Preview

Symbolism Of The Armour In The Iliad

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
223 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Symbolism Of The Armour In The Iliad
In Homer’s poem, The Iliad, the armour symbolizes something more than war clothes. In Iliad 16, Patroclus implores Achilles to allow him to use his famous amor in battle. Heavy-hearted Achilles sends Patroclus off into war with the armour and prayers to Zeus. The Greek warriors gather behind Patroclus anticipating the moment, they would duel for their land. Patroclus speaks to his men and the Myrmidons with words of encouragement. He orders them to fight to win glory for their great warrior, Achilles. Bravery fills their hearts once they hear the words of their leader. Patroclus, with a murderous heart, kills the most skilled men. He goes on to kill Zeus-born Sarpedon; which ultimately became his greatest conquest, at the cost of his own life.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    How Does Achilles Criticize The Heroic Code In The Iliad
    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Does Achilles Criticize The Heroic Code In The Iliad

    Achilles criticizes the “heroic code” in the Iliad. Achilles has an unusual double fate: he knows that if he goes home from Troy, he will have a long life without glory. If he stays, he will win great glory but his life will be cut short. One measure of the extraordinary experience Achilles is going through emerges from his refusal to abide by the customary rules of status, when he rejects Agamemnon’s offer in Book Nine. Both characters in the myth are fighting because Agamemnon has taken charge of Achilles’ Trojan slave named Briseis, claiming her as his property. Achilles has feelings for Briseis, which drives the plot in The Iliad. Achilles already despises Agamemnon, so this final act of disrespect causes Achilles…

    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    David Malouf's Ransom Essay
    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages

    David Malouf's Ransom Essay

    Ransom questions the classical interpretation of the hero as a powerful warrior, and instead subverts this understanding by presenting those individuals as anti-heroes. Achilles, the hero of the Iliad and the quintessential embodiment of power and the “warrior spirit”, is presented by Malouf “hunker[ing] down… shoulders hunched” in the opening of the text. From the outset the reader is presented with a weak anti-hero so troubled he is searching for “the voice of his mother”. Hardly an impenetrable hero, he is “darkly divided”. Heracles, a figure from Priam’s early history, too is a hero. “The whole terrible machinery of the man” is just “rank meatiness” unable to understand Hesione, Priam’s sister, and her compassion in trying to rescue her brother destined for a life of slavery. Such love is beyond his realm of understanding, he “expected [Hesione] to choose some gaudy trinket”. Malouf portrays Heracles as “foolish” and a “brute”. Neoptolemus, Achilles’ son and avenger, is like his father a “youthful hero”. He goes to Troy’s palace to kill king Priam in the final section of novel where Malouf travels out of the immediate time frame. In what is supposed to be a triumphant and heroic deed turns awry when Neoptolemus botches the killing of Priam, he is left feeling “heartsickness, animal sadness, despondency”. Neoptolemus, who was supposed to triumphantly avenge his fathers death instead butchers…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How Does Patroklus Wear Achilles Armour
    • 363 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Does Patroklus Wear Achilles Armour

    Patroklus takes Achilles’ armour and wears it into battle without his consent in fighting in it. He wanted to raise the spirits of the troops to get them fighting again since Achilles still wasn’t fighting due to the loss of Briseis. This resulted in the event of Patroklus being killed by Hektor in both sources because Hektor believed that he would be killing Achilles. This is a key similarity in both sources because, due to the loss of someone dear to him, Achilles returns to war with a mind of avenging his lost one. The movie Troy supports the idea of Patroklus wearing Achilles’ armour with the quote of, “He wore your armour. Your shields, your greaves, your helmet. He even moved like you.” Eundors explains this to Achilles when word reaches…

    • 363 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Achilles In The Iliad
    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Examples Of Achilles In The Iliad

