The poem The Iliad written by Homer is the story of the tenth year of the Trojan War. It depicts the nobility and honor given to a slayer in warfare and the humanity that warriors show to the slain. It also illustrates the Greek code of ethics, that was in that time honor. Warriors fought for honor to insure a reputation that would outlive them. Honor is given to the great warriors through gifts, rank, and valor. Ultimately, a hero's honor depended not upon how he saw himself but on how the world saw him. Achilleus, being the important warrior that he was, lived his life only for glory as he tried to portray the hero mentality, as did all the other warriors. He has a need to be accredited as the best warrior. Through out the poem honor is shown and speaks about in different situations. The beginning is a good example of Achilleus' need to be recognized and rewarded as the best.
Near the beginning of the poem Agamemnon speaks to Achilleus and tells him that if, the Achaians do not give him another prize that he will take one:
now that you and I will take back great glory to
Here he admits that he is longing to fight but can not because he does not want to be seen as a lesser of a warrior. He wants to be remembered as the warrior who would not take anything but the best when it comes to honor. Another example of honor happens before Achilleus kills Hector.
take her, your own prize, or that of Aias, or that
But that other still sat in anger besides his swift
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