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Insight into the Greeks

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My assignment:

Cahill spends considerable time discussing two scenes from the Iliad: Hector and Andromache on the walls of Troy and the ransoming of the body of Hector. What do these two scenes have in common? What insight do they provide into the value system of the Greeks and of Western civilization?
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Would you give me good ideas/points to use?

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The solution is a 1,400-word narrative that discusses the points raised by the Historian/writer Thomas Cahill in his 2003 book 'Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter', particularly a comparative discussion of 2 particular scenes from the Iliad Hector and Andromache on the walls of Troy and the ransoming of the body of Hector. What they have in common and the insight they provide into the Greek civilization is explored in this particular narrative. References are listed for further studies on the topic.

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Dear Student,
The solution below should get you started. You can also use the listed references if you like for further research. Good luck with your studies.

Sincerely,
OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
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Cahill on the Greeks

Cahill, via his 2003 book "Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter" introduces readers to a selection of Western Classics including the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Iliad and the Odyssey are epic poems attributed to the authorship of Homer and retell the story of the siege and fall of Troy (also referred to as Ilium). The Iliad, the first part of the epic series tells the decade-long siege-story of Ilium by an alliance of Greek City states - their many heroes, warriors and legendary personalities. It describes the context of the war, the sides fighting (The Greeks and the Trojans, the former under King Priam and his son Hector) and the infighting between the Greeks and their leaders, primarily Menelaus, Agamemnon and the demi-warrior Achilles of the Myrmidons (see full retelling at http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=church&book=iliad&story=ransoming). Now, Cahill it can be said focused on the following scenes - Hector and his wife Andromache saying farewell on the walls of Troy and the ransoming of the body of Hector by his father King Priam after Achilles slew him. Why is this so? It is important to note that reading Iliad introduces the reader to the way the Greeks viewed the world, the values that is important to them, the virtues that is essential in their society and the cultural practices that define who they are as a people, as a culture and as individuals.

Andromache, Hector's wife is seen as the epitome of a loving wife and mother, ever supportive. While she is not Trojan, she embraced all of her husband's practices and her practicalities towards family are overshadowed by her devotion to her husband. Hector, eldest of King Priam is also Troy's prime warrior leading their army. The war was set into motion when Paris, his brother, takes Helen, then considered the most ...

Solution provided by:
Xenia Rochelle Jones, MA, PhD (IP)
Education
  • MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
  • BA, University of the Philippines
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