The Homer Series: GREEK LIT Journal Entry 4
As we moved closer towards a new moon, the pull on the tides increased and it seems as if war has been sounded between the impeding tides and our shores. Similarly, we gnaw at our fingertips and tap our feet in anxiety as we approach the climax of the Iliad. What will happen next? Who will die next? The Iliad seems to contend highly with even the best of films, if we are to be very fair in judgement. We have witnessed plot twists after plot twists, back stories, a thickened plot being slowly unraveled and knowledge of an interesting new culture.
This week’s series of lessons were pretty hard for me. I finally got accustomed to the way this ‘university workload’ thing works, and I decided to rearrange my schedule to fit in more efficient study hours and rest. I managed to accomplish all four of my weekly nine study hours, each being a session of approximately an hour. I usually waited until after hours when the atmosphere is more still, so I can hear my own thoughts as the Iliad pokes my brain.
Class had breakout group sessions again-I think this just might be my favorite ZOOM feature, but this time it was a bit more interesting than ever. I got the opportunity to be enlightened on how other people were digesting this amazing work of art. I got new insight and perspective on how some situations could be seen and a better understanding about how people saw Agamemnon as a ruler and the rhetoric appeals used by other individuals. Ps. The rhetoric appeals are stuck in my head, we’re currently going through Books XIV-XVII and I can’t stop pointing them out to myself.
Leadership was a reoccurring theme in the Iliad and that was definitely expected after reading about the different warriors and kings that left their homeland to fight in the name of the Danaans or the Trojans in Book II. This must have been a very difficult situation to maneuver, having so many leaders and leadership styles all together. As aforementioned, we watched so many elements reveal themselves so far, one of them being character growth. We have become more intimate with each character, learning little more about their stories and personalities as the story progresses. Here is a Youtube video that outlines the leadership and rulers in the Iliad.
Agamemnon is one of such characters, we’ve seen where his personalities differ tremendously on the battlefield than in-person. I don’t think I can ever win with this guy; however, he never ceases to keep me on my toes. I would admire a solid gesture of leadership in this very moment for that feeling to be wiped completely off the slate with a series of words from his mouth. The story initiated with him being seen as a lousy king, Achilles definitely hated him for his leadership style-ruling like a power-hungry viper without sense and character. In Book 2, Zeus comes to Agamemnon in a dream to urge him on to go take on the walls of Troy whereas we’ve acknowledged that his ‘até’ as he unknowingly praises Zeus for being on his side in the line war. This speaks a lot about Agamemnon, especially since we’ve seen how the Gods interfere with mortals and the forms it usually entails. Each God or Goddess usually took the form of a trusted friend or individual to relay the message on the battlefield in a form of advice, whether it may be Calchas the Prophet or Helenus, son of Priam. However, Agamemnon’s divine advice came in the form of a dream and this depicts him as the ‘sleeping King’. In this era, especially that they are to be at battle, a King must be seen as a pillar of strength and wisdom for his people. Why would Zeus prefer to send a dream in contrast to a messenger in battle? Are these qualities of sound leadership? Achilles might be an ‘achos’ to his own people, but it was because of an angered stirred by a spiteful man. Agamemnon showed little characteristics of a good leader in the beginning of the story. He sought to instill superiority instead of leading by example, motivation and charisma. Who was greater than Atreus’ son? Not even a Demi-God he would think out loud, all because of insecurity and fear of his people finding solace and faith in a greater man. Nevertheless, I am glad he eventually saw the ill will of his actions and eventually began to show traits that were admirable.
Agamemnon was a King on the battlefield, he roused his men and rebuked fear and instilled courage with soothing stories of warriors’ lineages. He fought and eventually had his shining moment-his own aristeia, before being wounded. At this point, it is the will of the the Sky God that the Argives fall in battle and not directly because of the actions of the Greek ruler Agamemnon on the field. Nevertheless, after seeing the Trojan camp outside their walls as a sign of victory and mockery, any Greek would be angered and embarrassed. He listens to Nestor’s sound advice to rouse his remaining best warriors and enact a plan to figure out the Trojans best move, this in turn reaps a small victory for the Greeks as they ransack a Trojan ally. Agamemnon listens to the counsel of his great leaders and decided on a strategy that was tactical and necessary. Regardless of how desperate the Argives seem in Book X, it is a sign of their yearning for glory and victory. even before this, Agamemnon showed the best trait yet, accepting when he’s wrong. He did this when he acknowledged how horribly they were doing in this war and how Achilles would be very helpful if he had not angered the man. With that being said, Agamemnon was willing to offer the world on a platter, just so that Achilles could return to war. He showed that he was willing to equitably share the spoils of war, empathize and accept when he was wrong. This was the King the Argives needed and the one that should’ve been there from the jump. But what is a story without an antagonist right ? If I were to offer him any advice at this point, I would ask him to stop and reflect. He lacks the ability to look ahead and read into situations to see how the dominoes fall and that is one of his greatest vices. Hence, stop and reflect and read into the entire essence of this war and see what he could do differently. Democracy and listening to the needs of his wise counsel and people has reaped many great rewards for the Argives in battle. Emotional Intelligence is an amazing asset to have as a leader and makes every decision more worthwhile. Emotions like pride can only get you so far and it has only brought the Danaans strife and anger.
On other note, we see on a more divine aspect that there are several divinities that are hellbent on forcing their will in this war of men. This entire battle was due to the strife of Goddesses, all because these divine women were tricked into arguing over who was more beautiful and resting those burdens on the shoulders of naive mortal man-child. Why couldn’t they have asked another God ? Why couldn’t they have accepted that they know themselves to be fairest of them all?
Throughout the entire story we have seen where these Gods have tried to force their will and rage upon the lives of mortals. It is seen where the Iliad is centered around the ‘boulé’ or will of Zeus. We seen where he initially starts out on the side of the Greeks due to his providence in Hospitality and Justice; however, after a series of events and after being swayed by Thetis we see as he is hellbent on giving the glory of the Argive triumphant over the Trojans to Achilles. On several occasions, Zeus is seen to prophesy the proceedings of particular moment; however, in Book XV he truly tells what will be the outcome of the war. The other Gods are too fearful of him to even openly contest his actions, even if they disagree and such have to find sneaky ways to help those in which they supported.
Hera and Athena have been so involved in helping the plot that they have tried in every way to sway Zeus’ mind and aid the cities. Mycenae, Sparta and Argos are the favorite cities of Hera, however that is not the only reason for her support of the Greeks. She is adamant on wreaking havoc on the lives of the Trojans as a result of her indiscriminate wrath on Paris for not choosing her in the Judgement of Paris. There is an Arabian proverb that says ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ and due to their aligning interests Athena and Hera are one in the same. Athena has done her part in aiding her the Greeks, even more so that she has pushed to be on the front lines fighting alongside her beloved Diomedes. She granted him the ability to see Gods and wound them appropriately, Ares sees her as if she was a mad woman for the part she played in allowing a mortal man to wound him. Athena wasn’t chosen as the fairest of them all by Paris’ Judgement either and the rest is history as they say.
Lastly, it would seem that Poseidon has played a valid part in plotting the proceedings of this war. We see as the Greeks build a high wall and trench to evade the efforts of the Trojans. This was done without sacrifices to the Gods and seeks to become higher than the one built by him and Apollo. He takes his concerns to Zeus and his brother states that the wall will fall, but only after the Argives have sacked the city Troy beyond the high walls and left the shores returning to their homelands. It is for this very reason that Poseidon sides with the Greeks, the quicker they win is the quicker the wall can fall.
Each of them have shared their own reasons and means for the fall of Troy, with so many Gods against them the Ilium city was destined to fall. It is too bad they too will be fooled by the will of the Gods. Till next time…
