Over the past 3,000 years almost everything in the world has changed; automobiles have replaced horses, guns and bombs have replaced swords and spears, many women are no longer tied down to the home, and maybe most importantly, humans are no longer bound to the earth and can be shot into the stars. However, there is one thing that has been untouched by the hands of time: human nature. One can observe this in book six of Homer 's Iliad, an epic so ancient that the exact time when it was written is not known, when the Trojan warrior-prince Hector prays that his son, Skamandrios, may one day become a greater man than he was; a large task as Hector was one of the best leaders and warriors in ancient history.
First, to understand Hector 's prayer
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At first when Hector reaches out to Skamandrios, the young child shrinks "back to his fair-girdled nurse 's bosom screaming, and frightened at the aspect of his own father"(67). However, the scream Skamandrios makes is not the scream of a coward, but rather the scream or grunt of a warrior, as "screaming" is translated from the Greek ἰάχων or iachôn, which is phonetically associated with the yell of a soldier attacking in battle. The young son of Andromache and Hector also becomes "terrified as he (sees) the bronze and the crest with it 's horse-hair" (67). Understanding the new context of the fear Skamandrios is experiencing, it is plausible that here he is reacting similar to a young, fresh warrior intimidated by the more experienced veterans in battle. This further explains why Hector rejoices at his son 's crying rather than being upset, for in the yell he hears a warrior. Hector then takes off his helmet to reveal his whole face to his family and for once he is completely unarmed and vulnerable. No longer is this Hector of the shining helm, but rather Hector breaker of horses. He has, for the moment, cast aside his reality of blood and war and finally he is truly able to communicate his inner feelings as a father and a …show more content…
After Hector wishes for his son to surpass himself in excellence, he goes on to pray: "Let him kill his enemy and bring home the blooded spoils"(67). This is the exact moment in which the disconnect between ancient and modern life becomes evident. Unless one is of a family or culture in which violence is valued, such as the military, drug cartels, or even terrorist organizations, it would be considered taboo for a father to wish a bloody future for his son. However, in Troy, violence and success in battle were viewed as something that a true man took part in, and were held to be a measure of success. It is not dissimilar as to how prestige and success in business along with the accumulation of money are held to be the standards of personal success in the modern Western world. However, the Trojans and Greeks wanted no part in business and saw it as work for slaves. Not only this, but to the ancient Mediterranean people war was the biggest opportunity to gain material wealth as the victors would plunder cities and towns to appropriate all the valuables. While most businesses or professionals today are not stealing money, they do become part of the working world to acquire
Many cultures in the ancient and medieval worlds found courage as a value and virtue associated with warriors. To a great extent, western cultures also find courage as an attribute of warriors. This courageous cultural tendency gets its imaginative manifestation in literature of heroic societies such as The Epic of Gilgamesh, homer’s Iliad and Beowulf. These Epic heroes which show human conditions are Gilgamesh, Achilles from Homer's Iliad and Beowulf. Although, the actions and lives of these warriors occurred at different times in history, their stories are passed on from generations to generations and they share a lot of commonalities but with some discrepancies based on their lives, their choices, ideals and beliefs.
Given his strong familial bonds, it is ironic that Hector’s first real introduction involves him harshly berating his brother, Paris, for his unworthiness on the field of battle. He angrily proclaims that it would have been better had his sibling never been born or had been killed young (3.39-40). Despite this, one must understand that this outburst was likely due to frustration at the long war incited by Paris’ kidnapping of Helen and his subsequent unwillingness to fight in his own war. It is important to note that despite his anger at his brother’s actions, Hektor nevertheless leads the charge against those that would attack his home and family despite seeming to understand that Paris was in the wrong in his actions (3.46-51). Because of his own strong sense of duty, it is likely that he is unable to tolerate the absence of responsibility in others, especially in those related to him, who he most likely feels also have a duty to Troy given their noble positions. Despite his brother’s shortcomings, Hektor feels th...
