Honor in the Iliad: The Penultimate Aim of Every Warrior in the Poem
Honor in the Iliad was more valuable than life, therefore, everyone strived to achieve it. Characters such as Achilles, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Patroclus and even the old Nestor did what they did for the honor that they would receive.
To the ancient Greeks, how society perceived you was more important than how you saw yourself.
This article would discuss the theme of honor in the Iliad and look at certain examples that clearly illustrated honor as it was perceived in ancient Greece.
What Is Honor in the Iliad?
Honor in the Iliad refers to the value of a character in the epic poem. The Iliad is a poem that reflects the values of ancient Greek society and honor was at the top of the list. The actions of the leading characters were driven by the quest for honor.
Honor and Glory in the Iliad
The ancient Greeks were a warring society and thus, honor was very paramount to them as it was a means of sustaining the society. Men were made to believe that heroic achievements on the battlefield ensured that their names would be remembered forever.
Such men had monuments and shrines built in their honor while bards sang of their valiant deeds. They served as an inspiration to the next generation and some even attained the statuses of gods.
In the Iliad, we discover many examples of these as commanders on both sides of the war used honor to motivate their soldiers. The idea was to ensure that their offspring were not dominated or decimated by an invading force. Men gave their all on the battlefield and did not mind if they died for living without honor was worse than death. To the Greeks, honor was everything as exemplified by Achilles who felt dishonored when his slave girl was taken away.
The opposite of honor was shame which, as mentioned earlier, was worse than death. This explains why Agamemnon took Achilles' slave girl and why Hector continued fighting Achilles though he know that would be his last.
Honorable Death in the Iliad
The theme of death is synonymous to honor since the characters believe that an honorable death is worthier than a worthless life. This explains why Achilles and Agamemnon choose death over life.
The warriors think that death will come to everyone whether at home on in the heat of battle but what remains is the legacy they leave behind. For them, it is better to die a heroic death where your deeds will be praised forever than die in the comfort of your home where no one, except their family, knows them.
How Does Hector Show Honor in the Iliad?
Hector shows honor by fighting for his city and giving his life for it. As the first-born son and heir-apparent to the throne of Troy, Hector knows he doesn't have to fight. Since he is in charge of the army, all he has to do is give the command and his warriors will spring into action. However, Hector knows that there is more honor on the battlefield than a life spent dishing out commands.
He knows that he will only be valued if he does something heroic for the people of Troy – even if it means losing his life. Therefore, Hector leads his army into battle with the full knowledge that his deeds will inspire the soldiers behind him. After all, his warriors see him as their greatest hero and his presence will spur them on. Hector goal is to cement his legacy in the history of Troy and he did.
Today, Troy and Hector are mentioned in the same breath with admiration for his heroic acts. Contrast that with his brother, Paris, who runs away from the war to be with his wife, Helen. Paris knows he has soldiers under him who will do his bidding, so he doesn't see why he should fight.
However, Hector confronts him and scolds him for hiding away in the comfort of his room while his men toiled on the battlefield. When Hector finally faces Achilles, he knows his end has come but he dies honorably by standing his ground and defending the honor of his city Troy.
Achilles' Honor in the Iliad
The epic hero Achilles values honor above his life when he chooses to die on the battlefield than return to his home. His mother Thetis, allows him to choose between a long life of peace and prosperity or a short life of honor.
Achilles chooses the latter as he wants his name to be remembered for ages to come. Achilles example inspires the Greeks as they fight an unrelenting 10-year war and eventually turn out victorious.
The protagonist of Homer's Iliad, Achilles, values his honor so much that when his prized possession, Briseis, is taken from him, he refuses to fight the war. He feels his honor has been bruised and until the lady is returned, he will continue to abstain from the battle. However, he changes his mind and redirects his honor when his close friend, Patroclus, dies. Achilles decides to honor his friend by avenging his death and holding funeral games in his memory.
Quote About Honor in the Poem
One of the Iliad quotes about honor delivered by Agamamenon as he went for Achilles' slave girl reads:
"But I'm even to give her back, even so, if that is best for all. What I really want is to keep my people safe and not see them dying. But fetch me another prize and straight off too else alone of the Argives go without my honor."
This quote illustrates the honor that was in the poem, that spoke about how the girl will be given back, however, the only way to this is be traded another "prize" or else, he will be left with no honor. The latter, is how he sees himself, and how the abundance of honor is in him because he had the enslaved girl.
Conclusion
So far, we have looked at the theme of honor as espoused in Homer's Iliad and some examples of glory in the Iliad. Here is a recap of all that this article has discovered:
Homer's Iliad is just a reflection of how the Greeks of old valued honor above their very lives.
They believe that it is better to die in the course of a heroic deed than to die of old age and having accomplished nothing.
Thus, Achilles, who gets to choose between a long life without honor and short life with honor chooses the latter and that is why we remember him today.
The theme of death in the poem is synonymous to honor because a heroic death brought glory to the character.
Hector also displays honor in that, though he does not have to fight the Trojan War, his presence and skill inspire his men to various victories during the war.
Even when he faces Achilles, he fights bravely knowing full well that he will not survive the duel. However, he foresees the honor that he will receive when he dies at the hands of the greatest warrior in the war and he goes for it.
