Abstract
This paper focuses on the character of Achilles in the epic "The Iliad", which was written by Homer around the late ninth century BC. The paper explains that Achilles is depicted as having mostly negative characteristics; he is deemed as selfish, arrogant, and bloodthirsty. However, the paper asserts, Achilles has many positive attributes that are overlooked in "The Iliad," such as courage and hospitality. The paper delves into examples of these positive aspects. After acknowledging that Achilles was part mortal, the paper concludes that this misunderstood character was essentially a machine built for carnage, and yet he was not given any credit for his beneficial talents.

From the Paper
"Although selfish throughout the epic, Achilles does show a hospitable side on several occasions. One occasion occurs when Odysseus, Ajax, and Phoenix come to Achilles' tent by order of Agamemnon to help convince him to return to battle. Achilles turns down the offer to fight; however, he still tells the men to sit down and relax. He also cooks food for them as well as serves them wine. Another time in The Iliad that Achilles shows hospitality is towards the end of the epic, when King Priam shows up at his tent, by guard of Hermes, and is asking for the rights to his late son Hector. Not only does Achilles grant this favor to Priam, but he also fixes him a meal which he personally makes and roasts on a spit. Achilles also tells Priam that he can sleep at the camp safely for the night. These two examples of hospitality show that Achilles is not completely selfish and he can be caring and sympathetic to others."

Tags:epic, Greek, Priam, Hector

Abstract
"The Metamorphoses" by Homer portrays a different side of Odysseus as a character, which is entirely different from the Odysseus that readers were acquainted to in "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" by Homer. While Odysseus is portrayed as a courageous and intelligent warrior in "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey," Ajax in "The Metamorphoses" is illustrated as a coward and a brilliant schemer in order to fool the people in believing that he is the rightful heir to the title of Achilles as the great warrior of the Achaean/Greek society. This main difference between Ovid and Homer's works is the focus of this paper.

From the Paper
"Ovid, on the other hand, portrays a different and more critical picture of Ulysses (Odysseus) as warrior in the Roman literature. In an article by James Hunter, Odysseus' character is similar to Ovid's portrayal in "The Metamorphoses," wherein he is known to be a cunning and treacherous warrior who would rather find ways out of a problematic situation than to fight bravely towards solving the problem (Hunter 2003). In fact, in W. B. Stanford's analysis of Odysseus character in the "The Ulysses Theme," he discusses the criticism of Ovid and other Roman literary writers in the portrayal of Odysseus in the "post-classical tradition." "

Tags:Trojans, Achaeans, Agamemnon, Cyclops

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts various aspects in the character and lives of Hector and Achilles in Homer's "Iliad", further showing how Hector is morally superior to Achilles. First, the paper describes the home lives of Hector and Achilles, describing why that of Hector is superior. Next, the paper shows how in contrast to Achilles, Hector never withdraws from battle, not because he is seeking glory, but because he knows the Trojans need him. The paper also discusses how Hector is slow to anger and shows restraint and coolness when he must make a decision. This is compared to Achilles, who acts out of impulse, not thought. The paper then discusses the shared characteristics of Hector and Achilles, particularly that both men are great fighters, and are looked up to as leaders of their respected sides and are loved by the gods. The paper concludes by stating that Hector ironically embodied the values of Greece far better than any of the Achaean warriors, particularly Achilles.

From the Paper
"Almost immediately in the tale, the contrast between the two warriors is evident regarding their family lives. Hector has a wife and child. It is clear that he is sacrificing all that he loves, to fight for his city. Hector's family means everything to him, but Achilles has explicitly rejected the value of a meaningful personal life. Early on, he was given the choice by his goddess-mother Thetis, to either have a long and obscure life, or a short and glorious one. Achilles obviously chose the latter, keeping with his headstrong nature. However, when Achilles' honor was wounded when Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks, demanded Achilles' 'spoil of war,' the slave-girl Briseis, to replace his own lost concubine, Achilles withdrew from the fight, smarting at the lack of respect shown to him. His 'family,' consists of a maternal goddess who is a remote immortal, his friend Patroclus, and a slave-girl, along with his soldiers--everything about Achilles' life is removed from ordinary, human experience and relates to war."

