Female Goddesses In The Iliad

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October 23, 2006

The Image of Females Goddesses and Mortals

The role of the Gods is a constant theme reoccurring over and over again throughout Homer's Iliad but it's the Female Goddesses and the image of femininity that displays contradiction. The Goddesses posses large amounts of power over mortals and at Mt Olympus mostly through manipulation and intertwining relationships that affect the war and the different individuals. The mortal women on the other hand display weaknesses and subservience to men. The war over Troy was sparked over Helen or was used as an excuse or motivation for the Achaeans to invade for Menelaus's property. Helen was Menelaus's wife a beautiful woman whose beauty was legendary. The image and place
of women in Homeric Society is different for goddesses and mere mortals. The contradiction between behavior of mortal women and Goddesses is evident throughout the Iliad which over the entire poem interaction between gods and men change. The female roles in Homeric society in the Iliad display women as property, stubborn qualities, and manipulative. These roles differ from mortal and goddesses but some consistency by Homer is evident in all the books of the Iliad in reference or description of women. The war as a whole began on the failure of a wife to be loyal to her husband. The withdrawal of Achilles from the war until the death of Patroclus was in essence about Briseis the captive of Achilles taken by Agamemnon. The poem throughout discusses ideals of ownership, honor, and status which can be measured by the amount of slaves, mistresses, and armor acquired in battle. Achilles takes Briseis as his captor from a previous battle and likewise so does Agamemnon which his result just happened to cause destruction on behalf of Apollo. The mortal ideal of primitive ownerships of women does not apply to marriages. Women are independent but subordinate to their husband's ideals and influence. There is a social structure among the women of Troy that is evident in Book 3 page142 quoted by Helen in conversation with the god Aphrodite "I'll never go back again. It would be wrong, disgraceful to share that cowards' bed once more. The women of Troy would scorn me down the years". The idea of Helen already feeling a large amount of guilt and remorse for causing all of this destruction is evident in Book 3, but this quote symbolizes a social structure of judgment and hierarchy concerns in the mind of Helen. Aphrodite's message was clear go to your new husband to your lover thought disgraced he may be, but you have too and will support him till the end. This interaction with Aphrodite and Helen is two of the very few women in the Iliad one a goddess the other a mortal but they both represent this submissive perception of women. Aphrodite a subservient goddess very manipulative with many gods above her, and Helen the most beautiful woman in the world even she must remain faithful and loyal to a disgraced Paris.
In Homer's Iliad there are very few mortal women that play substantial roles in the poem.
Helen of course probably the most important or definitely most impacting, Homer provides a small insight into the social roles of women. Women in the Iliad are surrounded by strong male influences such as Hector and Achilles. The poem glorifies war and these male heroes and gods excessively allowing for the mortal women to play minor roles. For example Helen points out the disgrace of Paris after the embarrassment by Menelaus and Andromache helps influence Hector both negatively and positively. Helen once again provides a quote to the self loathing of her actions in leaving Menelaus causing mayhem, "He used to be my kinsman, whore that I am!" (Book 3, 134) Helen exclaims to Priam King of the Trojans expressing guilt. This quote is huge to exemplify her guilt and to provide more blame on the female role in the poem. Andromache wife of Hector pleas for her husbands withdrawal from the war these actions only inspiring and influencing Hector in a noble, honored light a symbol of ultimate warrior. The three major mortal representations of women is Andromache as the wife influence a possible symbol of weakness to normal men but not for the great warriors. The second major mortal representation is of ownership or bounty in the case of Briseis and Chryseis. The Third mortal representation of women is the overall personification of submissive, manipulative, and stubborn qualities expressed and
shared by goddesses and women.
The other representation of women is far more influential and important to the overall war and heroes of the Iliad. The influence of the Goddesses begins with the number one most powerful Goddesses Athena and d Hera. These two consist of the major manipulative warring gods on Mt Olympia allowing for even the influence over Zeus. The goddesses in particular in the Iliad exemplify outstanding manipulation and resourcefulness in achieving exactly their goals. Using feminine attributes or making deals Hera and Athena in particular attempt to achieve their goals towards the destruction of Troy. The goddesses Aphrodite has a deep interest in Paris allowing for his wistful disappearance during the fight with Menelaus. The Gods as a whole can be described as childish or irrational but it's the feud between man and wife Hera and Zeus that caused a major problem in Book 14. Zeus seemed to return to neutrality in the war but was still seduced by Hera just for the ability for an Achaean victory. The war lasted for years and years and behind this war were feuds between the Gods and Goddesses, which is a long time for disgruntled Mt. Olympia. The influence of Hera over the great god Zeus is the emphasis on manipulation used by women, sex for an Achaean victory or distraction for one.
Athena the daughter of Zeus toiled with Hera for the demise of the Trojans.
The behavior of the Goddesses show far more levels of independence than that of their mortal sisters. The Goddesses because of their certain powers or their lineage in the case of Athena being blood of Zeus allows for a hierarchal system. This system contradicts that of the representation of mortal women in the Iliad especially that of ownership or slavery. Though Zeus is the most powerful god he can still be manipulated by a woman. The other male gods can be manipulated or controlled by Hera because of her power and influence. The number one god might be a man but the organization below Zeus is a mixed alliance of numerous troublesome gods and goddesses. The female goddesses consist of Aphrodite, Hera, Athena, and Achilles' mother Thetis are the most influential women portrayed in the Iliad. Thetis provided Zeus's support of the Achaeans for her whiney son Achilles and also new armor after Patroclus's death. Even a goddess is subservient to men allowing for her to approach Zeus on the behalf Achilles and provide armor. The Goddesses differ extremely from the other women portrayed in Troy and Achaean
camp.
The influence of women in the Iliad are great in terms of their glorification of the warrior or husband. There is an emphasis on honor and image discussed by Helen and an overall theme of manipulation and subordinated by both mortal and holy women. The Goddesses display some similar features but they contradict how the mortal women act. The mortal women listen to the gods and goddesses but they do not have the luxury of independence and control over any aspect of the war. Even wives of mortal men do not have the ability to stop them from fighting in the case of Hector and Andromache. The role of women in Homeric society and this poem was minimal in the sense they played supporting roles on the ground but in the air of Mount Olympus they were profound and prolific.

The Illiad by Homer.