The Scale of War Within Homer’s The Iliad, honor and glory trigger an epic war that takes the lives of numerous men and tests the strength, willpower, endurance, and overall ability of the combatants who are willing to risk their lives for each of their nations. The gods also drive mortal men to keep fighting in order to gain glory and their favor. Within The Iliad, honorable warfare results from the pursuit for glory, inability to settle disputes and desire to attain the gods’ favor and their interference when that favor is gained. Honorable warfare results from the pursuit of glory. Glory is gained by great, heroic actions and deeds and is bestowed upon an individual by others who witness these glorious actions. Because war is thrilling,
…show more content…
Another way for warriors to gain glory is by staying near their group in battle, since their achievements can therefore be observed and acknowledged by their peers. In some instances, in their pursuit of glory, some warriors go too far in showing off their achievements. When Achilleus defies fate by killing Hektor, who was one of the undefeated, he essentially becomes the most powerful human. The skirmish between them is the reason why Achilleus gains countless glory and is seen from that point on as an undefeatable force. However, Achilleus angers the gods when he defiles Hektor’s body, strings him to his chariot and proceeds to "draw him three times around the tomb of Menoitios’ fallen son" (XXIV.15). So in his pursuit for status, Achilleus does gain glory but goes too far and actually loses favor with the …show more content…
When an argument ensues and cannot be settled peacefully, it can be settled by fighting, with the winner being in the right. In The Iliad, some of these disputes result in full blown warfare or have an important effect over the outcome of a war. In one example, Paris is called to settle a dispute over which of the three goddesses is the most beautiful. He is given Helen of Troy, wife of Menelaus, as the prize for his decision by Aphrodite. Paris, in turn, winds up kidnapping Helen, which results in the Trojan War. In another example, the disagreement between Agamemnon and Achilleus begins over a woman. When Agamemnon is forced to return his war prize, Chryseis, to placate Apollo, he asserts his power over Achilleus by taking Briseis from him. Achilleus becomes furious and withdrawals from battle, refusing to fight for Agamemnon. Achilleus’ absence in the subsequent battle against the Trojans proves to
Another way for warriors to gain glory is by staying near their group in battle, since their achievements can therefore be observed and acknowledged by their peers. In some instances, in their pursuit of glory, some warriors go too far in showing off their achievements. When Achilleus defies fate by killing Hektor, who was one of the undefeated, he essentially becomes the most powerful human. The skirmish between them is the reason why Achilleus gains countless glory and is seen from that point on as an undefeatable force. However, Achilleus angers the gods when he defiles Hektor’s body, strings him to his chariot and proceeds to "draw him three times around the tomb of Menoitios’ fallen son" (XXIV.15). So in his pursuit for status, Achilleus does gain glory but goes too far and actually loses favor with the …show more content…
When an argument ensues and cannot be settled peacefully, it can be settled by fighting, with the winner being in the right. In The Iliad, some of these disputes result in full blown warfare or have an important effect over the outcome of a war. In one example, Paris is called to settle a dispute over which of the three goddesses is the most beautiful. He is given Helen of Troy, wife of Menelaus, as the prize for his decision by Aphrodite. Paris, in turn, winds up kidnapping Helen, which results in the Trojan War. In another example, the disagreement between Agamemnon and Achilleus begins over a woman. When Agamemnon is forced to return his war prize, Chryseis, to placate Apollo, he asserts his power over Achilleus by taking Briseis from him. Achilleus becomes furious and withdrawals from battle, refusing to fight for Agamemnon. Achilleus’ absence in the subsequent battle against the Trojans proves to