Tags:Trojan War, Homer, epic poem, Priam, Paris, Helen of Troy

Abstract
This paper examines how, throughout the passage in Book IV, lines 422-436 of "The Iliad", Homer depicts the differing military strengths of the Achaeans and the warriors of Ilion, but also notes the mutual fear overwhelming both sides. The paper specifically discusses how Homer uses an underlying layer of rampant war imagery and diction, to paint a picture of the impending conflict between the Danaans and the Trojans.

From the Paper
"The phrase "beat upon beat" in both lines 423 and 427 sustains this argument by creating a word pattern that imitates the relentless and recurring forward motion of the breaking waves. The first time the phrase appears in line 423, it characterizes the sea constantly battering the shoreline. In the case of this metaphor, "beat" stands for the stroke or blow of the waves against the surface of the beach. However, the second usage of the phrase, in "so thronged beat upon beat the Danaans' close battalions" (line 427), can have a different meaning; here "beat" can signify the sound or pulsation of war drums. This potential double meaning in different contexts and repeated use of the phrase "beat upon beat" and "beat" in the phrase itself strengthens the metaphorical ties between the ocean and the Achaeans and, consequently, the Achaeans seem all the more menacing and comparable to the invincible sea. "

Tags:Trojans, Greeks, Achaeans, Danaans

Abstract
This paper examines how ultimately, "The Iliad" is a story of a war and how the men who fought and died in it are as much part of the story as those who won the war. It traces the main plot of the story from the description of Achilles as an angry man whose anger caused his people, the Achaeans, a lot of casualties in their war against the Trojans in Chapter I to the latter chapters which show Hector, the Trojan, and his sense of duty and heroism in comparison to the bad temper and conceit of Agamemnon and the pride of Achilles.

From the Paper
"Meanwhile, over and above the impulsive decisions and actions of men, the effect of the favor and disfavor of gods and goddesses also control the fate of nations and individuals is another recurring theme in the book. Numerous scenes where the gods and goddesses argue amongst themselves, Zeus against Hera, Athena against Zeus, and the like were recounted by Homer. Each would champion his/her favorite mortal who had faithfully worshipped them and strive to save the mortal from injury in war or guide the mortal to wisdom and prudent action. However, since not all the gods would be of one mind, there would always be disputes and ultimately it was Zeus' will and decisions that would prevail. It should be noted however that he would often still take into consideration the advice and the views of the other gods and goddesses as argued by his wife."

Tags:Achilles, Agamemnon, Troy

Abstract
Racism in sports has its roots in the history of racism in Europe. Kleg writes, for example:
The Achaeans and Dorians who invaded Greece beginning in the twelfth century B.C., destroyed the Bronze Age culture of Mycenaean Greece and ushered in a "dark age" from which it took centuries to recover.

From the Paper
" Racism in sports has its roots in the history of racism in Europe. Kleg writes, for example:
The Achaeans and Dorians who invaded Greece beginning in the twelfth century B.C., destroyed the Bronze Age culture of Mycenaean Greece and ushered in a "dark age" from which it took centuries to recover. These invaders . . . were regarded as boorish compared to the civilizations of the Near East and Egypt that were already thousands of years old. When these Greeks finally became civilized and developed a flourishing culture, they looked upon others as inferior and barbaric. . . . (Kleg, 1993, 86-87).


It was not until the conquest of nations in Africa that the practice of "chattel slavery" became widespread, and this practice was institutionalized by Europeans in the New World..."

Abstract
This paper discusses how although many men in the "Iliad" have heroic qualities that deserve recognition, Hector has the greatest amount of these qualities without many drawbacks. It looks at how he has the ability to control his emotions and lead his men with bravery and honor, how he kills a myriad of Achaeans with his superior fighting aptitude and how, most importantly he keeps the human element in the equation by showing his love for his family and countrymen. The paper concludes that all of these characteristics combine to make Hector the epitome of the ideal man in Homeric society.

