English Paper

Draft 10/6/15

The portrayal of Zeus in both Hesiod and Homer’s works are consistent. Hesiod delineates Zeus’ character as an omniscient and omnipotent god who cannot be deceived by even the mightiest, most arrogant man in Greece. In a description in Hesiod’s Works and Days, Zeus can give confidence to the meek and unassuming but also has the ability to equally humble the proud. Therefore, anyone who dares to challenge Zeus’ authority especially unsuccessfully will subject not only himself, but the rest of mankind to their doom and destruction. This can be seen in both Hesiod’s Theogony and Works and Days where Prometheus, the son of Iapetos, is confident in his ability to deceive Zeus and does so with an ox in sheep’s fleece and in Homer’s the Iliad, where the hubris shown by the main character Achilles and some major supporting characters such as the sons of Atreus (Agamemnon and Menelaus) and the prince of Troy, Hector influences their destinies in the Trojan War by some means of divine intervention from mostly Zeus.

Polydamas, Hector’s lieutenant and close friend, advised him with part of this quote: “Proud of the favours mighty Jove has shown on certain dangers we too rashly run: If ‘tis will our haughty foes to tame, Oh may this instant end to Grecian name!” (Homer, the Iliad, Book XII, 358). This hubris came about in part due to the shame culture practiced at this period in ancient Greece, for the warriors would rather seek to protect their honor and save face at the expense of thousands of their fellow countrymen dying fighting the war.

In order to hide behind their shame and fiercely preserve their honor, the warriors of the Trojan War acted more upon any action that might fulfill their best interests rather than in the best interests of the public. For example, Agamemnon, the ruler of Mycenae is displayed as a particularly arrogant man who pays no attention to the fact that Achilles is essential to winning the war as he possesses godlike abilities in battle. He further strains that relationship with Achilles by taking Briseis, his war prize, away from him. Achilles responds by absconding from the rest of the Greek army and secludes himself in his tent until Agamemnon agrees to return Briseis. Agamemnon believes that the only ruler who attempted to unify the many city-states of Greece in their war against Troy he should be given the highest of respect and demands that from Achilles. In the case of Achilles, Agamemnon particularly displays apparent contempt for him because the average Greek soldier gained his skills through years of experience in combat, while Achilles was inherited by Thetis, his immortal goddess mother’s assistance by dipping his infant body into water that gave him his legendary warrior prowess. Agamemnon also knows of Achilles’ motive of fulfilling his destiny to live a glorious life so that his name will remain throughout the centuries. Meanwhile, Agamemnon’s brother,