The Role of the Greek Gods in the Iliad
The gods play a very important role in the story. Instead of staying throned aloft in their immortal home on Mt. Olympus, the gods play an active role in the events of the story as they frequently intervene in the events of the war. Thetis, Achilles' immortal mother, makes an important request of Zeus in Book 1; Aphrodite, goddess of love, breaks up a duel between Paris and Menelaus; Apollo, patron god of Troy, aids in the slaying of one of the most important figures in the poem, Patroclus. Before we learn which gods were involved in the war, let's briefly analyze how the Greek view of the gods differs from the common Judeo-Christian view of God.
The Greek Gods Were Not:
1. Consistently good or just: The gods were very unpredictable in their actions towards men and other gods.
2. Omniscient: Even Zeus, the most powerful of all gods, could be tricked or deceived, as evidenced by Book 14 of the Iliad. 3. Omnipotent: The gods each controlled a specific realm of nature and never intervened in another's realm of control. 4. Transcendent: The gods were a part of the world; according to myth, the earth created the gods, not the other way around. 5. Consistently loving towards humans: The gods had little concern for mortal affairs unless they were related to the men. (Many gods were parents of mortal children) |
The Greek Gods Were:
1. Connected with nature: They were nature personified.
2. Anthropomorphic: The gods looked and behaved like men. The only major difference between gods and men is that the gods are immortal. 3. Grand/Awe-Inspiring 4. Silly/Shallow |
Information for chart from a lecture from: Vandiver, Elizabeth. 2000. The Iliad of Homer. The Great Courses on Tape.
Who were the Major Gods involved in the Iliad?
Zeus
King of Mt. Olympus, Zeus is the most powerful god and ruler of the sky. He is related to every Olympian god and goddess in some way. Wielding the lightning bolt as his weapon, Zeus inspires fear and awe amongst both gods and men. The Eagle is his bird and the Aegis is his armor. Athena, his favorite daughter, carries his armor. Zeus remains neutral for much of the Trojan War except for the brief span of time in the last year of the war when he favors the Trojans as a result of Thetis' request on behalf of her son, Achilles.
Hera
Hera is the Queen of Mt. Olympus due to being both the wife and sister of Zeus. Ironically, she is the protector of married women despite the fact that her husband has numerous affairs with other goddesses and mortal women. Hera is infamous for her jealous spirit and quick temper. Her bird is the peacock. Hera prominently favors the Greeks in the Trojan War due to being scorned by the Trojan prince Paris during the famous Judgment of Paris.
Poseidon
Poseidon is the brother of Zeus and second most powerful of all the Olympian gods. He rules the sea, is nicknamed the "Earthshaker" and wields the Trident as his weapon. Poseidon bestowed the gift of the horse to man. The blue-haired god favors the Greeks because the Trojans forgot to offer him sacrifices while constructing the walls of Troy. Accordingly, he wants to see the walls destroyed.
Apollo
According to Edith Hamilton, Apollo is "the most Greek of all the gods" (Hamilton, 1942, pg. 30). Son of Zeus and Leto, Apollo is the god of archery, healing, music, and light and truth. Apollo was loved by the Greeks because the Greeks were lovers of the arts, and Apollo bestowed the gift of the lyre upon man. Associated with all things golden, Apollo is the counterpart to his twin sister Artemis who is traditionally associated with all things silver. Apollo favors the Trojans because he is the patron god of Troy.
Athena
Athena, daughter of Zeus, is the goddess of wisdom, battle, and the city/civilization. She has no mother because, according to myth, Athena sprang from the head of Zeus fully grown. Accordingly, she is Zeus' favorite child. The owl is her bird and she carries the armor of Zeus. Athena has no rival in battle amongst goddesses, and she favors the Greeks due to being scorned by the Trojan prince Paris during the famous Judgment of Paris.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, is the daughter of Zeus. She is a mischievious goddess, always luring gods and mortals into love affairs. Ironically, she is married to Hephaestus, the ugliest of all Olympian gods. Hers birds are the dove and swan. Her son is Eros (Cupid). Aphrodite favors the Trojans because she was chosen by the Trojan prince Paris as the winner of the beauty contest during the famous Judgment of Paris.
Ares
Ares, son of Zeus and Hera, is the detested god of war. Even his own parents hate Ares because of the destruction and strife that comes as a result of his presence. His bird is the Vulture. Ares most prominently favors Hector and the Trojans.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus is the god of fire and the forge. He is the son of Zeus and Hera. Hephaestus was once banned from Olympus because of his ugly face and lame legs. He was considered an affront the rest of the beautiful gods. Hephaestus was later readmitted into Olympus once he proved his usefulness as the forger of the weapons of the gods. Hephaestus favors the Greeks and makes new armor for Achilles in Book 18 of the Iliad.
Thetis
Thetis is the wife of the Greek hero Peleus and is the mother of Achilles. Though not an Olympian goddess, Thetis is nontheless immortal because of her classification as a sea nymph. Owed favors by both Zeus and Hephaestus, Thetis makes requests of both gods in order that they may help her son Achilles.
The Fates
These mysterious figures (oftentimes personified as three women by myth, but referred to singularly in the Iliad) determine the destiny of human affairs. According to the Greeks, fate is even more powerful than the gods, and the gods serve to enforce the decrees of fate. No mortal, save for Achilles, knows his fate.
All information about the gods retrieved from: Hamilton, Edith. 1942. Mythology. New York, New York: Warner Books.
All images for this page were retrieved from the Wikipedia Commons and are in the public domain.