Three most powerful goddesses portrayed in Homer's Iliad.

1. THREE MOST POWERFUL OLYMPIAN GODDESSES PORTRAYED
IN HOMER’S ILIAD
Shehneela Naz
Roll no- SN-163
4th year 7th semester
Department of English
University of Dhaka

2. OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Use of gods and goddesses
• The great war and background story
• Description
-Hera
-Aphrodite
-Athena
• Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION
• Portrays significant roles played by the gods and goddesses in
the war between Trojans and Spartans.
• It was believed that all their actions and works are pre-
destined by these gods and goddesses.
• Love, revengefulness, hatred,
jealousy and antagonism were
common amongst the immortals as well.

4. USE OF GODSANDGODDESSES
• To bring twist in the plot
• To introduce comedy into the
poem
• The absurdities of gods and
goddesses are counterpoint to the
seriousness of what happens in
the mortal sphere.
• Prophecy made by the gods and goddesses are Homer’s way to
reveal the structure of his poem.
• Use of supernatural elements (gods/goddesses/deities/ prophecies)
establishes the epic quality of the poem.

5. THE GREAT WAR AND BACKGROUNDSTORY
• Eris the goddess of discord
threw a golden apple for the most
Goddess.
• Hera, Aphrodite and Athene all
claimed the apple.
• Zeus appointed shepherd Paris to judge
• Hera, Athene and Aphrodite tried to bribe him with rich
kingdom and power, wisdom and military success and the love of
the most beautiful women in the world respectively.

6. • Paris chose Aphrodite over the two other goddess and
therefore was fated to have Helen.
• Paris was able to abduct
Helen in the absence of
Menelaus while being a
guest of the Spartans.
• Menelaus then called all
the suitors for the hand of
Helen.
• They all assisted including his brother Agamemnon.

7. HERA
• Wife and sister of Zeus
• Queen of goddesses
• Goddess of marriage and fertility
• Was in favor of the Achaeans.
• Sends Athene to calm Achilles
• Was angry with Ares for helping the
Trojans.
• Asked Poseidon to fight with
Achaeans
• Hera sent Iris with a secret message
to Achilles about the death of
Patroclus.

8. ATHENE
• Goddess of wisdom and art-craft
• Offspring of Zeus alone and sprang
from his head.
• Was in favor of
the Greek.
• Protector of
Odysseus.
• Tricks Trojan warrior Dandaros into
breaking the truce and to shoot an
arrow to Menelaus.

9. • Restrains Achilles from killing
Agamemnon in book-1.
• Hera and Athene caused
thunder to clash show their
approval and protection for
Agamemnon.
• Tried to warn Ares that
immortals interference in the
Trojan war has been
rusticated by Zeus.

10. APHRODITE
• Goddess of love and beauty
• Aphrodite was the daughter of
Zeus and Dione according to
Homer.
• Hesiod says Aphrodite arose
from the foam of the sea.
• Had romantic relationships
with both mortals and
immortals.
• Patroness of Paris and fought
on the side of Trojans.

11. • Saved Paris from Menelaus in
the dual. Surrounded him in a
mist and dropped him in his
bed chamber.
• Helps Hera with a love charm
so she can deceive Zeus.
• Weak in the battlefield
• Diomedes, attacked the
goddess, wounding her on the
wrist with his spear and
causing the ichor to flow.

12. CONCLUSION
Gods and goddesses are one of the most key factor to establish the
plot of Iliad.
Use of such supernatural machinery gave artistic cohesion to the
poem