A Sense of Humanity

A Sense of Humanity

Despite the constant battle between ancient Greece and Troy, Homer,  in his The Iliad, exceptionally surprises the readers by his insight of humanity.

In the excerpt from The Iliad there is a reference to the understanding when Troy’s King Priam brings ransom to Achilles for the return of Hector’s body. Priam pleas to Achilles: “O Achilles, fear God, and pity me, remembering your own father – but I am even more to be pitied…” (Rouse, 291) Priam touches Achilles’ heart from the four perspectives. First, he implies to Achilles that he offends God by dragging an unburied corpse behind a chariot. Second, King Priam begs him to show mercy to an old man who lives miserably with nobody to protect. Third, Priam reminds Achilles that his own father could face the same situation. Fourth, the King desperately adds that he breaks a taboo by kissing Achilles’ hands – which killed his own son. The third plead touches Achilles the most because he knows he is predestined to die in Troy; as such, his father will not see him back home. Priam successfully awakens Achilles’ sympathy and establishes the connection of the common bonds of humanity. Together, the two enemies start to mourn themselves.

This excerpt displays the understanding of humanity of forgiveness and humility from opposing sides. The Iliad is especially touching and moving from its spiritual exploration of the human kind.