    In Homer’s book The Iliad, Homer tells the story of the Trojan War with Achilles, the best Greek warrior. However, Achilles does not like Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae, because he took Briseis (Briseis was a woman that Achilles had received as a war prize). This is the reason why Achilles was raged at Agamemnon. In a rage, Achilles wants to kill all of the Trojans, especially Hector, the best Trojan warrior. Patroclus, Achilles’ best friend goes out to the battle field as Achilles (wearing his armor), trying to kill Hector but instead Hector kills Patroclus thinking he has killed Achilles. When Achilles finds out about this, he is very mad and goes out to kill Hector himself. When he kills Hector, he is very arrogant about it. Only after this happens does Achilles get Briseis back from Agamemnon.…

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Lysistrata Change In The Iliad
    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Did Lysistrata Change In The Iliad

    "You have need no to prove yourself indeed a bold soldier and man of war." In "The Iliad," it is apparent that the culture of that time view war as heroic and glorious through the descriptions of great warriors. Men would gain power and prove themselves by becoming great warriors. Many of the great warriors in "The Iliad" were kings who seized that title through battles. But, several hundred years later in "Lysistrata," war was viewed as uncivilized and gruesome. Since the Peloponesian war lasted many years, the women of the play felt as if there husbands would not come back from the war. The women then try to stop the war to allow for their husbands to return home. This illustrates why the culture at the time did not view war as glorious, but thought of it as…

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pride In The Iliad
    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Pride In The Iliad

    The conflict began because Agamemnon was unwilling to give up his treasure, Chryseis, and believed that he should be “owed another prize” so he “wouldn't be the only Argive left without a gift” (Homer, Iliad 1. 126-127). Tensions began to rise between Achilles and Agamemnon as each of the powerful men voiced their opinions about the fairness of Agamemnon's demands. Eventually, the argument got to a breaking point when Achilles decided to “return home now to Phthia…” because he didn't “fancy staying here unvalued, to pile up riches, treasures just for you [Agamemnon]” (Homer, Iliad 1. 185-188). Achilles attempted to deliver revenge on the king for his disrespectful behavior by refusing to fight for him. His refusal to fight reinforces the importance of combat in Greek society and how not choosing to fight is seen as a big deal. Pride wounded by Achilles’ act of defiance, Agamemnon lashed out one last time by claiming to “take your [Achilles’] prize, fair-cheeked Briseis” (Homer, Iliad 1. 200-201). By wounding man’s pride, the need to get revenge was established through the dialogue exchanged between the two rival…

    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Achilles: God or Beast?
    • 1158 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Achilles: God or Beast?

    Achilles is the main character, and, without doubt, the most complex character in Homer’s famous poem, The Iliad. Son of the goddess nymph Thetis and the king of the Myrmidons, Peleus, Achilles is a semi-god, known throughout and beyond Greece for his strength and fighting abilities. Stories on the epic hero Achilles are numerous, like the legend of Prometheus’, the fore thinker, prophecy regarding the birth of Thetis’ son, or the legend of Achilles bathing in the Styx River. However, Achilles name was made immortal with the tale of the Trojan War in Homer’s Iliad. In fact, the major theme in Homer’s poem is the uncontrollable rage and wrath of Achilles. In the following character analysis, I will examine Achilles’ personal traits and behavior, and express whether the character has gone through changes at the end of the poem.…

    • 1158 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Iliad and Honor
    • 2162 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Iliad and Honor

    Honor and glory are central to the Greek character. Since heroes are the essence of the society from which they come, Greek heroes live their lives according to honor and glory, in all their varied forms. Honor and glory trigger an epic war that takes the lives of numerous men, and shape its development at every stage. The fall of Troy is "a thing… whose glory shall perish never (Homer, Iliad 2.324)". The goal of the Greeks is the fame that resounds even after death, and they let nothing bar their way. The honor of the individual, family, and community guide every action and response. Honor and glory define the hero, and therefore are the foundations for everything that comes to pass in Homer's Iliad.…

    • 2162 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Achilles Changes
    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Achilles Changes

    Achilles' rage and childishness is revealed when he learns of his friend, and father figure's death, and becomes not only enraged but cries like a child. Children, when they get angry because of something that someone did to them, their first thoughts of what they can do to get back at them, to make things "even." This is what Achilles does. When Hector killed Patroclus he also took the armor that Patroclus was wearing which belonged to Achilles. This is the point at which Achilles' values show because this when he decides to return to the fight, to avenge his friend's death.…

