Homer, Illiad
...44). This is understandable, because his man’s pride had been touched. As a result of this conflict, Achilleus refused to fight against the Trojans. He prayed to his mother to ask Zeus for revenge upon his humiliation (I, 365-413). Achilleus let Agamemnon take Briseis for saving the Achaian’s army from the epidemic. He obeyed the will of the gods and demonstrated that the will of gods and interests of army are higher to him than his own will and desire. But, Trojans were winning and they set on fire one of the ships of Achaians. This is the result of the prayer of Thetis to Zeus for revenge for the humiliation of Achilleus. Because Achilleus was humiliated by Agamemnon and couldn’t fight, he sent Patroklos, his best friend, to prevent this attack (XVI, 80-90, 125-130). Patroklos took his armor (XVI, 131-145). From this episode, it’s clear Achilleus is a man of honor, because he sent his best friend to fight against the trojans instead himself. Achilleus cannot fight, because he was humiliated by Agamemnon and he doesn’t violate own promise to refuse to fight, even achaian’s army isn’t winning. We can see, he is responsible for his words, promises, and oaths in any event. It’s one of the features of men of honor. When Patroklos was killed by Hector (XVI, 820-830), Achilleus was very sad. The task to take revenge for his friend became for him the debt of honor. He couldn’t forgive Hector for the death of Patroklos and taking his armor. He decided to kill Hector, even if the amount due for this debt of honor could be his life. His mother, Thetis, went to Achilleus and told him about his fate (XVIII, 95-97). She told him that his death isn’t so far away Hector’s. But Achilleus asked Thetis to help him to kill Hector (XVIII, 125-127). As a result, she went to Hephaistos to ask him for help. He did new armor for Achilleus (XVIII, 395-410) and Achilleus got it (XVIII, 610-615). After that, he was ready to fight against the Trojans, because of big grief about the death of Patroklos he felt. Achilleus killed the Trojans like an eagle kills a chicken, and than Achaian’s army started to win again. To prevent the attack of the Achaian’s, Hector tried to kill Achilleus, but in vain. With the assistance of Athene, the goddess of wisdom he killed Hector (XXII, 215-220,260-273, 325-335). Achilleus clearly dem...