In the Iliad, the gods had a greater presence and influence compared to the movie Troy. They actively manipulated various aspects such as people’s emotions, weather, and battle outcomes. They would also resort to disguises and physical interference to manipulate characters’ actions. On the other hand, in Troy, the gods played a more abstract role as a belief system and guiding force. The characters held a belief that signs from the gods would direct their actions.
The text illustrates an instance where a farmer’s decision to engage in warfare was influenced by witnessing a sparrow carrying a snake in its claws. The examples used include the dynamic between Agamemnon and Achilles, Hector and Achilles, and Achilles and Prium. These examples highlight not only the contrasting interactions among gods like Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, and Thetis, but also how the absence of these interactions altered the narrative to some extent.
Both the Iliad and the movie Troy depict a contrasting depiction of the disagreement between Agamemnon and Achilles. In the Iliad, gods actively participate in this argument, while in the movie Troy, their involvement is limited to Thetis’ prophecy for her son. Thetis reveals to Achilles that his fame would persist if he joined the war, but if he chose to stay home, his name would be forgotten.
The Iliad’s argument began when the priest of Apollo’s temple, who was Chryseis’ father, approached Agamemnon and asked for his daughter’s return. In an attempt to resolve the situation, he offered a “rich ransom” on behalf of Apollo. Unfortunately, Agamemnon rejected this plea, which angered Apollo and caused him to exploit the enmity between Agamemnon and the priest. As a result, discord was sown among them, leading to numerous Greek deaths.
Apollo played a role in these deaths by shooting invisible arrows imbued with a deadly disease. This occurred after the grieving priest prayed to Apollo seeking retribution for his daughter’s mistreatment. The consequences were so severe that funeral pyres burned continuously for nine days.
By Hera’s persuasion, Achilles convened a council of Greek leaders to propose to Agamemnon the idea of consulting one of Apollo’s priests. They sought the priest’s guidance on how to appease the god and put an end to the rampant plague. Calchas, fearing Agamemnon’s response, implored Achilles to protect him while he revealed to the council the reason behind Apollo’s anger. After Achilles assured Calchas of his safety, he disclosed that Apollo was punishing the Greeks due to Agamemnon’s dishonorable actions. Agamemnon had refused the priest’s ransom and had not returned his daughter.
He stated that the plague would persist until Chryseis was returned to her father without recompense. Agamemnon started to express concern over his affection for her, but claimed he prioritized the preservation of Greek lives over her. Should he relinquish her, he anticipated receiving another spoils of war as he couldn’t be the sole individual without one, especially considering his status as the most prominent Greek figure. At this juncture, Achilles countered by noting that all possessions had already been allocated and it would be unjust to deprive someone of what they had received.
If Agamemnon returned Chryseis to her father, he would be given the first and best spoils. In retaliation for the release of Chryseis, Agamemnon threatened to forcefully take Achilles, Ajax, or Odysseus’s esteemed prize. Achilles became furious at the disrespect shown by Agamemnon, considering himself the greatest warrior in Greece. The argument escalated until Agamemnon, consumed by anger, declared that he would take Briseis from Achilles as compensation for Apollo taking Chryseis. This was to serve as a demonstration to others that they should never dispute or consider themselves equal to him.
Achilles deliberates on whether to kill Agamemnon for the offense he has just received. However, Hera intervenes by sending Athena to pacify Achilles’ fury. Athena convinces Achilles to employ his words as a weapon against Agamemnon instead of resorting to physical combat. In compliance with the gods’ command, Achilles unleashes a verbal assault on Agamemnon, condemning him as a drunkard and a coward who remains safely behind the battle lines while others perish, all for the sake of preserving his own life at the expense of those who dare oppose him. Achilles resolves not to participate in further fighting, declaring that Agamemnon’s dishonorable treatment of the finest Greek warriors has brought about the downfall of the entire Greek army.
Achilles reluctantly decided to relinquish Briseis to Agamemnon, acknowledging that she was originally bestowed upon him by Agamemnon himself. However, he firmly warned that any further encroachment upon his possessions would be met with lethal retaliation. Achilles surrendered Briseis to Agamemnon’s men and conveyed a message that they would eventually require his assistance since their leader seemed ignorant of the repercussions his actions had on others. This particular scene is portrayed in the film Troy, where Achilles acquires Briseis as a coveted trophy after successfully conquering the beach near the city of Troy. Subsequently, the leaders convened and exchanged gifts with Agamemnon. During this moment, Achilles took advantage of addressing the king and accentuating his triumphant victory on that very day.
Agamemnon informs Achilles that he had been victorious in acquiring the beach of Troy from Prium that very morning. Agamemnon expresses the belief that history tends to remember kings rather than warriors, implying that Achilles’ efforts in the war may not be recognized. However, Achilles urges Agamemnon to exercise caution and prioritize winning the war. Agamemnon then recalls how Achilles’ men had seized the temple of Apollo. In response, Achilles suggests that Agamemnon may claim all the gold for himself, as it is a gift meant for honoring him. Contrary to this offer, Agamemnon opts to take Briseis from Achilles instead.
Achilles engages in a conflict on behalf of a woman and she admonishes him to cease and depart while cursing him. Agamemnon belittles Achilles, claiming he was defeated by a female slave and suggesting she should attend to his bathing. Achilles asserts that by the end of the war, he will gaze upon Agamemnon’s lifeless body with satisfaction. He refuses to participate in the imminent battle unless it threatens his own ships. The news reaches Prium that the gods have sent a sign, in the form of a sparrow carrying a serpent, indicating victory would be achieved the following day. Hector slays Menelaus during a confrontation with Paris, thereby saving his brother’s life. Agamemnon is instructed to return Briseis.
