Theme Of Favors In The Iliad

Asking of favors is an ever-present theme inThe Iliad. The asking of favors is an salient way with which people in Greek mythology accomplished tasks. Without them Achilles would never have been needed in the fight, nor would have had a reason not to fight. Favors from the gods are what gave one side a decisive edge when they were winning the war. The practice of asking for favors was a widespread tactic used with great avail. Three instrumental occasions in which a favor is asked in The Iliad are between, Chryses and Apollo, Thetis and Zeus, and Thetis and Hephaestus. Chryses was the priest of Apollo residing the town of Chryse. His town was raided and pillaged by the Greek soldiers on their way to Troy. Subsequent to the incursion his daughter, Chryseis, was taken as loot by the Greeks’ commander Agamemnon. Chryses approached …show more content…
Achilles was withholding his presence from the battlefield in response to the disrespect shown to him by Agamemnon. A disgruntled Achilles sought out solace in his nymph mother,Thetis. Thetis told him she would meet with Zeus to discuss his problem. Thetis approached Zeus and assumed a position that conveyed her subservience, to display the dire need she was in. She made reference to the time Achilles saved Zeus by leading Briareus to stop the gods from binding him. Following this Thetis emphasizes the victimization that has befallen Achilles, by bringing up his short life, the disrespect dealt to him by agamemnon, and the lack of glory which he deserves. She asks him to give the Trojans an advantage until Achilles returns to battle. Zeus halts for a moment to think about Thetis’ plea. Breaking the silence, she asked him to provide an unambiguous response. To this he informs her that to grant her this favor would cause conflict with he and Hera, who sides with the Greek army, but decides to follow through with her request