Homeric Vs. The Iliad - 1654 Words

Homeric View of War in the Iliad Being a milestone for all ancient Greek Literature, the Trojan War was discussed and narrated in many different works, most notably Homer’s epic poem the Iliad. Depicting a classical style of mass battle, Homeric warriors were thus treated equally as fighters, but were disregarded in the text in order to illustrate the sheer power of the heroes and leaders. Every warrior was just another piece of the phalanx, which is why the army was so withstanding of attack. While warriors and battle were portrayed in this era as one large mass, heroes of war and leaders were illustrated much larger, in size, in strength, and in power. Although background warriors were not given individualized attention throughout the epic, their scenes are juxtaposed to important battles between heroes, only emphasizing how important the masses are in relation to the individuals during battle. Throughout the Iliad, Homer depicts a realistic society in his fictional wor ld: while the unimportant fighters are not highlighted in the battle scenes, they are just as important as the heroes when it comes to war, the great equalizer. There are two schools of thought when analyzing the Homeric view of war in the Iliad: he imagines war realistically or unrealistically. Few people fail to realize that both these interpretations are correct in there own ways. Homer is able to realistically present the reader with the emotions of war, the ebbs and flows of passions amongShow MoreRelatedHow Does Homer Use The Effectiveness Of Ajax s Speech1723 Words   |  7 Pagesthe effectiveness of Ajax’s speech, specifically Ajax’s similarities to Achilles and the speech’s focus on the Greek value of timÄ“ (one’s honor or how one is perceived by others), to reveal the motivations and nature of Achilles. In book IX of the Iliad, Ajax, known primarily for his brute strength and martial prowess, delivers the speech Achilles finds most compe lling. Conversely, Odysseus, although the most adept orator sent, is the least effective in convincing Achilles to rejoin the war. In myRead MoreEssay on The Iliad of Homer and Greek Heroes1495 Words   |  6 Pages The Iliad is an epic tale of war and hero’s within the Greek way of life. A predominant and consistent theme of honor and glory reside throughout the poem. The motivation for any Homeric Greek is glory, or â€Å"Kleos†, that is to be honored and respected among their people. Emphasis is put on living by the heroic code. Honor is essential to the Greeks and life would not be worth living without it. When a warrior or hero is advised to avoid risking their life in battle it almost drives themRead MoreThe Iliad and Greek Heroes1500 Words   |  6 PagesThe Iliad is an epic tale of war and heros within the Greek way of life. A predominant and consistent theme of honor and glory reside throughout the poem. The motivation for any Homeric Greek is glory, or Kleos, that is to be honored and respected among their people. Emphasis is put on living by the heroic code. Honor is essential to the Greeks and life would not be worth living without it. When a warrior or hero is advised to avoid risking their life in battle it almost drivesRead MoreSimilarities Between Dark Ages And The Dark Ages948 Words   |  4 Pages Classical Vs the Dark Ages If you were to compare how relations between city-states were during the dark ages of Greece to the classical era of Greece. You would come along a lot of differences and some similarities that might shock you, they sure did me. You can find differences and similarities in many aspects of their civilization: politics, culture, warfare, and economics. The dark ages of Greece lacked writing so a lot of what we know is indirect. Such as â€Å"Achilles’ Anger† excerpt from theRead MoreCombat Sports in the Ancient World: General Aspects of Ancient Combat Sports2625 Words   |  11 Pagesbook lacks â€Å"full discussion of interesting problems† appears to show, although the limitations of the concept of the chapter might not have allowed for further discussion. Kyle does suggest in his Sport and Spectacle that â€Å"the old notion that Homeric athletes are â€Å"all-rounders† should be dropped and that by Homer’s time â€Å"some degree of specialization by build, age, and training† would appear, along with the indication that some athletes did in fact attempt more than one type of event. However