Outside Reading Post 3

Now, though,/if you really want me to fight to the finish here,/have all Trojans and Argives take their seats/and pit me against Menelaus dear to Ares-/right between the lines-/we'll fight it out for Helen and all her wealth./And the one who proves the better man and wins,/he'll take those treasures fairly, lead the woman home./The rest will seal in blood their binding pacts of friendship./Our people will live in peace on the rich soil of Troy,/our enemies sail home to the stallion-land of Argos,/the land of Achaea where the women are a wonder.

Importance
This quote is said by Paris to Hector when planning the next stage of battle. Finally, Paris and Menelaus, the leaders of opposing armies, would meet and fight for Helen once and for all. Because the Trojan war had been going on for nine years at this point (it was completed after a total of ten), the soldiers in each army were probably pleased to hear that they wouldn't have to do any fighting in this battle. In fact, Paris specified that the two armies would have to promise friendship with each other, so even though one of the leaders was bound to lose and therefore be killed, the overall outcome for the relationship between the two was positive.

Analysis
Because this is Paris speaking, some of the words that he chooses demonstrates his inherent arrogant nature. Just the idea that Paris is willing to face the mighty Menelaus without any help shows an extensive amount of narcissism on his part. Menelaus is constantly described as being a great leader, a great king, and a great warrior, but Paris is apparently only blessed with god-like good looks, which probably wouldn't have much of an effect on Menelaus. Also, the fact that this entire war was over a woman, the argument between Achilles and Agammemnon was over women, and Paris considers women to be a prize of some sort shows that women were not regarded highly in Greek culture. Although there are female gods, they are nothing when compared to the might of Zeus and Apollo. In addition, all the problems in the Iliad seem to arise from women. This idea that women were inferior was rectified in The Odyssey when Penelope is shown to be a wise and strong woman. The misogynistic nature of this part of the book, however, cannot be ignored.

The Iliad Week 2

You fool- sit still! Obey the commands of others,/your superiors-you, you deserter, rank coward,/you count for nothing, neither in war nor council./How can all Achaeans be masters in Troy?/Too many kings can ruin an army-mob rule!/Let there be one commander, one master only,/endowed by the son of crooked-minded Cronus/with kingly-scepter and royal rights of custom:/whatever one man needs to lead his people well.

Importance
This quote, said by Odysseus to a dissenter, shows how, in Book 2, the self-destructive Achaeans finally put their petty differences aside and decide to fight for the common goal of retrieving Helen from Troy. Odysseus, who is a king himself, knows the importance of one single leader in a situation such as a war, so this represents the abandonment of personal vendettas against each other and the unification of the Achaean army.

Analysis
In this quote, the normally headstrong, arrogant, "godlike" Odysseus exhibits the militaristic might for which he is famous. Even though he is used to leading people and not used to following the orders of others, Odysseus realizes that it is not his place to lead the army. Because "too many kings can ruin an army", Odysseus takes a more submissive role. This inflexible system of rank and superiority ("Obey the commands of others,/your superiors...") is easily identifiable and shows the historical Greek system of organization.

Outside Reading Post 1: The Iliad

...And Thetis did not forget her son's appeals./She broke from a cresting wave at first light/and souring up to the broad sky and Mount Olympus,/found the son of Cronus gazing down on the world,/peaks apart from the other gods and seated high/on the topmost crown of rugged ridged Olympus....she prayed to the lord god Zeus, son of Cronus./"Zeus, Father Zeus! If I ever have served you well/among the deathless gods with a word or action/bring this prayer to pass: honor my son Achilles!-/doomed to the shortest life of any man on earth./And now the lord of men Agamemnon has disgraced him,/seizes and keeps his prize, tears her away himself. But you-/exalt him, Olympian Zeus: your urgings rule the world!/Come, grant the Trojans victory after victory/till the Achaean armies pay my dear son back,/building higher the honor he deserves!

Importance
This passage shows the extremely close relationship between the mortals and the gods. Achilles, the song of a mortal and a goddess, has trouble within his army because of an almost immature argument with Agamemnon. To get help, he goes to his mother, Thetis, who promises to bring the matter up with Zeus. The fact that a mortal man can have his mother communicate with Zeus in his favor exemplifies the importance of religion in ancient Greek life.

Analysis
Thetis, a goddess of the sea, is often associated with water or is shown exiting from the water, which is an epithet given to her as it is given to all important characters. Because Homer mentions this often, not only were the immortals important, but the allocation of their domains was important as well. Book 1's theme is that of rage and anger. Achilles is very proud, very headstrong, and currently very enraged, so Thetis relays that when talking with Zeus. She uses phrases like "disgraced" when discussing Achilles' plight in order to show the intensity with which Achilles views Agamemnon's insults.