The Iliad, Book 2: Discussion and Summary

[@wyrrd]

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[@HeleneDrukier]

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[@rangergod7776]

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[@jessebourbeau1616]

Did those who enjoyed these stories understand in their time that the gods were moreso personifications? I assume Homer must have, unless he stumbled into that. Also, the only thing that confuses me about this chapter is, why does Agamemnon tell his men that they are going home. They end up saying it was a test that the men failed miserably, but it’s never said I don’t think in the text before they do it that it was meant as a test. And also, even if it was a test for the men, what benefit did it serve for the Achaians in knowing that they were going to war, to play this trick on their men? One last thing I’m wondering about: in this passage Nestor is called “King” which I found interesting, and so is Odysseus I believe. How can Agememnon be King over all Greeks if there are so many noble houses, all of which call their sons princes and their patricians Kings? In medieval Europe that would’ve been seen as an absolute threat, someone else calling themself King, but here I see that it is seen as normal for many Kings to follow one King of Kings, one great King. I find it interesting, is it because they didn’t really have a system of ranking with something like lords underneath kings? Perhaps King just meant leader of a clan/people. Chief, Lord. All meant sort of the same thing?

[@Nancenotes]

I don’t have a perfect answer for your first two questions-I do think the poetry implies a more symbolic/metaphoric reading of the gods, shared as a wink between the poet and audience. I also am unsure why Agamemnon makes such a stupid move, other than that he’s an insufferable leader and does nothing to inspire confidence in his army throughout the book. He’s just got the Oath as leverage over them and their desire for the spoils of war. (Incidentally, Fagles translation does say he’s testing them in line 166.) However, I do know the answer to your third question. They are individual kings over a cooperative system of small kingdoms, which are unified by the Oath of Tyndareus under Agamemnon, not that Agamemnon actually has authority over them back home. So, Agamemnon is the war leader by nature of being king of Mycenae and Menelaus’ brother. Since Menelaus invoked the Oath, the rest had to follow and submit, though they are technically still kings over their individual kingdoms back home.

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