He had given Briseis to his men, but Achilles saves her by fighting the other men. The next day, he decided to leave for Phthia. After the death of Patroclus and Hector, the scene where Priam went to Achilles to beg for the return of Hector’s body after his death contrasts between the Iliad and the movie Troy. In the Iliad, Achilles was infuriated when Patroclus died. He felt no compassion for any Trojan and even less for Hector, who not only killed his dearest friend but also stole the armor off of his body to wear for himself.
Hector was pursued by Achilles as they circled the city walls. Athena cunningly posed as Hector’s brother, Deiphobus, to deceive Hector into thinking they would confront Achilles as a team. However, upon facing Achilles, Hector realized he had been deceived by the gods and perished in combat. Achilles cruelly fastened leather straps through Hector’s wounded heels and dragged him behind his chariot numerous times, following his stabbing by fellow soldiers. Apollo safeguarded Hector’s body from further mistreatment by the Mycenaean warriors.
Zeus, Hera, and Athena were convinced by him that Achilles should not continue abusing Hector’s body. The gods dispatched Thetis to speak to her son and instruct him to return Hector’s body to the Trojans. In the meantime, Hermes approached Prium and escorted him to Achilles. Prium brought gifts as a ransom for his son’s body. Achilles was taken aback by the old man’s bravery in confronting him alone. Prium mentioned his father, emphasizing that as long as he was alive, there was still reason for joy. Moreover, Prium mentioned having fifty sons, with him and Ares having slain the best among them.
He pleads for sympathy as he finds himself in the position of begging the man who had taken the lives of so many of his sons. Achilles, moved by compassion, sheds tears and remarks that the deathless gods inflict sorrow upon mortals while they themselves live without suffering. Zeus, he explains, is positioned between two urns – one containing good fortune and the other containing misfortune – and distributes gifts from these urns, sometimes benevolent, sometimes malevolent. The speaker implores Achilles to sit beside him and set aside their sadness. However, Prium rejects this suggestion, stating that he cannot be in the presence of the man who killed his son, while his son’s lifeless body remains exposed on the ground.
Achilles shouts at Prium and informs him that he will give him his son’s body as per the gods’ decree. Subsequently, Achilles hands over Hector’s body and declares a temporary end to the war for a period of eleven days, during which they will conduct a proper funeral. In the movie Troy, Patroclus, who is Achilles’ cousin, leads the Mycenaeans into battle without Achilles’ knowledge and gets killed by Hector, mistakenly thinking he is fighting Achilles. Realizing that he has slain a young child, Hector calls for a ceasefire to allow Patroclus’ body to be taken and placed on the funeral pyres.
The duel between Hector and Achilles took place in a one on one confrontation. Achilles, having bid farewell to his loved ones, courageously left the safety of his castle walls to face Hector in combat, fully aware of the likelihood of his own demise. Hector, displaying bravery, pleaded with Achilles to allow their respective people the dignity of a proper burial. In response, Achilles dismissed this plea, comparing himself to a lion unwilling to negotiate with a sheep. As a sign of identification, Achilles removed his helmet so that Hector would recognize his opponent. The battle ensued and concluded with Achilles emerging as the victorious fighter, ultimately slaying Hector. To facilitate the removal of Hector’s body from the castle grounds, his heels were secured with a leather strap.
Prium visited Achilles in his tent to request the return of his son’s body. Upon entering, Achilles asked for Prium’s identity. Prium responded, stating that he had endured unimaginable suffering and expressed his gratitude towards the man who had killed his son. Achilles recognized that it was Prium and questioned how he managed to reach his tent. Prium confidently replied, “I am familiar with my own country better than the Greeks.” Achilles commended Prium for his bravery in coming alone and mentioned that he could easily kill him. Prium answered that after witnessing his son’s killing and the disrespectful dragging of his body by a chariot, he no longer feared death. He pleaded with Achilles to return his son’s body for a proper burial, emphasizing that it was the right thing to do. Achilles accused Hector of killing his cousin, but Prium countered by pointing out the numerous lives that Achilles himself had taken. Prium accepted that he couldn’t change what had happened as it was the will of the gods, but implored Achilles to show mercy. He requested to wash his son’s body, place him on a funeral pyre, and put coins on his eyes for the boatman.
Achilles informs Priam that even if he allows him to leave his tent, their enmity will remain unchanged by morning. Priam acknowledges this and asserts that even enemies can still display respect. Achilles admires Priam’s courage and considers him a superior king compared to the leader of his own army. He sheds tears over Hector’s body and bids him farewell until their forthcoming meeting. Achilles returns Hector to Priam, grants him seven days of peace, and sets Briseis free to return to Troy with Priam. The values held by men during the period in which the Iliad was written revolved around qualities such as courage, strength, agility, protection of one’s possessions, loyalty to family and country, honor, respect for gods, brutality, and the acquisition of material wealth including land, gold, women, and children as personal slaves.
At this time only the strongest survived and the weakest perished. This is why Agamemnon was chosen to be leader, Why Achilles was the most prized fighter, and why when every city was sacked all of their belongings were divided among the higher ranked men of the army. The values of today’s society are much different; we value love, relationships, freedom, equal rights, weakness to a degree, and goodness of the heart. That is why the characters in the movie were deeply in love amidst battle. The men loved each other and took care of each other. The women were strong and played active roles in the stories.
