Gods And Goddesses In The Iliad

For many years, people in different cultures have different interpretations on gods and goddesses. In the Greek culture, it is clear that the gods and goddesses are very important because they appears in most of their literature, including the ancient Greek texts. In the Iliad, Homer writes about the conflict between the mortal Greek and Trojans, along with the disputation among the gods. Unlike the duties of the gods and their relationship with human in other culture, the gods in the Greek society interfere with the human affairs, treating the mortals as a chess piece and creating a huge impact on the lives of an individual, and even the outcome of war. Only those who are favored by the gods will receive privilege and protection against their …show more content…
However, mortals in the Iliad still pray for their gods in order to use the power of gods or draw gods into the world of mortals. “Hear me now, Atrytone, daughter of Zeus of the aegis; if ever before in kindliness you stood by my father through the terror of fighting, be my friend now also, Athene: grant me that I may kill this man and come within spearcast, who shot me before I could see him, and now boasts over me, saying I cannot live to look much long on the shining sunlight. So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard him” (5.115-121). Despite of what the gods or the goddesses had done to the mortal world, Diomedes prays to Pallas Athene, or Athena, to ask for her help. Acknowledging the prayer from Diomedes, Athena grants him with strength and courage to fight against the Trojans. Later on, he goes on to the battlefield and killed several trojans army. If Athena refuse his prayer, nothing will have happen. This indicates that gods give aid to those who are favored by the gods and help them as much as possible, while ignoring the lives of others. Also, the gods will have the power to change the fate of the …show more content…
They comment and joke about the issues, regardless the lives of the mortals. “Now the gods at the side of Zeus were sitting in council over the golden floor, and among them the goddess Hebe poured them nectar as wine, while they in the golden drinking-cups drank to each other, gazing down on the city of the Trojans” (4.1-4). The fight happening in the mortal world has became an entertainment for the gods from above, along with beverages that is served by Hebe, goddesses of youth and the cupbearer for the god and goddesses. In addition, Zeus predicts that Menelaos will win the fight with Paris and decide the fate for both Greek and Troy. “Let us consider then how these things shall be accomplished, whether again to stir up grim warfare and the terrible fighting, or cast down love and make them friends with each other. If somehow this way could be sweet and pleasing to all of us, the city of lord Priam might still be a place men dwell in, and Menelaos could take away with him Helen of Argos” (4.14-19). Having a gathering to get the advices from other gods means that they think they are the one that determines the outcome of the war, as well as the fate of an individual. They can alter someone’s fate and destiny based on their will, treating the mortals as chess pieces that only moves based on the will of the