Female Goddesses In The Iliad

No Name
October 23, 2006

The Image of Females Goddesses and Mortals

The role of the Gods is a constant theme reoccurring over and over again throughout Homer's Iliad but it's the Female Goddesses and the image of femininity that displays contradiction. The Goddesses posses large amounts of power over mortals and at Mt Olympus mostly through manipulation and intertwining relationships that affect the war and the different individuals. The mortal women on the other hand display weaknesses and subservience to men. The war over Troy was sparked over Helen or was used as an excuse or motivation for the Achaeans to invade for Menelaus's property. Helen was Menelaus's wife a beautiful woman whose beauty was legendary. The image and place
Helen of course probably the most important or definitely most impacting, Homer provides a small insight into the social roles of women. Women in the Iliad are surrounded by strong male influences such as Hector and Achilles. The poem glorifies war and these male heroes and gods excessively allowing for the mortal women to play minor roles. For example Helen points out the disgrace of Paris after the embarrassment by Menelaus and Andromache helps influence Hector both negatively and positively. Helen once again provides a quote to the self loathing of her actions in leaving Menelaus causing mayhem, "He used to be my kinsman, whore that I am!" (Book 3, 134) Helen exclaims to Priam King of the Trojans expressing guilt. This quote is huge to exemplify her guilt and to provide more blame on the female role in the poem. Andromache wife of Hector pleas for her husbands withdrawal from the war these actions only inspiring and influencing Hector in a noble, honored light a symbol of ultimate warrior. The three major mortal representations of women is Andromache as the wife influence a possible symbol of weakness to normal men but not for the great warriors. The second major mortal representation is of ownership or bounty in the case of Briseis and Chryseis. The Third mortal representation of women is the overall personification of submissive, manipulative, and stubborn qualities expressed and
The behavior of the Goddesses show far more levels of independence than that of their mortal sisters. The Goddesses because of their certain powers or their lineage in the case of Athena being blood of Zeus allows for a hierarchal system. This system contradicts that of the representation of mortal women in the Iliad especially that of ownership or slavery. Though Zeus is the most powerful god he can still be manipulated by a woman. The other male gods can be manipulated or controlled by Hera because of her power and influence. The number one god might be a man but the organization below Zeus is a mixed alliance of numerous troublesome gods and goddesses. The female goddesses consist of Aphrodite, Hera, Athena, and Achilles' mother Thetis are the most influential women portrayed in the Iliad. Thetis provided Zeus's support of the Achaeans for her whiney son Achilles and also new armor after Patroclus's death. Even a goddess is subservient to men allowing for her to approach Zeus on the behalf Achilles and provide armor. The Goddesses differ extremely from the other women portrayed in Troy and Achaean