The wearisome goddess Erida can best be understood by reading the opening lines of Book 11 of The Iliad. After Eos (Dawn) sheds her gentle light on mortals and Immortals alike, Zeus sends Erida to the encampment of the Achaians (Achaeans). She stands on the centermost of the beached vessels and SCREAMS!!! The hearts of the soldiers are hardened as they awaken. They no longer remember their fathers or their wives and children. They rise from their beds with the screams of Hate ringing in their ears. In their hearts, they long for the sweetness of battle. Only blood will dispel the sanguine thrust that Erida has evoked.
Erida entered into the battle, small at first, but as she strode forward, she grew and grew, until her head reached the heavens. She cast down bitterness and vile loathing on both armies as she moved through the fighting. Sister and companion of the brutal War God, Ares, her wrath is unyielding. (Iliad, book 4, line 440)
The line numbers listed here correspond fairly well with the Lattimore and Murray/Wyatt translations of The Iliad. Other translations (Fitzgerald, Fagles et al) do not correspond as well but, with a small amount of effort, you should be able to find the reference you need regardless of the translation you use. Lattimore (ISBN 0226469409); A.T. Murray/William F. Wyatt Vol. I & II (ISBN 0674995791 and 0674995805); Robert Fitzgerald (ISBN 0374529051); Robert Fagles (ISBN 0140275363)
