Kleos In Greek Mythology

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Throughout Greek history and mythology, the greatest heroes have been driven by the desire to gain heroic glory. For them, kleos served as a fundamental indicator of their personal value. A warrior’s worth was defined by how they were viewed and discussed by their peers. Personal glory was more important than life itself. Warriors would rather die young with renown than live a long life of little consequence. However, once they reached the underworld, many found their struggle for kleos by way of personal gain never earned them what they desired. True glory goes beyond an individual’s accomplishments and lives on after their death through their posterity as demonstrated by Agamemnon and Achilles who, upon being visited by Odysseus in the underworld, inquire after the …show more content…

Both men appear distraught and heartbroken. Although Agamemnon sails home a hero after the war, he returned home only to die disgracefully at the hands of his scheming wife who even “lacked the heart to seal my(Agamemnon’s) eyes with her hand or close my(Agamemnon’s) jaw”(Od.11.482-3). Achilles, on the other hand, never sailed home but instead dies a noble death on the battlefield. In Odysseus’s eyes “there’s no man in the world more blest than you (Achilles)”(Od.11.548). Agamemnon died a disgrace and Achilles died a hero, yet both desire the same information in the afterlife. While on earth they fought and strove to die a noble death for themselves when in reality the only fulfilling glory was the knowledge that they left a legacy behind. When given the chance, both men ask about their sons. Agamemnon requests information from Odysseus saying “Come, tell me this and be precise. Have you heard news of my son?”(Od.11.519-20). Unfortunately for Agamemnon, Odysseus was unable to give him any information concerning his son and leaves him grief stricken and heartsick. Achilles was more fortunate when he

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