Honor In The Iliad

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In the epic The Iliad, war is justified and glorified by Homer in order to depict the importance of honor and dignity to warriors in ancient Greece. Throughout the epic, honor is repeatedly dignified as the consequence of a battle that is won, and it is also stated that respect and status is gained from fighting battles with honor and courage. In Book 1, Achilles says,” All this you turn your back on and choose to forget, and now you threaten to take my prize of prestige, the gift I got from the sons of Achaeans for which I labored so much” (Homer 1.181-185). In this scene, Achilles is arguing with Agamemnon who is threatening to take Briseis away from Achilles. However, the main focus of the quote is the usage of the word ‘prize’ in reference …show more content…

In Greek Mythology, the life after death is determined in a court in the realm of Hades. The possibilities include the Fields of Asphodel, Elysium, Fields of Eternal Punishment, Reincarnation, or Tartarus. In ancient Greece, it was believed that honor and dignity would allow individuals to advance in society, and as a result, be given special privileges in their afterlife. Those that were warriors who died in battle committing acts of valor were buried with many elaborate rituals commemorating his deeds, whereas the ordinary citizens would simply be buried with a minor rituals to perform their duty. The rituals comprised of three major parts: prosthesis (placing the body), ekphora (funeral procession), and cremated remains (Source 1). The body was then washed and placed on a high bed for kin to mourn and pay their respects. The body was then buried, often with close objects. There were also distinct architectural features on the grave to ensure that the deceased wouldn’t be forgotten. Connecting to the social hierarchy, warriors were higher on the scale that ordinary citizens, granting them greater rights, and special passage into a pleasant afterlife. The most lavish and elaborate graves included those of the aristocrats and the warriors, whereas the simple Athenian families relied on unembellished structures to bury their dead. In Homeric societies, war was an act of valor, and those that fought in the wars with pride and bravery were considered heroes, and were respected for their actions. These individuals fought with courage and determination not only for social mobility, but also to ensure that their actions are recognized for their judgement for the afterlife. Throughout the Iliad, instances of death are explained and connected to the court of Hades, where an individual’s afterlife will be determined. Therefore, it

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