Authority In The Iliad

The relations of authority between warriors in both armies in the Iliad are presented as inherently unstable. In many instances, the changing tides of battle reveal the switch of power from one warrior to another. Not to mention, certain warriors, such as Achilles on the Achaean side, contribute to this instability without even participating in battle. The first major instance where this can be noted is in the beginning of the 9th book. The Achaeans were essentially on their last legs and were quite close to being defeated by the Trojans. Agamemnon says in lines 30 and 31, “Clear out with our ships and head for home. There’s no hope we will take Troy’s tall town.” After this was verbalized by the Achaean king, the entire army was stunned. Diomedes, a much younger and battle-hardened warrior said on the contrary, “I’m going to oppose you if you talk foolishness – as is my right in assembly, lord.” His speech that followed aroused the Achaean soldiers and gave them hope for future battles.

Furthermore, Diomedes was much younger than Agamemnon in an era where age was a prime constitutor of authority and power. On the other hand, one could make the argument that Agamemnon was only putting forth this motion to save many of his warriors from eminent slaughter, but at the same time, Diomedes is reviving the thought of taking Troy’s “Tall Town” which is why they made this journey in the first place. Achilles also yielded a large amount of power by not even participating in the majority of the battles at first, which can clearly be seen as authority that is inherently unstable. Due to the fact that Agamemnon had publicly denounced him in front of his peers and taken his prized woman, Briseis, Achilles refused to fight amongst the Achaean