ealousy; and Helen’s beauty caused the war.Typically, Greek mythology, including Homer’s epics, note particular “characteristics” of femininity. Although there is very little said about the attractiveness of gods and heroic men, beauty seems to be noted among most myths pertaining to goddesses, women, and other feminine creatures. The Gorgons were noted for being outcasts because of their ugliness. Intelligence is another trait associated with women. Many goddesses devised schemes to help which ever mortal they favored. By handing Achilles the spear, Achilles knows that he is to kill Hector. Magical powers also seem to attributed to femininity in Greek myths. Circe and the Sirens were known for their magic found in The Odyssey were known for their magic.It can be inferred that this female superiority over men in The Iliad could have been a reflection of Homer’s thoughts. Since Homer was so appreciative of the female gender in his epics, perhaps he was a woman or a feminist. According to Robert Graves, author of The Greek Myths, today’s Greece began as a completely matriarchal society. This also could have had some sort of an influence on Homer’s thoughts.Men fought for beauty. Helen became the symbol of what really exists at the core of a man’s heart. Love came before power, riches, wisdom, or glory against the enemy. Whether or not Helen was the actual cause of the Trojan War will probably never be known. However, The Iliad and other mythical literature left by the Greeks shows the roles women played in everyday life. ...
