Achaeans

madness” (19.106-108). Therefore, this passage from Book Nineteen of The Iliad depicts Agamemnon’s inability to accept the fault for insulting Achilles and causing his departure for the fighting, as well as the death and suffering this caused the Achaeans during his absence, thus demonstrating the depth of Agamemnon’s…

immortal world creates a platform for Homer to exemplify and examine women personas thorough the Olympian goddesses. The three main goddesses presented in The Iliad are Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera. During the Trojan War, Athena and Hera fight with the Achaeans, while Aphrodite favors the Trojans. The actions of the Goddesses during war illustrate the different characteristics women possess in the world of The Iliad. Each goddess embodies different stereotypes of women during the Bronze Age.…

goddess, of Achilles, the son of Peleus, the destructive anger that brought ten thousand pains to the Achaeans and sent…

History of The Peloponnesian War by Thucydides and the Iliad by Homer are both timeless accounts of war that also analyze human nature. Both authors divulge their belief about what comprises human nature through the observation of war and its effect on morality. Homer and Thucydides agree that emotion, specifically compassion, is the key to a human life. However, the authors differ on their definition of compassion. Thucydides sees compassion as a natural emotion felt among equals while Homer…

This week's reading selections from Homer's Iliad and Hesiod's work really struck me because of the sheer amount of what seemed like a lot of social commentary from the two authors. The authors, who lived in two very different political situations, and some interesting things to say about "correct" social order that were quite complimentary. Homer lived in a time where, though the common man was essentially subject to the nobles, they still exercised some political power through participation in…

The Iliad is an epic poem set in the Trojan War about a decade into the war; mainly centered on the hero Achilles. Throughout the complete tale, the societies and cultures experienced many difficulties due to two types of culture. These two type of culture would be both honor and shame culture. The honor culture consist of being the mightiest warrior, to have glory and fame and to exact revenge on those who have wronged you. This culture is usually followed by the majority of the Greek heroes.…

When you think about heroes, who do you think about? Do you think about the character that climbs buildings and releases spider webs from his hand? Or maybe the character that flies everywhere, giving parts of his head to people who are hungry? In the Iliad, the warriors display the aspects of heroism. Some characters are portrayed as great warriors who are loyal to their country, and some are written as cowards who do not have enough courage to fight. The Homeric heroes are meant to be skillful…

cowardness is a “curse to your father, your city, and all your people” (57). Hector looks down on Paris for being weak and cowardly. To him, physical strength and courage is the most important thing to a man. Hector is constantly seen fighting the Achaeans in a warlike trance. If Hector or any man is going to die, it’s through honor of protecting their people and country by fighting their enemies. Paris, however, is aware of his cowardness, “you criticize me fairly, yes nothing unfair, beyond…

Greek and Sumerian (Mesopotamian) cultures can demonstrate two completely different ideologies as they existed and thrived in two different time periods. However, because it existed in two different time periods, it does not mean that it cannot give the readers an idea of what they regarded their virtues at the highest standard. Whether it discusses the stories of great men, evil tyrannical lords, hypocritical gods, or the contradiction of how they viewed women, both stories discussed some of…

Why is it that almost every story you read sounds the same. There's always a hero, a villain, a damsel in distress, and some sort of epic journey. The reason for this being that almost all novels share a common theme. These themes are called Archetypes. One of the most famous character archetypes is the great hero. The hero, often referred to as the great warrior, is known for his tenacity, devotion, and bravery. A true warrior is a protector of his land and his people. He is a noble champion…