Aeschylus’ Agamemnon portrays a different picture of Zeus than Homer’s The Iliad. To begin with the reader is not exposed to direct dialogue between Zeus and the other gods or mortal characters; therefore, he is less human-like. The chorus of Agamemnon, unaware at this time of the murderous plot of Clytaemnestra, believe that Zeus is championing the cause of their king, Agamemnon: “Ten years gone, ten to the day/our great avenger went for Priam--/Menelaus and lord Agamemnon,/two kings with the power of Zeus,” (ll. 45-48) They are also under the assumption that Zeus is supportive of Agamemnon because of the inciting incident of the Trojan War to begin with: “So towering Zeus the god of guests/drives Atreus’ sons at Paris,/all for a woma

Zeus, Zeus, master of all fulfillment, now fulfill our prayers—

The portrayal of Zeus in Homer’s The Iliad, while very powerful and god-like, is much more personal. Homer’s Zeus is capable of being persuaded by the goddess Thetis to help the Trojan’s—even though he knows this will anger his wife Hera, who is both jealous of Thetis and supportive of the Acheans. He is later seduced by Hera at Mt. Ida, where he regales Hera’s beauty above all of the rest of his lovers. It is difficult to imagine the god referred to in Agamemnon as being susceptible to such manipulation. As for The Iliad one can only guess that, as far as Zeus is concerned, maintaining neutrality and not wanting to change fate is not nearly as interesting as subtly playing for both teams.

once, twice, and at each stroke he cries in agony—

Some topics in this essay:
Thyestes Atreus, Zeus Zeus, Homer’s Iliad, Mt Ida, Helen Menelaus’, Justice/Done Done”, Trojan War, Zeus Supreme, Clytaemnestra Zeus, Homer’s Zeus, third blow, homer’s iliad, zeus homer’s iliad, house atreus, zeus zeus, zeus” ll, aeschylus’ agamemnon, zeus god, zeus gods, sacrifice daughter, zeus homer’s,