... up Mezentius' armour as an offering and spoils in the form of armour stripped from dead warriors are bolted to temple doors. If the man-made instruments of war are worthy of the deities, then it could be argued that warfare itself is an honourable occupation. It also appears that the death of the enemy is the true prize of the aristoi, a prize which even the goddess Venus looks forward to, "Tomorrow's light ... and riches through conquest. War was synonymous with greatness; without martial prowess, a leader was seen as weak and incapable of protecting his people or expanding his land. Y...

• Word Count: 2231
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate