Discuss the presentation of gods and goddesses in Book 5. Use the source below as a
starting point. You must include quotations from the text.
[8]
As they spoke, Diomedes of the loud war-cry flung himself at Aeneas once more,
whom he well knew Apollo protected, caring nothing for that great god, and
eager to kill Aeneas and strip him of his shining armour. Three times he leapt at
him threateningly three times Apollo beat away his gleaming shield. But when
like a demon he rushed at him a fourth time, far-striking Apollo gave a terrible
cry: ‘Take thought, son of Tydeus, and give way! Don’t think yourself equal to
the gods: the immortals are of a different race than those who walk the earth.’
Iliad 5.431-40
TOP TIP: Read pgs.409-10 in the OCR book for some excellent commentary.
The Gods seem to be presented as very immature and when they do not get what they want they
get overly upset and cannot accept it. On the flip side I think the fact that the gods go after what
they want, and this shows how determination. This is seen in the passage when Apollo ‘leapt at him
threateningly three times’ and this is clearly to try and stop Diomedes and then eventually Aphrodite
does save him. Additionally, the repetition of the three times is called an Anaphora which really
shows off how Athena has supported him because he can now fight a god. The ulterior motive for
Aeneas really comes to light here because we know how important Aeneas is for Rome. This
contrasts to Zeus whose futility may have caused all the arguments and if he took control of the
petty problems less people would have died. Throughout the Iliad we also see hints of love and
compassion from the gods especially when Dione comforts Aphrodite after Diomedes wounds her.
Dione even tells her stories to make her feel less alone and that she is not the only god that has
‘suffered at the hands of men’ the two other gods are Hades and Ares. The gods are presented as
characters with many different sides and theses change all the time but the one thing that is
constant is that their actions do not benefit mortals as much as they benefit their interests.
During book 5 the gods are greatly powerful in terms of the ramifications of war distinctly for the
families because they exploit their power for their advantage and interests for protecting their
favoured individuals. It seems they are controllers of fate or at least helping fate come to pass
because Aphrodite could have saved Pandarus but only chose to save Aeneas. I think that the Gods
are powerful controllers of fate because Aphrodite could not have been fully committed to the
Trojan side because she would have saved Pandarus and would done a lot more for them. Athena
uses her power to get back at Aphrodite after she has to intervene in battle and Athena makes a joke
out of this, ‘while fondling this girl and her golden brooch, scratched her own delicate hand’. This
really shows how petty the gods are that they are even making jokes out of their actions when they
have serious consequences for the mortals. Even when Apollo makes the comment, ‘Don’t think
yourself equal to the gods’ shows how the war isn’t about Greeks and Trojans but about the disputes
between the gods themselves and it’s on another level and this threat here is Apollo clarifying the
sheer power of the gods.
The gods have many anthropomorphic qualities that causes huge issues throughout the books. After
the beauty contest Athena and Hera are enraged because they lost so they help the Greeks because
Paris is on the Trojan’s side. Athena creates huge amounts of disparity between Diomedes and
everyone else and forces Aeneas and Pandarus to become a foil to Diomedes during his Aristeia
because she has, ‘filled your arteries with your father’s strength,’ and gave Diomedes vision that
allows him to see divine intervention. This means that Diomedes can essentially do what he wants
unless the gods intervene and that is exactly what happens. Athena knew that giving this power to
starting point. You must include quotations from the text.
[8]
As they spoke, Diomedes of the loud war-cry flung himself at Aeneas once more,
whom he well knew Apollo protected, caring nothing for that great god, and
eager to kill Aeneas and strip him of his shining armour. Three times he leapt at
him threateningly three times Apollo beat away his gleaming shield. But when
like a demon he rushed at him a fourth time, far-striking Apollo gave a terrible
cry: ‘Take thought, son of Tydeus, and give way! Don’t think yourself equal to
the gods: the immortals are of a different race than those who walk the earth.’
Iliad 5.431-40
TOP TIP: Read pgs.409-10 in the OCR book for some excellent commentary.
The Gods seem to be presented as very immature and when they do not get what they want they
get overly upset and cannot accept it. On the flip side I think the fact that the gods go after what
they want, and this shows how determination. This is seen in the passage when Apollo ‘leapt at him
threateningly three times’ and this is clearly to try and stop Diomedes and then eventually Aphrodite
does save him. Additionally, the repetition of the three times is called an Anaphora which really
shows off how Athena has supported him because he can now fight a god. The ulterior motive for
Aeneas really comes to light here because we know how important Aeneas is for Rome. This
contrasts to Zeus whose futility may have caused all the arguments and if he took control of the
petty problems less people would have died. Throughout the Iliad we also see hints of love and
compassion from the gods especially when Dione comforts Aphrodite after Diomedes wounds her.
Dione even tells her stories to make her feel less alone and that she is not the only god that has
‘suffered at the hands of men’ the two other gods are Hades and Ares. The gods are presented as
characters with many different sides and theses change all the time but the one thing that is
constant is that their actions do not benefit mortals as much as they benefit their interests.
During book 5 the gods are greatly powerful in terms of the ramifications of war distinctly for the
families because they exploit their power for their advantage and interests for protecting their
favoured individuals. It seems they are controllers of fate or at least helping fate come to pass
because Aphrodite could have saved Pandarus but only chose to save Aeneas. I think that the Gods
are powerful controllers of fate because Aphrodite could not have been fully committed to the
Trojan side because she would have saved Pandarus and would done a lot more for them. Athena
uses her power to get back at Aphrodite after she has to intervene in battle and Athena makes a joke
out of this, ‘while fondling this girl and her golden brooch, scratched her own delicate hand’. This
really shows how petty the gods are that they are even making jokes out of their actions when they
have serious consequences for the mortals. Even when Apollo makes the comment, ‘Don’t think
yourself equal to the gods’ shows how the war isn’t about Greeks and Trojans but about the disputes
between the gods themselves and it’s on another level and this threat here is Apollo clarifying the
sheer power of the gods.
The gods have many anthropomorphic qualities that causes huge issues throughout the books. After
the beauty contest Athena and Hera are enraged because they lost so they help the Greeks because
Paris is on the Trojan’s side. Athena creates huge amounts of disparity between Diomedes and
everyone else and forces Aeneas and Pandarus to become a foil to Diomedes during his Aristeia
because she has, ‘filled your arteries with your father’s strength,’ and gave Diomedes vision that
allows him to see divine intervention. This means that Diomedes can essentially do what he wants
unless the gods intervene and that is exactly what happens. Athena knew that giving this power to
