Book Four of The Iliad ends after Athena coaxed a Trojan archer to fire at the Achaeans. The transgression prompts a fervent battle following what could have been a truce between the two sides. Succeeding the outbreak of war, Athena bestows to her chosen hero, Diomedes, the “strength and courage that would make him shine among the Greeks and win him glory” (pg. 83). Diomedes goes forth to slaughter the Trojans in battle, instilling distress in their hearts. With this depiction of Diomedes, Homer introduces two of his core claims in this selection: one individual can turn the tides of battle and man is merciless in war. Champions and heroes play an integral role in this selection of The Iliad. Diomedes begins by almost single handedly pushing back the Trojans; however, soon after Diomedes rips through them, Hector crushes the ranks of the Achaeans. Even the minor characters of the epic are shown to greatly influence the battle as a whole. Homer describes the battle as small, segmented fights between characters, allowing each character to sway the battle in his side’s favor. Heroes on both sides periodically shift the tides of war. No one side completely controls the battlefield for long within these four Books. Although the selection concludes with Hector cornering the Achaeans, it seems as though the tides can shift in an instant. Individuals, not armies, command the battlefield. Throughout this selection, Homer illustrates just how brutal war, and consequently man, can
Most people think of a hero as a strong, superior, good-looking person that could never make a mistake. However, in a story called The Odyssey, a connection to real life reveals imperfections to be common in heroes. Each person has their low points and highlights, regardless of their “rank”. The author and epic poet, Homer, exemplifies our main character, Odysseus, to take on this idea of a hero throughout his writing. The time period took place in Ancient Greece, allowing Greek culture to relate to the poem. Different aspects of such culture and history may have influenced the works and creativity of Homer as well. A major point includes The Trojan War because it focuses in on Odysseus’ journey to bring Helen back home by devising a plan to destroy warriors in the city. Acknowledge this factor when reading The Odyssey, for not only evidence of heroism, but also other major points of archetypes, in which the device reflects the insights of readers in modern time and what is seen from Ancient Greek culture.
The Iliad: Book VI is about the continued war for Troy but Homer focuses a lot of the book on Hector, Prince of Troy. The Achaeans were overwhelming the Trojans so they were forced back into their city. The Trojans were weakened so the Achaeans took full advantage and slaughtered as many as they could. However, the Trojans anticipated this weakness and Hector asked his mother to pray to Athena for the army. Meanwhile Paris, Hector’s brother, had withdrawn from battle because of the grief he caused. But his soon to be wife Helen and Hector convince him to return to battle. Just before they head into battle Hector pays a visit to his wife and child to say goodbye for maybe the last time. His wife is convinced that he is near his death and mourns. Hector then meets Paris on the way to the city gate and they prepare to fight.
22. Character of Diomedes: How does Homer portray Diomedes? How does his aggressiveness toward the gods in battle reveal any larger theme of the Iliad?
Following the demise of Troy, the Achaean’s mighty fortification is destined to fall not by mere mortal strength, but rather, the selfish act of divine intervention. In Book 12 of the Iliad, Homer’s narration is centralized around the Greek’s mighty fortifications, the fortress that agitates the gods. The author begins the story by describing Zeus’s plans to dismantle the Greek rampart. The author makes the god’s plan manifest when Hector chastises Polydamas for his foresight and proceeds to carry out his god’s will. More specifically the structure of the story proceeds with Asius’ and Sarpedon’s attempt at charging the wall and finally Hector’s assault, with the intervention of Zeus, which successfully opens the gates and lead the Trojans inside the wall. Though, prior to Hector’s success, Homer illustrates stalemate-like battle scenes to describe the evenness of the mortal warriors. More specifically, Homer emphasizes this evenness in strength between both armies and the overbearing power of Zeus through the usage of his epic similes, most notable in lines 322-337, where Zeus is depicted by his divine powers as supporting Hector and his Trojans breach the wall. Ultimately, Homer’s simile in lines 322-337 functions as a way to determine the fate of the victor on the battlefield, the breach of the Greek’s fortification, and most importantly to demonstrate how divine intervention is committed out of selfishness rather than to aid mortal men.
