Iliad-Gods in Homeric Society

A detailed Summary of Iliad-Gods in Homeric Society

Gods play an integral role in Homeric society. They are very active in the lives of humans, both in wartime and peacetime. People depend on the gods to help them fight wars, protect their loved ones, and just improve their everyday lives. Since they do play such a large role in the lives of humans, people often blame or credit gods for things they had no involvement in. This can lead to complicated dealings between gods and humans. The best way for humans to get what they want from the gods is to respect them, and then show this respect. The gods are much more obliging to the people that honor them greatly than those that do not.

In their dealings with the gods, people have to remember that honoring them is not the same as not insulting or being impertinent to them. Just because they have not disrespected the gods is no assurance of help or noninterference by the gods. For example, when the Achaians erect a wall around their boats, they do not make any ?grand sacrifice? to the gods (Iliad 7.433-464). The gods then take this as an insult and make sure the wall does not last very long. It is enough to upset the gods just by not paying them the homage they think they deserve. This can cause a very volatile situation w

here the gods are likely to let you know they have not been honored enough for their liking.

The Greeks and Trojans in Homeric society respect and honor the gods so they will be compassionate to their cause. They want the gods to aid them in their battles, either by directly fighting for them, or by giving them more power to fight for themselves. When Chryseis was taken from her home, her father called up Apollo to help return her (Iliad 1.35-42). Apollo heard his call and came to his aid. Apollo let loose a plague of arrows that rained down on the Achaians and their camp (Iliad 1.43-52). Chryses, as the priest at the temple of Apollo, was able to win Apollo?s favor by offering him a large sacrifice and by being faithful in the past. Another instance occurs when Ares is fighting on the side of the Trojans (Iliad 5.844-863). The only person who can tell he is a god is Diomedes because Athene has given him a gift of strength and daring (Iliad 5.1-8). Ares is willing to fight alongside the Trojans because the Achaians almost killed Aphrodite earlier. This enraged Ares enough to come down out of the heavens and fight himself.

People in Homeric society get most of what they want by way of the gods. The best way to accomplish this is to honor and respect them, and to prove your honor with gifts and sacrifices. Since gods can affect so many things that involve humans and can even influence people themselves, these people must be sure to not get on their bad sides. The more gods that like you, the better your chances to get what you want, and the more resources to call on if you are in trouble. For the most part, gods do what they do for their own benefit only, but it never hurts to have supporting your side in a battle.

Another way of honoring the gods is by providing them with a sacrifice. Things such as this are often expected of people. For example, when the Achaians build a wall around their ships (Iliad 7.433-453), the gods expect them to make a grand sacrifice to ensure the strength and life of the wall. When they do not, the gods (Poseidon in p

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Approximate Word count = 1407
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English