Shield In The Iliad

IThe Iliad is a classic poem written by Homer around 762 B.C. The protagonist, Achilles, plays a large role in the poem even though he is not physically in the war for much of the story. When he returns to the war, a shield is made for him to use in battle. This shield becomes of importance in the tale as Homer spends a whole section describing it. The shield of Achilles enlarges the meaning of the story because of the details depicted upon it. It is one of the most symbolic pieces used in the poem. Achilles used in his fight against Hector, but it is also very representative. The shield is a symbol of Achilles and his fight in the war, his mother’s love for him, and also represents life. For just one object, it represents so much of the poem and play a much large role. It is one of the most symbolic items in the poem. …show more content…
Two cities, Troy and Greece, are shown on it and it represents war and peace. The shield was forged by Hephaestus, God of Fire, because Achilles mother requested it to keep her son safe. There are many sections on the shield focusing on different areas of life. Achilles’s shield was forged for him, but worthy of a God. There were pictures of a wedding, conflict, two armies, farmlands, the king, a vineyard, cattle, lame god, and lastly surrounding all of the sections was an ocean. “He made a shield first, heavy and huge, every inch of it intricately designed. He threw a triple rim around it, glittering like lightning, and he made the strap silver. The shield itself was five layers thick, and he crafted its surface with all of his genius.” (238-239). Hephaestus seemed to put his heart and soul into the armor he made for Achilles so that he would be protected, but also represent many things in the pictures he put on