The True Nature Of Men And Gods In Homer's Iliad

The True Nature of Men and Gods in the Iliad Throughout Homer’s Iliad, the gods are recognized for their power over the fate of men and their superiority as a result of their immortality. However, throughout the text, through the depiction of men as godlike and gods as anthropomorphic, Homer proves that gods and men are more alike than they may seem, and although the gods consider themselves superior, they are just as flawed as men. The gods serve as a model for humanity in their hierarchical structure and conflicts, and their pursuit of glory above all else. It is revealed through Homer’s comparison of gods and men that human nature is based on that of the gods; it is inherently self interested, yet capable of good and evil.

Although the

The gods in their actions and organization are flawed like the humans. The gods exist in a structure similar to a human class structure with Zeus being the “highest mightiest king of kings” (24.232.VII) and all other gods conceding to his power. “Lord of men” (77.8.I) King Agamemnon serves as the human counterpart of Zeus. Zeus and Agamemnon are both extremely powerful leaders who are of the highest status and power. However, despite the fact that “Zeus never dreamed a single deathless god would go to war...now” (5-11.341.XIII), the gods continued to intervene and even manipulate Zeus to attempt to change the outcome of the war. Agamemnon experiences the same lack of control both times he suggests deserting the war and going back to Achaea. The other leaders, namely Diomedes and Odysseus are easily able to oppose him and convince the men to stay an fight. Both leaders’ inability to exert complete control demonstrates that men and gods are equally flawed and that no one has ultimate power. Additionally, the sibling rivalry between Zeus and Poseidon is reflected in the rivalry between Hector and Paris. Just as the “two powerful sons of Cronus, Zeus and Poseidon, their deathless spirits warring against each other” (400-401.352.XIII), Hector and Paris experience conflict as “At one glance, Hector raked his brother with insults, stinging

Just as the Trojan war is fought over the honor of Menelaus and Paris, the gods fight over their honor as well. As soon as fighting breaks out between the Trojans and Achaeans, most of the gods pick a side, depending on their own self interests. Aphrodite sides with the Trojans because Paris picked her as fairest among the goddesses and because her son Aeneas, with whom her own glory is associated, fought for the Trojans. Conversely, Hera and Athena side with the Achaeans as they seek revenge on Paris for picking Aphrodite as the fairest of all, therefore hurting/ diminishing their honor. Most importantly Zeus, the most powerful of all gods, is motivated by the pursuit of his own glory. Upon the death of his son Sarpedon, Zeus must chose between saving his son or attaining glory, as he is intimidated by Hera’s claim that “none of the deathless gods will praise you...if you send Sarpedon home, living still, beware!” (Homer: 16; 527-529), and this fear of losing his glory is enough to dissuade Zeus from saving his own son. Just as the men throughout the course of the war fight to earn glory and prove their honor, the gods are flawed and act the same way; so ultimately, men and gods are driven by their own self