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What Motivates Us Mortals In The Iliad

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What motivates us mortals in our day-to-day lives? Some say money, love, or the pursuit of happiness, but for the Greek gods, it is because they are aware that they are indestructible. By taking note of Hera and Athena’s actions throughout the events of the Iliad it is clear this conclusion reigns true. The Trojan war was fought by men, but the real focal point of the conflict were the actions of the gods and goddesses. It seemed as if no side could gain a decisive edge without some form of divine intervention. Hera and Athena, on countless occasions, did whatever it took to ensure Greek victory due to their feelings being hurt by the Trojan prince, Paris. You could envision that normal people would carry on in their lives, but not Hera and …show more content…
The two goddesses know they have nothing to lose by aiding the Greeks which causes them to do just that. Some ask why the gods even bother wasting their time dealing with mortals, subsequently, we exhibit the same actions as humans in today's day and age. We have all been guilty of swatting at a fly or kicking at an anthill, but why do we do this? We consciously know that flies and ants cannot do anything to hurt us, the same goes for gods and mortals. The gods in the Iliad are very intimate with the notion that they cannot be stopped on the battlefield, causing them to intervene at every opportunity presented to them. They waste no time in appearing at the gates of Troy to try and show off their strengths against men who fail to provide any resistance. For the case of Hera and Athena, they are particularly concerned with the defeat of the Trojans. Since they are aware that no mortal or even deity can get in their way, Hera and Athena might as well do whatever they can to punish Troy. An example of this is when Hera seduces Zeus, a Trojan advocate, helping the Greeks tremendously, “(Hera to Sleep) Lull Zeus’ bright eyes to sleep for me as soon as I lie beside him in love” (14.235-14.236). Now if the gods

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