During Greek times, supplication played a big part in their culture.

Supplication is when
you offer gifts in exchange for a favor. In the book The Iliad by Homer, he discusses the events
that take place during the Trojan War. Throughout the poem, you witness many different scenes
where the rite of supplicated sparks off many change of events. Achilleus is a very powerful man
who believed that the rite of supplication could either build or destroy his honor.
Achilleus is one of the greatest Greek heroes to fight in the Trojan War. After both him
and leader of their army Agamemnon takes Chryseis and Briseis, daughters of Chryses things
gets messy. Chryses, in exchange for his daughter Chryseis from Agamemnon offered him a
ransom. Not that way, good fighter through you be, godlike Achilleus strive to cheat, for you
will not deceive, you will not persuade me. What do you want? To keep your own prize and have
me sit here lacking one?... But here is my threat to you. Even as Phoibos Apollo is taking away
Chryseis. I shall covey her back in my own ship, with my own followers; but I shall take the faircheeked Briseis (Homer 78-80). Agamemnon, not only taking the ransom but also Briseis,
Achilleus prize destroyed his honor. Now the son of Atreus, powerful Agamemnon has
dishonored me, since he has taken away my prize and keep it (Homer 84). The supplication
offer increased Agamemnon honor but his greed to take Briseis caused Achilleus honor to drop.
Now feeling like he needs to prove himself as an honorable warrior Achilleus looks for help.
With no other choice, Achilleus finds himself at his mothers foot begging her for help.
Filled with anger and disappointment, he asks his mother to help him do the unthinkable. Sit

beside him and take his knees and remind him of these things now, if perhaps he might be
willing to help the Trojans and pin the Achaians back against the ships and the water, dying, so
that thus they may all have profit of their own king, that Atreus son wide-ruling Agamemnon
may recognize his madness, that he did no honor to the best of the Achaians (Homer 86).
Achileus knows that without him fighting in the war that they do not stand a chance. Achilleus is
so driven by anger and fixated on being an honorable warrior that hes willing to supplicate the
gods in his favor. Hes willing to change the fate of the war in order justify himself. This shows
that Achilleus is someone who acts on his emotions and would do anything in order to prove
himself and remain in honor.
After being supplicated by Agamemnon to rejoin the war but turning it down things
become even more hectic for Achilleus. In order to save the ships, he sends his friend Patroclus
into the battle field. Unfortunately after hearing about the death of his friend, Achilleus finds
himself back out into the field for revenge. After killing Hector and dragging his body all the
way back to his tent; days later Achilleus finds himself being supplicated by Priam in exchange
for his sons body. No longer stir me up, old sir. I myself am minded to give Hektor back to
you I might not let you alone in my shelter suppliant as you are; and be guilty before the gods
orders (Homer 512). Although Achilleus feelings strongly about what Hektor has done to his
friend, he made sure to obey the command of the gods and give his body back.
Through these many scenes of supplication, you would see that Achilleus reacts based on
his emotions. Being an immortal child put a lot of pressure on him to stay respected and

honorable. Whenever he feels disrespected he has to prove a point that he is still the greatest
warrior or that they will not succeed without his help. However, even though his many rages
Achilleus stills respect and obey the word of the gods. He makes sure not to disrespect them even
though his emotions are telling him to be revengeful and do what it takes to keep his honor.