![]() ![]() Hera, Athena, and Poseidon support the cause of the Achaeans, while Aphrodite, Ares, and Apollo assist the Trojans. The battle between Achaea and Troy is also a battle between two groups of gods in conflict. ![]() At other times the gods perform actions that are plainly miraculous, such as when Aeneas is lifted up from battle and has his shattered leg healed on a mountaintop, or when Hephaestus forges extraordinary new armor for Achilles overnight. The direct effect of this is felt when Apollo rains plague on the Achaean troops. The poem begins with Agamemnon’s refusal to give back the daughter of Apollo’s priest. However, the gods of the Iliad also sometimes act directly. At times, the role of the gods can seem metaphorical, explaining strange changes in the moods and strength of men. At times the gods take the form of men, as when Apollo speaks into Hector’s ear, persuading him toward a particular course of action or filling him with the strength to push back enemies. The gods in Homer often take an active interest in the lives of mortals, who are sometimes their children by blood. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |