The Concept of God in The Iliad by Homer Essay - 1214 Words

The Concept of God in The Iliad by Homer The American Heritage Dictionary defines a god as 1. A being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient ruler and originator of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheist religions. 2. A being of supernatural powers, believed in and worshiped by a people.(360) I believe the first definition reflects Modern Americas connotation of the word god. The latter definition recalls the Ancient Greco-Sumerian ideal of a being greater than man. While both definitions are equally valid in literature, many perceive the word only in the first view. However, the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Epic of Gilgamesh portray an obvious theme with gods possessing limits and†¦show more content†¦In the Epic of Gilgamesh, they put down another goddess whims. Ishtar, goddess of war and love becomes attracted to the mighty but mortal Gilgamesh. But rather than giving into the goddes, Gilgamesh thought it out and refused. After the offer of her marriage, Gilgamesh repli es, --that I will not. How would it go with me? Your lovers have found you like a brazier which smoulders in the cold, a backdoor which keeps out neither squall of wind nor storm, a castle which crushes the garrison, pitch that blackens the bearer....And if you and I should be lovers, should not I be served in the same fashion as all these others whom you loved once? (Mack 27). Thus, a second hero also refuses a god. Sometimes, the gods only wanted honest opinions from the humans. In the events leading up to the Iliad, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodità ª all contend to be the fairest of the goddesses, but out of prudence, no god will endorse them with the distinction. When Zeus refers them to the mortal shepherd, Paris, the three instantly ceases to expect an honest opinion. The question loses importance and the goddesses begin a persuasion match in which each goddess offers the shepherd great things. In the end, Paris chooses Aphrodites gift, and her and Athena become bitter and sp iteful because of the judgment. If theShow MoreRelatedThe Iliad : Greeks And Their Love For War1568 Words   |  7 PagesAffourtit Affourtit.2 February 10th, 2017 CLAS1101 The Iliad: Greeks and Their Love for ‘War’ It has long been a popular scholarly opinion that the Greeks in the Iliad were lovers of war and violence. The Greeks were most definitely primal beasts, and blood shedders, a fact made abundantly clear in the Iliad. However, I think that the Greeks were not lovers of war, furthermore I think this interpretation is shortsighted. The amount of violence in the Iliad seems to be evidence for their love of war, butRead MoreThe Iliad : An Ancient Work1131 Words   |  5 PagesMaddie Hughey 1128 The Iliad is an ancient work, written near 750 BCE, and yet, almost 3, 000 years later, we still study it. It still resonates with modern readers because war is not just an old concept. 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