Homer’s Iliad has been a European myth for many millennia , the long poetic narrative written in the 8th century B.C. recounts a fearsome war fought over a beautiful woman. The reliability of Homers Iliad as a true historical document has been challenged for hundreds of years and only through archaeological studies can the truth be deciphered. The Iliad was written five centuries after the war, where the stories had been passed down through the oral tradition, therefore the type of society reflected within the poems resemble much more the time of Homer . The fact and fiction of the Iliad has been uncovered through archaeology. Archaeologist found a site in which they thought to have been ‘Troy’ destroyed by the powerful country of Mycenae in the late Bronze Age. They found large amount of material culture from where they could reconstruct the society, this included pottery, engravings, murals and clay tablets. A reason for the Trojan War has always inspired great controversy. The Trojan War according to Homer was fought over the abduction of a beautiful women but this theory appears improbable. Other causes which could have sparked a war is Troy’s geographical positioning. This made it extremely opulent, where other countries of the Aegean would trade there goods and use its harbour. The Mycenaean’s being an extremely imperial, violent and militaristic country would have seen Troy as a great opportunity to gain territory and wealth, on this motive the war took place.
Homer’s moral exemplars in the heroic tragedy, The Iliad, can be analyzed to further understand warrior ethics. Agamemnon, a powerful warrior king, was proud and arrogant. These qualities made him an excellent warrior and the Greeks respected him. However, Agamemnon demonstrated excess pride and arrogance, as well as stubbornness. The Greeks believed that people must face their destiny with pride and nobility.
The Ancient Greeks admired their heroes and tried to learn from both their achievements and their mistakes. They believed that most great leaders and warriors followed a predictable behavior cycle, which often ended tragically. In Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, Achilles is a great warrior who traces the stages of the behavior cycle twice, from arete to hubris to ate and then to nemesis. Achilles is a highly skilled warrior and a great leader who becomes a narcissist and an arrogant person, which leads to selfish and childish behavior resulting in the death of his best friend. Following Patroclus’ death, Achilles repeats the behavior cycle by regaining his courage and motivation, and goes back to battle against Hector. The pride he feels in killing Hector and his overpowering hatred for him, leads Achilles to another bad decision: disrespecting the body of his enemy. This foolish choice leads directly to Achilles death. Although The Iliad is mainly known as a story about the Trojan War, it is understood as a story about Achilles and his struggle to be a hero.
The ethical values reflected in the Iliad should be taken seriously because they are not only plausible, but also congruent with the time and place. Homer is narrating tales of a society where men expect to fight and likely die in battle, where courage is demanded of all men, and where honor and glory are seen as steps toward achieving excellence. What makes the Iliad a masterpiece of Western civilization is not just the stirring story, but most of all Homer’s even-handed portrayal of the Homeric world, for the Trojans are never depicted as being less than the Greeks. The Greeks, even their greatest military heroes, are seen as flawed human beings. In conclusion, what Homer presents in the Iliad is a worldview rather than the local perspective of a distant war. In the end, Homer seems to be saying that all men may aspire to virtue.
As Hector saw the anger that burned within Achilles as he walk towards him, “Hector began to shake in fear. His courage gone, he could no longer stand there. terrified , he started running” (Homer 22. 140). Hector should be this great hero who will fight to the death in order to protect his country, but some may see his fear as a weakness that makes him unqualified to be called a hero. However Hector reflected his bravery because to chose to stand and wait for Achilles, but he also realizes when fighting will end in his demise. Hector is not a god, he is not immortal, he is human and he does not want to go into a fight where he knows he will die because he cannot protect his country if he is dead. Previously in the war, Hector broke through the mighty Greeks defences he “ jumped inside the gates, no moving out to stop him could hold him back, expect the gods. From his eyes fire blazed” Homer (83). Hectors bravery helped him push through the Greeks defences even though there were people all around him trying to kill him. After this Hector acts as a model for the rest of the Trojan soldiers, inspiring them to push forward with Hector. After making the decision to join the Marines Tillman was “not sure where this new direction will take [his] life though [he is] positive it will include its share of sacrifices and difficulty, most of which falling squarely on Marie’s shoulders.” (Tillman 2). There are many strong people in the world, but only the brave few will be willing to step up where others would not. Heros are the people who will do what most others would not do in order to protect the greater good. Just as Tillman acted as a role model for everyone Hector showed the Trojan army that they could
Hector comes to Troy to shame Paris for abstaining from the war he started and find s him vainly admiring himself and polishing his weapons. His behavior lowers the level of respect the other Trojans have for him, which leads to dishonor. As they rejoin the battle, Hector makes this point clear to Paris. Although he is a strong fighter, the other Trojans exchange hurtful words about Paris for starting the war and not doing his part in the battle. Paris has already dishonored himself by breaking an oath. Now he brings more dishonors upon himself by fighting half-heartedly. It hurts Hector to see Paris in such a state of dishonor, “It breaks my heart/to hear what the Trojans say about you (IX,
Among the many father and son relationships in the Iliad, the first relationship to analyze is between Priam and Hector. Priam is a dignified warrior who fathered fifty sons. Hector, being one of fifty, is a warrior who is earning the respect to be as righteous as his father. As with most father and son relationships portrayed, Priam barely had any physical interaction with Hector. Therefore, when Hector died it was very touching to hear Priam make such a compelling and fervent request to Achilles to have Hector’s body returned to him.
