The Iliad Quotes

“Like the dying Roland Akhilleus has his vision (and ours) widened as he makes peace with his soul. At first Roland cannot bear the thought that his sword will fall into another's hands - as in the Iliad the loss of weapons is the ultimate disgrace. Then he reflects that he holds the sword not for his own glory but for that of Charlemagne, finally that the sword, whose pommel contains holy relics, is a symbol of his faith. So Roland dies not cursing his conquerors in heroic style but as a Christian confessing his sins to God. That is the sort of vision an epic poet should have. With Priam kneeling before him Akhilleus too realizes that heroism is not enough. The conclusion of his dictum [A man dies still if he has done nothing, as one who has done much] (9-320) is not that he should do more killing but that he should recognize that all men suffer the same troubles and the same end - that is, that he should shed tears for the nature of things. Accordingly he bows to the will of Zeus, who offers him a new honour (24.110) which victors and defeated can both share.”
― Geoffrey S. Kirk, The Iliad: A Commentary, Volume 3: Books 9-12

“Stripped to its essence the creed of heroism is that the fame of great deeds defeats death. Loss of life is compensated by honour received and fame to come.”
― Geoffrey S. Kirk, The Iliad: A Commentary, Volume 3: Books 9-12