Heroism In The Iliad

The Iliad is a Greek story of courage and heroism in the most certain dangers of war. Men on both sides fight for honor for their countries and their families. However, even the greatest heroes are still human, and still have flaws that make them human. What makes us human isn’t necessary the physical strength that we may or may not possess, but rather the strength that lies within us. Emotions are both seen as good, or may also seen as detriment to our successes. In Book XXII, Hector stands outside the city walls where Achilles finds him. Achilles chases Hector around the city three times before the gods intervene. Before they engage in battle, Hector requests that if he were killed that his body be respected. With so much anger, Achilles refuses the request. Hector unsuccessfully strikes Achilles with his spear by hitting Achille’s impenetrable shield. Athena disguises herself as Hector’s ally, Deiphobus, and encourages Hector that the two of them can defeat Achilles. With the false promise by Athena, Hector charges at Achilles. Due to Hector’s armor once belonging to his foe, Achilles knew the vulnerable spots of the armor. Achilles successfully lunges a spear into the neck of Hector. A dying Hector, once again, requests that his body be respected, by having it returned to his family for a proper funeral. Achilles refuses. He attaches Hector’s body to his chariot and drags the corpse. Hector’s parents, Priam and Hekuba, see the disgraceful action of their son’s body. They beg Achilles for Hector’s body but initially refuses. Fortunately for Priam and Hekuba, Achilles obliges. The heroes in Greek mythology aren’t the barbaric warriors, as what many may assume, but they also have the wisdom and knowledge that comes with being a human. There’s a line between pride and anger that blends its way in the story. Part of Achilles pride comes from his belief that he is immortal. The choices …show more content…
The actions we take or not take tend to be because we had a reason to do them or not. Achilles anger to kill as many Trojans as he could was motivated by the death of his friend Patroclus. On the other hand, Hector’s motivation was in the name of honor and duty. What I gathered from reading the Iliad is that there’s really not one side is good versus another side that is bad, as we are accustomed to believing when it comes to war. It’s all perspective.

It would appear to Homer heroism consists of having mortal men fight through adversity, such as a man challenging a god. An example would be in Book 5 where Diomedes fearlessly charges into battle and drives a spear into the belly of Ares, the god of war. The Gods and Goddesses themselves were in conflict with each other and were also divided on what side to be on. Apollo, Ares, Artemis, and Aphrodite assisted the Trojans, while the Greeks were supported by Athena, Hermes, Hera, Poseidon, and Hephaestus. Even today’s war, we believe that God is on our side, as does our enemies. War can wage on for periods of time because both sides believe they will be victorious because God is on their side. There are various types of battles in the story. There’s the war between man versus man, war between god versus man, war between god versus god, and the war each man had to face was the war they had within