The Iliad Thoughts IV - Hera and Apollo
Jul. 22nd, 2020 05:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sparklightThis is less serious overall, but a thought about Hera attempting to shame Apollo in the Iliad for trying to kill Achilles. Like, it's a little funny, but also rather exasperating that the narrative has him apparently affected at least a little, instead of silently rebuffing her.
I mean, Achilles has by this point killed two of Apollo's sons - Tenes was an adult of some flavour and probably at least partially armed, if not entirely expecting to having to fight at the moment that he did, but Troilus was anywhere from like 11-15 maybe and was unarmed, murdered in... Apollo's temple in Thymbra. Achilles has committed sacrilege, killing this boy [at Athena's command, but she didn't tell him to do it inside the temple], and this boy is further Apollo's son. On top of that, he's clearly fond of Troy, and is on Troy's side.
Hera's line of reasoning is that Apollo was there with the rest of them at Thetis' wedding, and now he's trying to kill her son, how can he countenance himself?
And I'm just wondering... why should Apollo care? Why should Achilles get special dispensation just because they were there at his mother's wedding? Achilles isn't actually special - he's one son of a deity among others, several who has already or will die in this war (Ares loses two, a son and a daughter, Zeus loses one, Apollo has lost two). Apollo should somehow feel ashamed of attempting to murder the fuck out of Achilles - why? Just because Thetis was Hera's foster daughter and Hera is fond of her [and is on the Achaeans' side and Achilles is one of their best fighters]?
Like... why does Hera expect Apollo to care, as if it's something to feel ashamed or guilty over, considering what Achilles has done, in general against the faction Apollo is backing, and against him personally? I'm pretty sure they don't have a very good relationship either, considering, so any possible expectation that Apollo should offer Thetis and her offspring extra regard because of Thetis' connection to Hera is just as baffling.
I mean, Achilles has by this point killed two of Apollo's sons - Tenes was an adult of some flavour and probably at least partially armed, if not entirely expecting to having to fight at the moment that he did, but Troilus was anywhere from like 11-15 maybe and was unarmed, murdered in... Apollo's temple in Thymbra. Achilles has committed sacrilege, killing this boy [at Athena's command, but she didn't tell him to do it inside the temple], and this boy is further Apollo's son. On top of that, he's clearly fond of Troy, and is on Troy's side.
Hera's line of reasoning is that Apollo was there with the rest of them at Thetis' wedding, and now he's trying to kill her son, how can he countenance himself?
And I'm just wondering... why should Apollo care? Why should Achilles get special dispensation just because they were there at his mother's wedding? Achilles isn't actually special - he's one son of a deity among others, several who has already or will die in this war (Ares loses two, a son and a daughter, Zeus loses one, Apollo has lost two). Apollo should somehow feel ashamed of attempting to murder the fuck out of Achilles - why? Just because Thetis was Hera's foster daughter and Hera is fond of her [and is on the Achaeans' side and Achilles is one of their best fighters]?
Like... why does Hera expect Apollo to care, as if it's something to feel ashamed or guilty over, considering what Achilles has done, in general against the faction Apollo is backing, and against him personally? I'm pretty sure they don't have a very good relationship either, considering, so any possible expectation that Apollo should offer Thetis and her offspring extra regard because of Thetis' connection to Hera is just as baffling.
