The Justification and Glorification of War in The Iliad

The backdrop and crux of action in The Iliad is war. In a sense, it seems as if Homer is glorifying war in “The Iliad” by focusing so much on it and by elevating certain fighters as heroes while minimizing losses and tragedies. Even the gods are not equal to one another in this time of war. While some gods are praised for their valor, others are criticized for their passivity and pacific preferences. By examining the attitudes toward war in The Iliad, the writer makes a case for situations in which war might be justified according to Homer.