I use the discussion question about the nature of conflicts between characters in the Iliad as a frame for this blog post. I chose not to answer the entire question as it is asked by Professor Miller, instead, I pay attention to a single conflict, which reveals interesting facts about the gods’ behavior. The passage I focus on is on page 243, from line 549 to 559 (Book I). At this point, Thetis asks Zeus, who owes her a favor, to help her son Achilles.

Zeus is the god of the sky and the ruler of Olympian Gods. In other words, there is none above him in the hierarchy. With this status, we can expect him to be above any conflict of interests which would prevent him from making perfectly sound decision. Nevertheless, he really hesitates to meet Thetis’ request because it would cause a conflict with his wife, Hera. “You’re going to force me in a conflict with Hera.” (Book I 549-550). This is a very human type of reaction, and the reader does not expect such a reaction from the chief of Gods. Instead, we could expect Zeus to hesitate because it would be fairer to let fate decide. In this case, it would picture him as a wise god, who tries to make his job correctly. But even though gods are pictured as wiser than mortals, the situation in which he put himself is clearly at the level of a regular human being.

In the second part of this passage, Zeus begs Thetis to leave before Hera notices her  presence. “Please go back the way you came. Maybe Hera won’t notice you came.” (Book I 553-554). This suggests that he plans to hide what happened between Thetis and him from Hera. Again, it seems to be a foolish decision that a wise god would not make. In addition, gods are usually pictured as example for mortals, thus, it is surprising to see Zeus planning on lying to his wife.

Because of his foolish decisions, Zeus is facing a dilemma where he has the choice between; ignoring the favor he owes Thetis and stay out of trouble with Hera; and honoring his contract with Thetis but lying to his wife and entering in a conflict with her. The fact that Zeus put himself in such a situation is interesting because it reveals that treason, lies, and conflict of interests are not only specific to mortals, but also common among divinities.

• Compare and contrast the Homeric gods, as they are depicted in the Iliad, with the Biblical God and the gods in Gilgamesh.
• Discuss the nature of conflict as it occurs between men and men, gods and men, and gods and gods. How do the sources of their conflict differ? How do they resolve conflict?
• We know from the opening lines that Iliad is going to be largely about μῆνιν Ἀχιλῆος––“the rage of Achilles.” What are the sources of his rage and how is it characterized in the epic? Can you predict how Achilles’s rage will effect the outcome of the war?
• What is the purpose of the episode in Book VI between Glaucus and Diomedes? What do we learn not only about the ethics of war, but also about the function of epic narrative from this scene?
• Although the Trojan War is prosecuted by men, it has particular and wide-ranging effects on the women of Troy and the surrounding area. Describe women’s role as both agents and casualties of war.
• Stanley Lombardo’s popular translation renders the dialogue in a refreshingly colloquial manner. Find some examples and describe how his translation choices effect characterization.

• How would you characterize Ishtar? What does she want from Gilgamesh and what tactics does she use to get what she wants?
• What is the purpose of Enkidu’s string of curses in Tablet VII? Why, especially, does he curse Shamhat? For what does he blame her? (VII. 58-86 [pp129-30])
• Is Enkidu’s death ordained by the gods? Why him and not Gilgamesh?
• How, specifically, does Enkidu’s death affect Gilgamesh? What are the physical and emotional markers of Gilgamesh’s grief for the death of his companion?
• In what ways are water and bodies of water significant in the narrative? What do they symbolize? Give specific examples.
• As always, come up with 1 or 2 questions of your own, or passages you’d like to read aloud and discuss.

• How does the Prologue characterize Gilgamesh as a king and as a man? What features does the text emphasize?
• In what ways does the harlot Shamhat “civilize” Enkidu (beside the obvious)? What are the signs of his “civilization”? What do these changes say about the nature of “civilization in ancient Mesopotamia?
• What is the nature of the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu? How does each compliment the other?
• What about the women in the story: Ninsun, Shamhat, and the goddess Aruru? How do they move the narrative forward?
• Why do Gilgamesh and Enkidu pursue their first adventure? What do they hope to gain?
• As always, come up with one or two questions of your own, or passages you’d like to discuss.

Please take a moment to explore our course blog and make sure you can find and access resources you will need for the upcoming semester. Some recently added items are:

• discussion topics (on the home page)
• course syllabus
• readings for week 1 (for anyone who hasn’t yet purchased the Norton Anthology)
• detailed assignment sheets

If you missed the first day of class, or just added the class, make sure you print out the reading (if you don’t yet have the text book) and bring it to the next class. Check the syllabus and course schedule to see what pages are due and email me if you have any difficulty downloading the PDF files from the “Readings” page of the site.

You’ve all been designated authors on the site so feel free to add your own comments and input at any time. Check the site at least once per class period so you don’t miss any important announcements or information. I’ll be posting a schedule for your own blog posts on our readings by the end of the week, so stayed tuned!