Miss
2253 mots
10 pages
Which aspects do you find most striking in contrast to modern views in the Homeric representations of death and the afterlife?Homer’s Iliad is constructed through the narrative framework of the slayer slain motif, whereby the epic’s plot unfolds in response to the death of a loved one. The poem opens with the tears of Chryses and ends with Hector’s funeral[1]. In this journey, we see death as a product of revenge through the reactive plot structure of the death of a loved one, fuelled by grief and anger. This chain of retribution[2] climaxes in Achilles revenge slaying of Hector, closing the epic. Hence, the great theme is heroic life and death[3]. This essay will examine the aspects considered to be the most striking in Homeric representations of death and the afterlife. The catalyst death of Sarpedeon by Patroclus, and the vengeance killing of Patroclus by Hector will be used in this discussion. These episodes illustrate Homer’s use of Hellenistic burial and afterlife rituals. However, the attitude of the living and the Olympians to the dead is what truly marks his representation of death and the afterlife. These aspects, including their significance to lament and the fate will be discussed.
One striking aspect of Homer’s representation of death is the attitude of Olympian gods to the mortal death of Sarpedeon, in book 16. For instance, Zeus’ apparent passivity to his son’s death is not without emotion or explanation. Glaucus’ complains “Zeus who does not even protect his own son” (16.522). Yet, Homer depicts how Hera and Athena dissuade the torn Zeus from saving Sarpedeon[4]. This illustrates the emotional impact of mortal death on the Olympians. This is exemplified by the sole incident of supernatural rain in the Iliad, tears of blood by Zeus, lamenting Sarpedeon. Thus we see the god’s obedience to fate in death: saving Sarpedeon would disrupt the natural order of the world[5].
However, Homer also uses Zeus’ grief to stress the