Who is the most important character in The Iliad?
The most powerful warrior in The Iliad, Achilles commands the Myrmidons, soldiers from his homeland of Phthia in Greece. Proud and headstrong, he takes offense easily and reacts with blistering indignation when he perceives that his honor has been slighted.
Who were the important characters in the Trojan War?
You Gotta Know These Trojan War Heroes
- Agamemnon: The king of Mycenae, Agamemnon shares supreme command of the Greek troops with his brother, Menelaus.
- Menelaus: The king of Sparta, Menelaus is the husband of Helen, the cause celebre of the war.
- Achilles: This “swift-footed” warrior is the greatest on the Greek side.
Who was the most honorable character in The Iliad?
Honor: honesty, fairness, or integrity in one ‘s beliefs and actions; this is the definition by which these two characters, Hector and Achilles, ought to be judged. By taking this definition to heart, Achilles is far from honorable. Throughout the Iliad, Achilles acts on rage and revenge.
Who was Achilles best friend?
soldier Patroclus
Eventually, Achilles’ best friend, the soldier Patroclus, was able to wrangle a compromise: Achilles would not fight, but he would let Patroclus use his armor as a disguise.
Who was raped in the Iliad?
The Abduction of Helen, painting by Girolamo Genga, circa 1510 (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg). In western painting, Helen’s journey to Troy is usually depicted as a forced abduction. The Rape of Helen by Francesco Primaticcio (c. 1530–1539, Bowes Museum) is representative of this tradition.
Who is the leader of the Trojan army in the Iliad?
Agamemnon
In the Iliad the Greek army is led by Agamemnon, king of Mycenae; each contingent has its own leader and originates from a different geographical region.
Who kills Patroclus in the Iliad?
Hector
Patroclus killed many Trojans and Trojan allies, including a son of Zeus, Sarpedon. While fighting, Patroclus’ wits were removed by Apollo, after which Patroclus was hit by the spear of Euphorbos. Hector then killed Patroclus by stabbing him in the stomach with a spear.
Who killed Agamemnon?
Clytemnestra
Clytemnestra, in Greek legend, a daughter of Leda and Tyndareus and wife of Agamemnon, commander of the Greek forces in the Trojan War. She took Aegisthus as her lover while Agamemnon was away at war. Upon his return, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus murdered Agamemnon.
Is Iliad a true story?
The Iliad isn’t a documentary, and it’s definitely not a memoir, since the actual events that inspired Homer’s story happened hundreds of years before Homer was born.
Who shows honor in The Iliad?
Achilles
Achilles prepares Hector’s body and allows the Trojans 12 days to perform the funeral rites. While Achilles softens and weeps with Priam, he still remains strong and fearful. He shows respect and honor but ensures he can still arouse fear.
How is honor portrayed in The Iliad?
Honor is deeply embedded in Homer’s epic poem The Iliad. Honor, which basically amounts to having the greatest respect of others, is the bread and butter to a man’s worth and reputation.
How many main characters are there in the Iliad?
If you are able to keep track of these 11 main characters, you will be able to follow the main action of the poem easily. Achilles is considered the greatest of Greek warriors. Son of the nymph Thetis and the hero Peleus, Achilles is renowned for his fighting prowess and powerful emotions.
What are some of the challenges of reading the Iliad?
One of the challenges of reading epic poetry is keeping track of all the names. There are roughly 1000 names referenced in the chapters of the Iliad, and it is very easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged by trying to keep up with them all. Listed below are the names of the major characters of the epic poem.
What is the main subject of the Iliad?
Achilles’ wrath at Agamemnon for taking his war prize, the maiden Briseis, forms the main subject of The Iliad. Read an in-depth analysis of Achilles.
What role do the heroes play in the Iliad?
In the Iliad certain heroic characters play major roles in the battles even though the reader knows that many more common soldiers must be involved. The heroes, however, are presented literally as greater human beings than the ordinary warriors.