When Phoenix, Ajax, and Odysseus visit Achilles to convince him to fight, Achilles show the power of friendship by listening to them and not taking his anger on them. Even though Achilles was angry at Agamemnon, he did not let his wrath get to him when he saw his friends. Even though he denies their offer he still listened to them. Family is another theme relatable to the audience. From Achilles family to Hector’s family, there were are characteristics that shows them importance of family in the passage and in the larger economy. Achilles mother prophesied on his son’s future. He lets him know his future so he can be aware. This displays how family are caring and always looking out for each other. Another example is King Priam, Hector’s father who wept freely informs of Achilles to fight for his son proper burial. This is resembles in Salammbo when Salammbo goes back to Matho to get her veil back even if it is meant putting her life at risk. These events leads to the text, “And so the Trojans buried Hector breaker of horses”. This text emphasizes that the Trojans thankfulness and gratitude to be able to bury their own. Even though Hectors was a skilled fighter, “breaker of horses”, he was not strong enough to with stand the confident and murderous Achilles. This is a very powerful message because it displays a very strong relationship between Hectors and his father that the Trojans were able to bury Hector the
...battle that Achilles’ ego needed. However, Hector tried to do the right thing by offering the deceased be returned to their respective camps after the battle was over. It is at this point that Achilles is beyond the common courtesies of war and flat out denied Hector’s request. This action by Achilles shows his arrogance and the bloodlust that was truly in his heart rather than the courage that so many people claim that he had.
In today's society, a man's mind is his most important tool. In the past, however, a man's courage and strength is all that he had to keep him alive. In Homer's Iliad, courage is valued over honesty and even faithfulness to one's wife. If a hero is the most courageous man in the bunch, then Hector is more heroic than Achilles and King of the Myrmidons. Hector is the true hero of Homer's Iliad.
In Homer’s The Iliad he tells of the battles and events during the time of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles. This was just a small portion of the Trojan War that had lasted ten years. The Iliad shares the ideas of the glory of war, military values over family life, and the impermanence of human life and its creation. One thing that Homer does is characterize the two different warriors Achilles and Hector. These two great warriors both show different kinds of traits that shape the character they become throughout the The Iliad. Achilles is the main hero in The Iliad, but Homer subliminally tries to persuade the reader that Hector is the true hero in this story.
Hector is just mainly a good person. He has his flaws just like every other person who ever lived, but it seems as if his strengths outweighed his flaws. Hector loves his wife and his son more than he loves himself. He was loyal to his wife and wanted the very best for his son. He left them to go fight because he knew it was what he had to do for Troy (Homer 79). In today’s world, people do not merely look for someone who is a great warrior, but also someone who is an overall good person. Hector is very brave and reasonable. He is very courageous and will fight for his country no matter what the cost. Hector does not act like a child in difficult situations like Achilles does, but he acts like a mature man. Along with Hector being a good person, he is also a great warrior on top of all that. The modern world needs somebody they can look up to who acts in a positive way. Hector never turned against his own country like Achilles did when he wanted Zeus to be on the Trojan’s side (Homer 13). The people in ancient times chose Achilles rather than Hector merely because Achilles is an outstanding warrior and he is part god. Fighting is what Achilles excels at, and at that time, that was really the only aspect that mattered. It does not matter that Achilles is selfish, stubborn, and prideful, as long as he can fight well for his country. The Greeks were actually hurt by this because Achilles did not even end up fighting for his country until his best friend died. His stubbornness outweighed his greatness (Homer 178). Achilles was the greatest warrior physically, but he was far from the greatest
In Homer’s epic, the Iliad, the legendary, has no two characters that are so similar yet so different as Greek warrior, Achilles, and the Prince of Troy, Hector. Achilles is the strongest fighter in the Greek side, and Hector is the strongest Trojan. They are both put into the mold of a hero that their respective societies have put them into; however; it is evident that they are both extremely complex characters with different roles within their society and with their families, and with the gods.