More on the Iliad

The end is in sight.  Having reached book 20 it strikes me that this epic was meant to be declaimed in the Greek equivalent of a Scandinavian Mead Hall around a fireplace by old campaigners deep in their cups.  In the present book Achilles has been roused to battle by the death of his lover, Patroclus and meets Aeneas in the thick of battle.  While the battle rages around them they stand there and exchange taunts and insults for 4 pages.  Aeneas actually recites his entire genealogy tracing all the way back to Zeus.  Apparently it took a lot to psych themselves up for battle!