led to Hektor's death, his only son with a sense of social order.
Hekuba, Priam's wife, fears for her husband's safety when he tells her that he is going to Achilles' camp; she does not believe that the gods will protect Priam, but he is adamant about going. He has seen the goddess Iris, and he trusts her message. He warns Hekuba not to be a "bird of bad omen in my palace." Furthermore, if it is to be his destiny to die beside the Achaian ships, then so be it. Before leaving, and at Hekuba's suggestion, Priam purifies himself; he asks for a sign, and Zeus sends a black eagle to give Priam assurance that his mission has divine approval.
Priam's journey to Achilles' camp takes on a surreal, dream-like quality as Priam and his herald leave. Darkness descends while they water the horses at a river, and the scene seems to suggest a journey to the underworld; in fact, Zeus sends Hermes to conduct Priam to Achilles' camp. The appearance of Hermes gives the impression that Priam is symbolically "crossing over" (symbolically, entering Hades) as he goes to meet Achilles, who also symbolically "crosses over" to meet Priam. As a result, both men discover new spiritual values by exploring the spiritual world. Priam specifically learns a kind of humility in going alone to plead for the body of his son. He also seems able to face the certainty of future ruin because he has succeeded on a personal level with Achilles.
