Overall, Achilles’ brutality was exceptional and even the gods took pity on Hector which demonstrates the severity of Achilles actions as the Greek gods were amoral and rarely showed sympathy towards mankind. This demonstrates the extent of Achilles’ fury and hatred towards Hector for killing Patroclus.
Another important aspect of the Iliad is the involvement of gods in comparison to their almost total absence in Troy. In the Iliad, the gods have a massive influence on the course of war. This is because during Homer’s time there was a tendency to present a world where the deities influence the fates of humans. People of the Homeric age strongly believed in gods and didn’t question their impact on human lives. For example, Apollo sent plague to the Greek army because Agamemnon had insulted him. Moreover, in Book 1 of the Iliad, when Agamemnon was arguing with Achilles, the latter was so furious that he was considering killing Agamemnon and had already slid his sword part way from its sheath. At that moment, Athena came to calm Achilles, saying, “For I say to you, and this will happen, because of Agamemnon’s arrogance some day gifts three times greater than this girl will be set down before you. Control yourself. Obey.” (The Iliad, Book 1). The promise of greater gifts calmed Achilles and he …show more content…
Kleos is glory which a hero wins when he accomplishes some great deed (for instance, in Achilles’ case it was sacking a city). For Homeric heroes, it meant living forever in legends, songs and poems, hence the closest thing to immortality available. For this reason it’s the supreme goal of all warriors. In the Iliad, the theme of kleos is shown through Achilles. “If I remain here, continuing the fight against the Trojans’ city, that means I won’t be going home, but my glory will never die. But if I go back home, my fame will die, although my life will last a long time—death will not end it quickly.” (The Iliad, Book
Another important aspect of the Iliad is the involvement of gods in comparison to their almost total absence in Troy. In the Iliad, the gods have a massive influence on the course of war. This is because during Homer’s time there was a tendency to present a world where the deities influence the fates of humans. People of the Homeric age strongly believed in gods and didn’t question their impact on human lives. For example, Apollo sent plague to the Greek army because Agamemnon had insulted him. Moreover, in Book 1 of the Iliad, when Agamemnon was arguing with Achilles, the latter was so furious that he was considering killing Agamemnon and had already slid his sword part way from its sheath. At that moment, Athena came to calm Achilles, saying, “For I say to you, and this will happen, because of Agamemnon’s arrogance some day gifts three times greater than this girl will be set down before you. Control yourself. Obey.” (The Iliad, Book 1). The promise of greater gifts calmed Achilles and he …show more content…
Kleos is glory which a hero wins when he accomplishes some great deed (for instance, in Achilles’ case it was sacking a city). For Homeric heroes, it meant living forever in legends, songs and poems, hence the closest thing to immortality available. For this reason it’s the supreme goal of all warriors. In the Iliad, the theme of kleos is shown through Achilles. “If I remain here, continuing the fight against the Trojans’ city, that means I won’t be going home, but my glory will never die. But if I go back home, my fame will die, although my life will last a long time—death will not end it quickly.” (The Iliad, Book