Greek Gods in the Iliad

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the human nature of the Greek gods in the "Iliad" and how their emotional involvement in the Trojan war largely dictated its outcome. The author gives detailed examples, showing that the gods have the same emotions, characters and attitudes as mortals, and only differ from them in the powers they possess and in their immortality.

From the Paper:

"Despite all the battles and the bloodshed, Homer's epic poem is filled with deeply religious and highly emotional elements that saw protagonists and antagonists on both sides as deeply devout. In addition, some of the heroes are sons and daughters of the gods themselves who never make any move unless they consult the oracles. These heroes even make numerous sacrifices to the gods of Olympus to ensure victory in battle."

Sample of Sources Used:

• And Delusion Reigns. 2007. 30 July 2007. <http://sumarah.tripod.com/veiniliad.htm>.
• Dunkle, Roger. "Iliad." The Classical Origins of Western Culture. 1986. 30 July 2007. <http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/studyguide/homer.htm>.
• Lefkowitz, Mary. Greek Gods, Human Lives. 2000. 30 July 2007. <http://www.helleniccomserve.com/lefkowitzspeech.html>.
• Gunther, Hans F. K. Like a Greek God... 1929. 30 July 2007. <http://www.white-history.com/earlson/greekgod.htm>.
• Porter, John. The Mythological Background of Homer's Iliad. 08 May 2006. 30 July 2007. <http://homepage.usask.ca/~jrp638/CourseNotes/HomMyth.html>.

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• Analytical Essay # 17296 : "Gods of the "Iliad"

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