Greek Relationship In The Iliad

Hesiod’s Works and Days and Homer’s Iliad, and the Differences They Portray
There are many differences between the relationships of Greeks and their gods portrayed in Hesiod’s Works and Days and Homer’s Iliad. This gives us an unsure representation of how Greeks actually depicted them. To see why there is any division at all, we start at the beginning. Ever since Prometheus stole fire from Olympus, it seems as if mortals and Gods have had a love, hate relationship. The respect that the Greeks had for their gods was formed generally from fear especially from Zeus. And for good reason Hesiod informs us in his letter Works and Days, that because Prometheus stole the fire. It made Zeus angry and he decided he was going to get revenge. Most when seeking out revenge just wants it upon the person that wronged him. However, Hesiod tells us that, “Often even a whole city suffers for a bad man who (wrongs Zeus) and devises presumptuous deeds, and the son of Cronos lays great trouble upon the people, famine and plague …show more content…
If Zeus had just blown off the theft of the fire from Olympus then days would still be jolly in Greece and there would be no reason to resent or fear the gods. Similarly, in the Iliad the Trojan war would have sorted itself out once or twice if it were not rekindled. An example, while the Greeks were making their argument, saying Paris had lost the dual and Troy should hand over Helen, Zeus sent Athena to jumpstart the fighting again. Disguised as a Trojan soldier she convinced one of the archers to shoot Menelaus. Not to kill him just enough to anger the Greek side. The gods showing favoritism is nothing new and often adds an interesting twist to many Greek legends and myths. Because there is so much divide in Olympus, Greeks stand no chance to not be influenced every once and a