| The central question posed in this thesis is: what is the thematic connection between Achilleus' pity in Book 24 and his menis? The fundamental premise of this inquiry is the unity of the Iliad and the traditional oral style of the Homeric poems. The primary methodological basis of this study is what Janko has proposed for that of Homeric criticism in general: an Aristotelian-oral aesthetics of Homeric poetry.; As works of Burkert, Casadio and Hoekstra show, the concept of pity and its obverse, pitilessness, is embedded in early Greek epic tradition. In the Iliad, {dollar}kappaacuteetadeltaepsilonsigmathetaalphaiota{dollar}, as well as {dollar}epsilonlambdaepsilonepsiloniotanu{dollar}, {dollar}epsilonlambdaepsilonalphaacuteiotarhoepsiloniotanu{dollar} and {dollar}oiotakappatauacuteiotarhoepsiloniotanu{dollar}, denotes 'to pity'. An analysis of the formulaic usage and the contexts of these words shows that 'to pity' means not only to feel the emotion but, consistently, to take action: 'to avenge', 'to save', 'to heal' and 'to give burial'. 'To be pitiless' is not only to effect the opposite, that is 'to kill', 'to refuse to give burial', etc., but also to persist in inaction at a time of need.; The meaning of pity and pitilessness reflects the etymological connection between {dollar}kappaacuteetadeltaepsilonsigmathetaalphaiota{dollar} and {dollar}kappaacuteetadeltaepsiloniotanu{dollar}; for one pities, or is expected to pity, those on one's own side, one's {dollar}phiacuteiotalambda oiota{dollar}, while one is pitiless or is expected to be so toward one's enemy. The context of pity is regularly death and suffering: warriors killed, wounded or dying; and the {dollar}kappaacuteetadeltaepsilonalpha{dollar}, sufferings, of their {dollar}phiacuteiotalambda oiota{dollar}. Pity, in short, is circumscribed by {dollar}phiiotalambdaacute otauetavarsigma{dollar} and human mortality.; Through the theme of Achilleus' menis, the poem explores the hero's evolving conception of mortality and that of {dollar}phiiotalambdaacute otauetavarsigma{dollar}. Throughout the poem, the thematic developments of Achilleus' menis, his mortality, his {dollar}phiiotalambdaacute otauetavarsigma{dollar} and his pity parallel and imply each other. Achilleus' pity toward Priam as a fellow mortal, a {dollar}phiacuteiotalambda ovarsigma{dollar}, represents the ultimate resolution of the theme of Achilleus' menis in the Iliad. |
