Greek Values in The Iliad Essay Example

The Greeks embraced the values of Homeric Society and commended those who sought out to be heroes. The Iliad exemplifies the values of honor, loyalty, bravery, and glory. Homeric society was deeply rooted in heroic culture in which justice and honor are above all. Individuals who displayed characteristics of a hero were of high regard in Homeric society. Those who were able to implement these attributes into their daily interactions consistently received unwavering respect. The virtue of honor proved to be more valuable than life itself, soldiers were willing to sacrifice their lives in battle in order to ensure that they experienced an honorable death. The concept of honor in the Iliad greatly differs from our modern conception of the term. In the past honor could be earned through the act of dishonoring another dignitary; Homeric morality explains that an individual should help their allies and harm their enemies. Honor is deeply rooted in every aspect of Homeric society and takes shape in the Iliad primarily through the character of Akhilleus in Book I. In lines 127-141, Agamemnon’s refusal to give up Khryseis without receiving a prize in exchange is the ideal introduction to making sense of the social structures of Homeric society (9; bk. 1). Agamemnon settles for the woman Akhilleus had captured during a time of war which inflicts rage amongst Akhilleus and directly dishonors him. Ultimately, this leads to Akhilleus declaring battle against Agamemnon in which Akhilleus’ mother steps in and ensures that he will reclaim his honor by defeating Agamemnon. Akhilleus’ mother Thetis calls upon Zeus to return a favor, exemplifying the societal importance of loyalty. This leads into Book II in which Zeus misleads Agamemnon to aid Akhilleus and make certain that Akhilleus’ has the upper hand. The gods play perfectly into the structures of society by punishing those who disobey it and rewarding those who align with its values. Maintaining honor in Homeric society is of the utmost importance which can be seen through Thetis’ actions in making a sacrifice to restore glory for her son.

Euthyphro exemplifies justice in his attempt to prosecute his own father. He does so when his father inadvertently killed one of his laborers who had been awaiting punishment for committing the act of murder in a fit of rage. To counteract the injustice Euthyphro has witnessed, he does not hesitate to turn his father in for the accidental crime. Euthyphro believes justice knows no limits, not even to protect one’s own relatives, this being a direct violation to the structure of Homeric society. He admits that people will perceive him as “mad” for even considering the act of prosecuting his own father (43; sec. 4a). Loyalty to one’s family is a predominant principle that one should maintain despite all circumstances according to Homeric society. Especially in Euthyphro’s case in which it will be difficult to prove whether the murder was simply a matter of neglect or if his father may actually be convicted of the crime. Euthyphro’s actions will not exist without extreme repercussions. In his decision, Euthyphro destroys his reputation and will struggle to create allies, becoming a complete social outcast. People will avoid associating with an individual who does not respect the ties between friendship and loyalty. One who prioritizes justice above all else and who isolates themselves from the shared beliefs and structures will receive constant judgment, especially if they do not have a reasonable rationale for their rebellious behavior.

Initially, Euthyphro depicts the gods as omniscient beings who dictate human behavior and deserve gratification for their efforts. He claims his acts are a direct reflection of the myth of Zeus imprisoning Kronos for the consumption of his own children. In aligning himself with the actions of such a just god, Euthyphro is called to act upon the injustices that his own father had taken part in (45; sec. 5e-6a).  Euthyphro is so strong in his convictions, he fails to reflect that it may be himself who is performing an impious act. It is not until Socrates begins pointing out the faults and inconsistencies in Euthyphro’s attempts to explain his own piety that the trivial errors become increasingly evident to him. Rather than allowing Euthyphro to claim that piety is a self-evident virtue that needs no justification, Socrates seeks out an acceptable definition to reveal his genuine motive. Euthyphro’s beliefs regarding the gods reflect that of Homeric society although his views regarding justice and the union of traits and actions that create an honorable person confound typical beliefs. Socrates forces Euthyphro to question his past assumptions and re-evaluate the actual intent of the gods and what they receive through sacrifice and pious actions. Then Euthyphro contradicts himself in agreeing with Socrates’ claim that the gods have no desire for anything that humans may have to offer because these sacrifices are of no worth to them and therefore serve no purpose (56; sec. 15a). Euthyphro is so caught up in service to the gods that he fails to realize the implications of his own arguments. Socrates shifts Euthyphro’s views and convinces him that piety has its own intrinsic value, not relative to the gods. He implies that the desire to be pious should come from a place of good intent rather than acting out of fear of consequence or in seeking a reward. Socrates would have commended Euthyphro if his actions could be justified and served no benefit to Euthyphro himself. Instead, he questions and belittles him in front of the court because Euthyphro is acting out of rashness and can not even explain the justification for his moral decision. In recognizing that Euthyphro cannot comprehend the will of the gods without asking them directly, using them to justify his actions is illogical. Because Euthyphro’s beliefs regarding justice dispute the standards of traditional Homeric society, Socrates seeks to align these beliefs with Euthyphro’s efforts to portray moral character. The new views that Socrates has suggested to him, although no conclusion is ever reached, encourage Euthyphro to continue seeking out the true essence of piety to explain his decision to prosecute his own father. While Socrates does not offer Euthyphro an answer to this moral dilemma, he makes significant progress in continually denying that a human can base their actions on the preordained “will of the gods”.