Iliad, Homer

Homer clearly and precisely depicts the religion and the ethics of the Achian and Trojan societies in The Iliad. During the time of the Trojan War, religion played an important role in the societies. Sacrifice, prayer, and rituals were all equally significant, and the superiority of the gods and the fates above humans were a standard of society. The gods were sacred deities to whom one had to bestow honor and respect. Within the society, honor, glory, and fame were desperately sought by warriors striving to achieve enduring notoriety. One's word represented a considerable commitment to be acted upon. Religion and ethics are prominently displayed in the characters throughout The Iliad due to their importance in Greek and Trojan society.

The characters' religious dedication is evident through their sacrifice, prayer, and rituals: "King Agamemnon sacrificed...a fat bull of five years" and prayed to Zeus for success in battle against the Trojans. Meanwhile, the Achian soldiers "prayed to be spared from death in the maul of war." Later, when Patroclos, an Achian soldier, body is recovered, twelve noble sons of Troy are sacrificed in his funeral pyre. Sacrifices are performed to honor the gods or obtain their favor.

The Greek and Trojan societies believe that a soul remains restless and can not enter Hades until proper funeral rites are conferred. Funeral rites were paramount for those who had been killed in battle. An example of their determination to ensure a proper funeral can be found after the duel between the powerful Greek Aias and the Trojan commander Hector in Book VII. After Aias and Hector reach a stalemate in their battle, they agree to "make no battle" the next day so they can respectively "bring in our dead." Their cooperative neutrality to honor the dead demonstrated their respect for one another's fallen comrades.

Another instance of the conferral of funeral rites can be found with the death of the brave Greek combatant Patroclos. In Book XVII when Patroclos lies dead, Menelaus, the Greek king, chivalrously defends the body, "like a cow standing over her calf." When Euphorbus Panthoides, a Trojan soldier, attempts to desecrate the body of Patroclos, Menelaus "with a prayer to Father Zeus lunges" and kills Panthoides. However, Menelaus wisely retreats when confronted by a massive Trojan Army. The Achian army commences to retrieve the body of Patroclos when Hippothoos, a Trojan soldier, starts to drag the corpse away, but the powerful Aias kills him. At that point, the Achians rally behind the unanimous declaration that "there's no doubt we could not retreat with honor, and let the Trojans drag away [Patroclos] in triumph." Patroclos' body is eventually salvaged by Menelaus, Meriones, and Aias and is properly cremated in a great pyre created by his army. The dedication of the Achian soldiers to protect and honor their dead is corroborated by their actions.

The characters in The Iliad are respectful of the gods until a god acts against them. The gods generally act fairly but often become partisan. When Aphrodite the goddess of wisdom and Ares, the god of war fight against