Final answer:
In Book 14 of the Iliad, Nestor advised the kings not to rejoin the battle because they were fatigued and needed rest. His suggestion reflects a strategic approach to preserve leadership and maintain troop morale in warfare, a common thread in Greek military thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Iliad book 14, Nestor advised against the kings rejoining the battle for a very strategic reason. He recognized that the kings were fatigued and needed rest, since they had been fighting for a long time and were wounded. Nestor was experienced in warfare and understood that a weary and injured king would not be able to fight effectively, besides the risk of losing leaders in battle which could deflate the morale of the troops. Therefore, he suggested they should send fresher, less prominent men into battle instead, while the kings could offer support with their presence and words without directly engaging in combat.
Throughout history, the Greeks understood the importance of strategy and preserving their leaders on and off the battlefield. Nestor's advice echoes the cautionary strategies used by Greek leaders in other historical conflicts such as those against the Persian forces or during the internal Greek wars, where leadership and strategic thinking often played a critical role in their outcomes.