The Iliad
History:
Face that launched a thousand ships:
Helen of Sparta left her husband for Paris of Troy making her Helen of Troy. Her husband, furious, declares war with Troy and asks for aide from his brother, Agamemnon. Agamemnon joins his brother and he rallies the Greeks to declare war on Troy. Here starts the Trojan War.
He was offered her in return for declaring Aphrodite the most beautiful of the Greek Gods.
Hera offered the world. Athena offered skill in battle. Aphrodite offered Helen.
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| Hera |
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| Athena |
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| Aphrodite |
Who we care about (as a class):
ACHILLES!
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| Hekter v Achilles |
Seeing as our main focus is comparing and contrasting characters in our literary works to superheroes the main focus of this reading of the Iliad will revolve around Achilles. Achilles is the son of Thetis (Goddess). He is part god and has impenetrable skin (excluding his ankles down). He is highly skilled in combat and is known for changing the course of a battle in his favor.
The story begins in media res or in the middle. The Trojan war has already lasted for years and may soon *cough cough* come to and end.
Achilles v Agamemnon
The Achaeans(Greeks) suffered a great plague because Agamemnon would not return the daughter of a priest. To end the plague Agamemnon declared he wanted Achilles's spoil of war Briseis. Achilles would eventually be forced to agree, but would declare that he would leave the war with his army the Myrmidons. Achilles would also beseech his goddess mother to punish the Greeks with failure in battle for what Agamemnon, the leader, did to him
Achilles v Hekter
Achilles would challenge Hekter to a dual and bring the Myrmidons back into the war. He does this because his subordinate with possible family relation, Patroclus. Patroclus had worn Achilles's armor and charged into the battle tricking the Myrmidons to rejoin the war. Unfortunately, Patroclus is not as skilled in battle as Achilles, so he dies by the hand of the Trojan commander Hekter. Achilles seeks vengeance and challenges Hekter. By divine grace of the gods Hekter is able to avoid being slain by Achilles until Achilles is then aided and finally strikes Hekter down.
Thoughts:
The shield description is important because it is an arming of the hero scene. This is where the hero BECOMES the hero, and they are able to be awesome.
Achilles is a crybaby? I don't think...well he is, but there is good reason! This culture supports masculinity, and they took away his prize from battle. He has to defend his honor, but he might or should have gone about doing so without needing to plea with his mother. Asking you mother for help in a fight just isn't cool
Superhero Achilles?
He is clearly without a doubt, a superhero! He is part god apparently, and he also has godly fighting skills. He has a costume which is battle armor specific to him. E.g. from the story is that when he goes into battle, everyone's it is him or believes it is him in the case of Patroclus. Achilles also clearly has morales that fit society. He must exert himself so he will hold grudges because they make sense! He is fighting for a cause as well, if you consider personal glory a decent cause? Achilles has his own kryptonite (Achilles Tendon) or heels. Sure he may seem like a crybaby, but he is still achilles! ;)
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