From the Paper
"Hector's bravery is constantly evident in the Iliad. When he is about to leave Troy in book 6 he says to his wife, "As for the fighting, men will see to that, all who were born in Troy but I most of all."(VI, 88-90). This shows that Hector is brave and courageous. Not only does he tell his wife that he is going to fight for his people, he tells her that he himself is going to fight the most. It takes a very brave man to make a statement of that magnitude. Other characters in the Iliad possess bravery, but the type of bravery is different. Achilles bravery stems from a prideful arrogance that he has attained from his fighting experience and his relationship with the gods. Achilles appears to be brave to all of the Greeks when he battled Hector. However, his bravery in this situation comes from the fact that he knows he is fated to defeat Hector. "

Tags:Achilles, Agamemnon, Menelaus

Abstract
This paper attempts to explore the Homeric uses of simple light and dark terms to develop possible symbolic meanings in the Lattimore translations of the epics "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey". It first explores references to light then dark uses in both epics and then explores individual uses in each epic. The order of explanation develops the point that in "The Iliad" light and dark references mostly describe war, while in "The Odyssey" the terms develop a wide array of objects and situations because there is no major war.

From the Paper
"First, light seems to appear in both epics when referencing gods, weapons, and other general descriptions. Through reading both epics, one can discover that Homer has utilized light to develop the love and admiration for gods and goddesses, much like other ancient Greek writers. Such descriptions can be seen in The Iliad. In the text Apollo is referred to as: "lord of the silver bow" (Book I, 37) . Throughout the text Homer's descriptions also portray Hera as the goddess with the white arms. Also, when in Olympos the gods and goddesses are said to drink in golden cups. In The Odyssey goddesses are especially referenced through bright terms."

Tags:achaean, achilles, achilleus, athena, odysseus, odyssey, patroklus, telemachus, trojan

Abstract
This paper compares the main characters in Sophocles' play, "Oedipus the King", and Homer's play, "The Iliad", and demonstrates how both characters start off enjoying their status as heroes, but later succumb to their own emotions causing them to become victims and tragic heroes.

From the Paper
"Achilles is described as being "of the swift feet" (Homer I.148). The development of Achilles as a hero is interesting because of how Achilles moves from a hero to an enraged hero. Throughout The Iliad, he undergoes substantial changes that influenced the development of his character. Before the Trojan War, Achilles was known to be a hero because of his incredible ability to fight. Achilles was very proud of this fact and, as a result, very confident as well. However, it is his confidence that leads to his death."

Tags:agamemnon, trojans, achaeans, odysseus, riddle, sphinx, teiresias, laios, death

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts the modern notion of what it means to be a hero with the Homeric notion of what it means to be a hero. The paper points out how Homer always portrayed Odysseus and Achilles in a positive light, while modern audiences have come to view them as anti-heroes. Also discussed is the greater willingness of modern readers to see Achilles, because of his physical beauty and battle skills, in a more heroic light than Odysseus, The transformation that has taken place over time in how the two characters are perceived is also examined.

From the Paper
"For some reason, the modern mind does not seem to have so much difficulty embracing the heroic nature of Achilles. Unlike Odysseus, who is most praised for his strategy and his slyness, Achilles is praised for his physical beauty and skill in battle. He is much younger and stronger than Odysseus, in no small part because he is all but immortal. ?Achilles, the swift-running hero, is... the most heroic man in the entire poem. His physical strength and dexterity give him this status, as does the honor and glory that he earns through combat. A true hero, Achilles is also of noble blood, and is beautiful and youthful. Achilles is the human manifestation of the ideal hero.? (Pop) Achilles never seems to be condemned by the medieval mind (Dante, for example, seems to speak well of him), and he is more often pitied than condemned by the modern spirit. There are several differences between Achilles and Odysseus that may be responsible for this."

Tags:trojan, war, honor, minerva, poem, battle, chivalric, agamemnon, avenge, achaeans, goddess