The Iliad is an epic poem based on the Trojan War, a war which lasted 10 years. The two opposing sides fighting against each other were the Trojans and the Mycenaean Greeks. The spark that began this war was “the abduction of Menelaus’ wife Helen by the Trojan prince Alexander (or Paris)” (Backman 42). Achilles, is the main character in the story, he is a warrior and he is known all throughout Greece. The Iliad retells the events that occurred near the end of the Trojan War and on how the Greeks captured the city of Troy.
This Iliad was passed down through oral history for many years and it was written by the Greek poet named Homer around 750 BCE. He is considered a “Rhapsode” in ancient Greece which translates as, “a weaver of songs” (Cole …show more content…
Since the main theme is the ‘glory of war’, a Greek soldier reading The Iliad could see the hero Achilles as an inspiration. The same ‘glory’ that Achilles chose to pursue, instead of living a long life raising a family. Achilles goes on to say, “If I stay here and fight, I shall not return alive but my name will live forever: whereas if I go home my name will die, but it will be long ere death shall take me” (Butler Book IX). Perhaps if these soldiers were inspired and showed fearlessness like Achilles, there would be more victories for the Greek army. Homer may have also envisioned that the citizens of Greek would pass along the story of The Iliad and the accomplishments of the Greek army to future …show more content…
Authors Cole and Symes states that since these stories were previously passed down through history orally. Many Historians have come to the conclusion that these stories may have actually been factual. Although it may been based on true events, there is no way of knowing for sure that these characters and this story line is true. However, it does give insight to historians on what might have occurred during 750 BCE when this poem was
This Iliad was passed down through oral history for many years and it was written by the Greek poet named Homer around 750 BCE. He is considered a “Rhapsode” in ancient Greece which translates as, “a weaver of songs” (Cole …show more content…
Since the main theme is the ‘glory of war’, a Greek soldier reading The Iliad could see the hero Achilles as an inspiration. The same ‘glory’ that Achilles chose to pursue, instead of living a long life raising a family. Achilles goes on to say, “If I stay here and fight, I shall not return alive but my name will live forever: whereas if I go home my name will die, but it will be long ere death shall take me” (Butler Book IX). Perhaps if these soldiers were inspired and showed fearlessness like Achilles, there would be more victories for the Greek army. Homer may have also envisioned that the citizens of Greek would pass along the story of The Iliad and the accomplishments of the Greek army to future …show more content…
Authors Cole and Symes states that since these stories were previously passed down through history orally. Many Historians have come to the conclusion that these stories may have actually been factual. Although it may been based on true events, there is no way of knowing for sure that these characters and this story line is true. However, it does give insight to historians on what might have occurred during 750 BCE when this poem was