Iliad 7, 8, 9
Iliad 7
I was struck by how the Greeks and Trojans fight in such a corporate way. They agree to pause the battle for deciding one on one battles, and also give each other time to bury the dead. I wonder if battles were ever really fought like this? It seems so strange that the gods always intervene in the one on one combats. Why can't they just let the warriors decide the fate for themselves? The answer is admitted even by the Greeks, that the gods decide the outcomes, not men. In some ways, it reminds me of Calvinism. The civilizations are fated and on a course by providence. However, it is much different having the will of one God decide instead of multiple gods, since multiple gods never seem to be in agreement and are in various states of giving into each other's desires for the destiny of men. Yet, perhaps it all comes back to the will of Zeus being done.
Iliad 8
This section answered my question that the will of Zeus will be done despite the others gods meddling, though they will meddle. Hector is an obvious indicator of divine protection as arrows that should have hit him spin off to hit others. While men are able to have mercy from Zeus, ultimately his will is accomplished it seems.
Iliad 9
And so commences a long dialogue of with Achilles and those who would convince him to do what they would have him do. It would seem Achilles would not be happy with any compensation to come and fight in the war. He doesn't believe in it, I'm not exactly sure why. I think it's because this is Agamemnon's war and Agamemnon was a jerk to Achilles. Achilles is still in love with Helen though, and his life sucks because of it.
I was struck by how the Greeks and Trojans fight in such a corporate way. They agree to pause the battle for deciding one on one battles, and also give each other time to bury the dead. I wonder if battles were ever really fought like this? It seems so strange that the gods always intervene in the one on one combats. Why can't they just let the warriors decide the fate for themselves? The answer is admitted even by the Greeks, that the gods decide the outcomes, not men. In some ways, it reminds me of Calvinism. The civilizations are fated and on a course by providence. However, it is much different having the will of one God decide instead of multiple gods, since multiple gods never seem to be in agreement and are in various states of giving into each other's desires for the destiny of men. Yet, perhaps it all comes back to the will of Zeus being done.
Iliad 8
This section answered my question that the will of Zeus will be done despite the others gods meddling, though they will meddle. Hector is an obvious indicator of divine protection as arrows that should have hit him spin off to hit others. While men are able to have mercy from Zeus, ultimately his will is accomplished it seems.
Iliad 9
And so commences a long dialogue of with Achilles and those who would convince him to do what they would have him do. It would seem Achilles would not be happy with any compensation to come and fight in the war. He doesn't believe in it, I'm not exactly sure why. I think it's because this is Agamemnon's war and Agamemnon was a jerk to Achilles. Achilles is still in love with Helen though, and his life sucks because of it.
posted by DCZX at 9:49 PM
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