Examples Of Masculinity In The Iliad

The Greek epics largely reflect the cultural values and norms that characterized the ancient civilization. These accounts reveal several essential aspects of society, such as religion, politics, social hierarchy, and gender roles that serve to explain the culture they are rooted in, as well as to establish a context in which to understand the events of the epic narrative. The Iliad follows this same general formula. Homer includes many symbols and anecdotes throughout The Iliad that serve to establish a sense of cultural awareness. Perhaps the most notable of which is Achilles himself; Homer’s depiction of the godlike soldier is largely revealing of what was considered to be the ideal image of man in Greek society. Furthermore, this characterization serves as a clear example of the hyper-masculinization of the Greek warrior, particularly as it is influenced by kleos.

Throughout The Iliad, Achilles is depicted as a fearless hero, possessing superhuman strength and speed. This characterization is evident in the epithets Homer assigns to Achilles: “the great runner,” and “strong, swift, and godlike,” reveal the desirability

of athleticism in Ancient Greek society, particularly when it involves men of war. In such a militaristic society, the expectancy of a particularly resilient and able-bodied soldier is not without good reason, and Achilles, as the mightiest man in the Achaean army, serves as the prototype for this image.
The warrior culture outlined in the Iliad is in many ways linked to the implications and requirements of masculinity in the society.

Guiding principles for battle are centered on generally masculine traits such as honor and courage. In fact, any man who is not willing to fight is seen as weak and not worthy of respect, as Diomedes told his army: “I know only cowards depart from battle. A real warrior stands his ground,” (11.432-435). Additionally, an obvious detail, but one that is important to note, is the fact that all of the warriors in The Iliad are men, and all of the women are portrayed as secondary characters that exist either to support or to enable the men as they go off to fight. Not only is the strong and fearless warrior-like image important in times of war, it is in fact the distinguishing factor between masculinity and

femininity.
Though he possesses many of the physical characteristics of a great hero, Achilles is ultimately marked with a tragic flaw which prevents him from achieving true heroism status- that is a desperate search for glory, or kleos (Greek translation meaning “glory” or “renown”). It is this drive for immortal fame that motivates Achilles throughout the epic, and unfortunately leads Achilles to abandon the Achaeans and allow for Patroclus’s death. In this instance, the principles of masculine warrior culture were taken to the extreme, and ironically led to the betrayal of those same traits. This tragedy demonstrates an interesting relationship between kleos and masculinity: the desire for eternal glory demands hyper-masculine traits (e.g. stubbornness, vengeance, pride), though, as in Achilles’s case, these very characteristics may ultimately lead to an individual’s demise if not balanced by integrity and reason.
It is important to note that, while many of the characteristics essential to the Greek warrior archetype are similar to a modern- day image of masculinity, this is not necessarily true of all traits. For example, when Agamemnon takes Briseis from Achilles, he withdraws from his friends, and goes to talk to his mother, “his voice, choked with tears,” (1.371)- not exactly the picture of a strong and unwavering warrior as defined by contemporary standards. In Greek culture, powerful gods and noble mortal warriors alike were allowed to show emotion and vulnerability without having to sacrifice their elevated status.
The Iliad paints a unique portrayal of Ancient Greek culture through the characterization of major warrior figures. Particularly through the depiction of the mighty warrior, Homer demonstrates the significance of masculinity and the particular societal rules and roles for men versus women.