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Iliad and Greek Heroes
    • 1500 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Iliad and Greek Heroes

    The Iliad is an epic tale of war and hero's within the Greek way of life. A…

    • 1500 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Iliad Vs Congresswomen Essay
    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Iliad Vs Congresswomen Essay

    Especially in Greece their culture for men is to be able to fight to protect the women in the city-states. A quote that shows how in their society this is shown is “I know only cowards depart from battle. / A real warrior stands his ground / Whether he is hit or hits another” what this means is that a real man stays in the battle even if he is down if you leave you’re aren’t a real man (masculinity-warrior-culture, 2). Loyalty is shown in this by how Achilles shows his loyalty to Apollo by trusting him to help him survive the war especially when he’s fighting. When in the Iliad it states "if a man obeys the gods they're quick to hear his prayers." What this is meaning was when a man worships the gods the right way they’re to be answered but along with this the people are required by worshipping the gods to offer a sacrifice this together as a whole will have their wish answered. Courage is shown I the Iliad through Achilles and even though he knows he might die in battle he still goes with courageous thought to be able to succeed and come out alive. The way he is courageous in battle is when fighting against stronger adversaries (Ethics and War,2).…

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Achilles Pursuit Of Honor
    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Achilles Pursuit Of Honor

    Achilles resists his comrades request to return to war because of his condemnation of honor and glory. He places larger emphasis on his own life, rather than his duty to the Aegeans. Homer’s use of tone and diction illustrate Achilles’ negative feelings towards the concept of gaining honor. According to Achilles, the reward of honor is not as important as it is perceived. The language displays how he generalizes everyone at equal standings. By generalizing everyone as equals, he belittles himself and shows his own insecurities. Achilles is terrified of dying and does not want to risk it all for any honor he may receive from the war. As a result, later in the poem, Achilles’ defiance leads to guilt of the death of his dear friend, Patroclus.…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Honor In The Iliad
    • 854 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Honor In The Iliad

    Homer’s Iliad begins during the final year of the Trojan War. One of the most significant…

    • 854 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Athena
    • 789 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Athena

    In Homer’s Iliad Athena inspired and fought alongside many Greek heroes. Also in the Iliad, Zeus, the chief god, specifically assigned the sphere of war to Ares and Athena. Athena’s moral and intelligence were far superior to her brother Ares, whom fought for blood and not mercy. In the Iliad, Athena was the heavenly form of the heroic, military ideal: she embodied excellence in close combat, victory, and glory. The qualities that led to victory were found on the aegis, or breastplate, that Athena wore when she went to war: fear, strife, defense, and assault. Athena appears in Homer’s Odyssey as the goddess of Odysseus, and myths from later sources portray her similarly as helper of Perseus and Hercules. As the guardian of the welfare of kings, Athena became the deity of good guidance, of cautious restraint and practical insight, as well as of war. [3]…

    • 789 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Trojan War Research Paper
    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Trojan War Research Paper

    Patroclus didn't think about the odds or strategies. He thought about honor and dignity, about bravery and valor. Patroclus was loyal to the army, devoted to Greece and above all, brave. While Achilles lay in his tent moping over not being allowed to run the Greek army the way he wanted to, Patroclus disguised himself as Achilles and took over leading the army for him. Warriors of Ancient Greece could not face the perilous journey home without a chance of getting some honor and fame, and Patroclus gave them that chance, by leading them into battle. Patroclus realized that pride could be a strong motivator, and used it to his advantage. Patroclus knew that the Greeks were outnumbered and disadvantaged because they didn't know the land well. He realized that only with all the Greek soldiers could there be a chance of defeating the Trojans and Patroclus didn't want to see such shame of defeat fall onto Greece. He did the best he could for Greece and tried to bestow some honor on his fellow warriors at the same time. Patroclus was so loyal to his country that even when the fierce warrior and prince of Troy, Hector, started to fight him, he didn't admit defeat by saying that he wasn't actually Achilles. Instead, Patroclus fought on and bravely died a tragic death that wasn't meant for him. It's amazing actually how a man like Patroclus could have such a…

    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More