Science confirms – 7. Collection of scientific articles

Does the Iliad really give rise to such conclusions? Of course, there are no fewer cases in the poem when people make independent decisions, without any participation of the gods, than there are cases with dictated advice.

By his own will, and not by someone else’s will, Agamemnon makes the very decision with which it all began – not to return his daughter to Christ:

"…Proudly he sent the priest away and prophesied a terrible word to him:

«Elder, so that I may never see you before the courts!

Here and now you do not hesitate and do not dare to show yourself in the future!

Or neither the scepter nor the crown of Apollo will save you.

I will not give freedom to the Virgin; she will become dilapidated in captivity,

In Argos, in our house, far from you, from the fatherland —

Walking around the weaving mill or sharing a bed with me.

Go away and do not anger me, long live you will return!»

In the same way – without any prompting – Agamemnon decides to take away Briseis from Achilles:

«… He, having called Talfibius and Eurybates before him,

Faithful minions and messengers, the angry one commanded:

«March, faithful messengers, into the canopy

Achilles Pelides;

Taking my hands, present Briseida to me immediately:

If he does not give it back, he will return it – I myself will expel it.:

With strength I will come to him, and the disobedient will be more sorrowful.»

When the troops of the Achaeans and Trojans converge and line up in front of each other, Paris, the abductor of Elena, decides to come forward and challenge a brave warrior of the enemy’s army to single combat. The gods are silent at the same time.

«… Alexander came forward from the Trojans, equal to the celestial,

With a leather parda on the frame, with a bow crooked behind his shoulders

And with a sword at his hip; and in his hands two copper-fingered spears

Proudly hesitating, he summoned all the bravest from the Danai,

Go out against him and fight a fierce battle.»

From the side of the Achaeans, Menelaus, the «legitimate» husband of Elena, comes out, delighted with the opportunity to take revenge on an enemy, also not prompted by anyone from above. Seeing him, Paris cowardly hides behind the backs of his comrades: «But, only Priamid saw him,

Alexander bogovidny,

Between the front flashed, his heart trembled;

Quickly he retreated to a host of friends, avoiding death.

It’s like a traveler seeing a dragon in

the gorges of the mountains,

He spins backwards and trembles with horror

with all his members,

He quickly leaves and his pallor

covers his cheeks, —

So running away, the Trojan

of the proud plunged into the crowd

The image of red Paris, terrified

Atreus’ son.»

Well, these are all ordinary human actions, not set by the gods in any way. If they were set, everything would look different.

In a word, the heroes of the Iliad act both this way and that – and following the voice of the gods, and of their own free will. It would be in vain to try to calculate how often. Even if someone had made such a calculation (hard work), the results would definitely not have said anything. We have no reason to deviate from the usual notion of what the role of the gods is in the Iliad. They are the same participants in events as people. Gods are subject to ordinary human passions – love, hate… Therefore, they endlessly interfere in human life – punish some, protect others, push people against each other… There are quarrels between them every now and then. The Olympian gods are almost tangible inhabitants of the Earth for the Hellenes, only more powerful and beyond the control of death.

Not only do the gods keep their word to people, but people also keep their word to the gods. Well, of course, if advice and orders are flying from Olympus to the low – lying earth, requests and pleas are flying back. Achilles begs Thetis to intercede for him and put in a word to Zeus to punish Agamemnon:

«Mother! when you are strong, stand up for your brave son!

Now ascend to Olympus and pray to the almighty Zeus…»

However, people sometimes tell the gods exactly how to act in order to satisfy their humble human pleas. Actually, none other than Achilles tells Zeus, through the medium of Thetis, how to punish Agamemnon for his, Achilles, disgraced honor – to involve him in a war with the Trojans:

«Remind Zeus of that and pray, hugging his knees,

May he, the father, desire to fight for the Pergamians in battles,

But the Argives, pushing down to the very ships and to the sea,

To strike death, and the Argives will enjoy their king;

This king himself is a powerful, arrogant Atreides, let him know,

How criminal he is, the bravest Achaean is so dishonored.»