Homer highlights the superiority and inferiority of nature compared to culture with the scenes of Homeric heroes in aristéia. In Book 5, Diomedes appeals to Athena for aid, who answers by inspiring extraordinary courage and skill within him, leading Diomedes to bring destruction upon the Trojans and even wounding the goddess
In the Iliad there are many characters that could be considered heroic. But the two main characters that stand out as heroes to me are swift-footed Achilles and flashing-helmet Hector. Numerous times throughout the epic they display qualities and traits that are unsurpassed by anyone on their side. Many times throughout the epic Achilles and Hector are tested for their strength, and will to win in battle, which for both warriors always ends up positive because they always win their battles. Although both fighters are among the elite status in the armies, they each show human and god-like qualities that help them be as a fierce and feared as possible.
The Iliad is an epic tale of war and hero’s within the Greek way of life. A
be looked at as "the wife of Hektor, who was ever the bravest fighter of
“As is the generation of leaves, so is that of humanity. The wind scatters the leaves on the ground, but the live timber burgeons with leaves again in the season of spring returning. So one generation of men will grow while another dies” (6.146-50)
The classical hero is a timeless description of human beings all around the world. Not only is it part of some human’s nature; it is used as a source of entertainment for people as well. The classical hero is seen both in the Iliad, as we have discussed, and in today’s world every day and in most cases everywhere. Heroes are seen today in TV shows, novels, movies, sports, in politics, and on the news, etc. As an audience, we love to study the classical hero whether we’re watching something or reading a novel or story about one. It always seems to be exhilarating because it’s part of our nature. The story of the hero motivates individuals to want to be like that person and strive to help
The idea of kleos otherwise known as glory in Greek, and honor is one of the most essential motifs of the Iliad. For many warriors depicted in the Iliad, honor was vital and personal. For many, Glory earned in battle was more important than one’s life. Glory or the lack of, was remembered long after one’s life. Possibly the greatest fundamental part of honor to the fighters of the Iliad was courage in battle as shown throughout multiple books. Throughout the course of this book we can see how different characters display these traits and how they influence the course of the war. Even though the Achaeans and Trojans are enemies they display a similar view, the acquisition of glory is more significant than life
In the Iliad there are many characters that could be considered heroic. But the two main characters that stand out as heroes to me are swift-footed Achilles and flashing-helmet Hector. Numerous times throughout the epic they display qualities and traits that are unsurpassed by anyone on their side. Many times throughout the epic Achilles and Hector are tested for their strength, and will to win in battle, which for both warriors always ends up positive because they always win their battles. Although both fighters are among the elite status in the armies, they each show human and god-like qualities that help them be as a fierce and feared as possible.
The Ancient Greeks idealized and worshiped their heroes, this is portrayed in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad. To become a hero in ancient Greece, one would have to live and die in pursuit of glory and honor. Both Achilles and Hector seek victory in battle to become the “true hero.” Although both characters possess many hero-like qualities, Hector proved to be the genuine hero.
With these wrathful words of Achilles to his commander Agamemnon, so begins the sequence of events in The Iliad that ultimately pits Achilles the runner against Hector, breaker of horses. Although these men were already enemies, Achilles being an Achaean and Hector being a Trojan, it is truly Achilles’ rage that makes the rivalry personal. These two men, from opposite sides of the
In today's society, a man's mind is his most important tool. In the past, however, a man's courage and strength is all that he had to keep him alive. In Homer's Iliad, courage is valued over honesty and even faithfulness to one's wife. If a hero is the most courageous man in the bunch, then Hector is more heroic than Achilles and King of the Myrmidons. Hector is the true hero of Homer's Iliad.