Hera's Responsibility In The Iliad Essay

The gods of the Iliad play with the lives of mortals, like children play with dolls, their intrusion, instrumental in the fall of Troy. Divine intervention by the goddesses Athena, Aphrodite, Hera and Eris began the Trojan war and made it end in the destruction of the city of Troy but Eris, the goddess of strife and discord was the true cause of the Trojan’s defeat, her actions beginning the gods and mortals down a road of chaos. However, the fault does not lie completely with Eris, Athena’s manipulation, Aphrodite’s disregard for anything but her own wants and Hera’s skilled manipulation of her husband destroys Troy with an unforgiving force.

The goddess Athena, of war and wisdom, supports the Argives in the Trojan war after being spurned

Aphrodite isn’t seen interfering with directly with the lives of mortal in the Iliad, except one crucial occasion, the fight between Paris and Menelaus. Seeing that her favourite mortal was loosing, she descended from heavenly Olympus and “Aphrodite snatched Paris away…wrapped him in swirls of mist and set him down in his bedroom…”(Book 3. Lines 439-441). Aphrodite’s actions destroyed any attempt of resolving the nine year war without further bloodshed. The resentment felt towards her by Helen is made clear when Aphrodite takes her to Paris, whom is safely in his room. This vexation towards the goddess of love isn’t seeded in her actions on the battle field that day, but her actions many years before. A fight amongst the gods was created by a golden apple, the note attached read “for the fairest”, three goddess- Athena, Hera and Aphrodite- fought over who this apple would be for. When none of the gods would take sides, they turned to a mortal Prince, Paris, each offering gifts in exchange for his favour. Paris presented the precious apple to Aphrodite, whom in return gave Paris the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. It is debated whether Aphrodite stole Helen from her home or if Paris did but Helen’s bitterness towards her is clear. “Maddening one…”, she calls her, “oh what now? Lusting to lure me to my ruin yet again?”(Book 3. Lines 460-461) Although Troy has not been destroyed yet, Helen speaks of her self destruction for she knows it is likely she will die and Troy will, unbeknownst to her, fall due to the goddess’ promise to Paris. Like an old lady, Aphrodite’s interference in the lives of mortals, particularly those of Paris and Helen, her adoration and promise to Paris will cause the destruction of