Fate Vs Free Will In The Iliad

Homer’s The Iliad is one of the most intriguing classical epic Greek poems known today. The Iliad was an oral tradition for four hundred years before finally being written down around seven hundred B.C. The poem is a beautifully written balancing act between two cultures, clashing in a time of unease between traditions of honor and Polis, (Troy) and the traditions of war, marriage, and fame, (Achaeans). The Bronze Age poem is also one of the best known tales of humanity, with its plot combining two aspects of ancient Greek society, actions of the Gods, (fate) and actions of men, (choice). The Iliad is one of the most important pieces of historical literature for it’s explanation of fate versus free will in human beliefs.

The Iliad is often
The Iliad’s timing supports the concept of human choice. The narrative begins nine years into a ten year war. It is revealed that the cause of this war nearly a decade ago was the supposed abduction (or elopement) of Queen Helen of Sparta by the Trojan prince Paris. After discovering her missing, Helen’s scorned husband Menelaus then convinced his brother Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, to wage a war to get her back. Even this first action brings about a question of fate versus choice. It is described in the story that the marriage between Peleus and Thetis, (a mortal and a Achille’s mother, a minor sea-goddess) was a spectacular event, that all but one of the gods and goddesses were invited to. Eris, the goddess of discord, was left uninvited. Because of this, the vengeful goddess snuck into the wedding to throw a Golden Apple inscribed "For the Most Beautiful" among the goddesses. Three major goddesses, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all fought for the apple immediately. A series of arguments followed, and finally Zeus ordered them to put the argument in someone else’s hands, a beautiful, mortal prince of Troy, Paris. Paris ended up choosing Aphrodite as the most beautiful, and in return, she promised him the most beautiful mortal on earth, Helen of