ホメロスの世界観 : 『イリアス』におけるアテネとアポロンの対立を巡って

Homer’s world in the Iliad encompasses not only the sky, the earth and the sea which are visible to the human eye, as narrated in the scenes on the shield of Achilles (18.483-608), but also the underworld, as can be gathered from the tale of the division of the world told by Poseidon (15.189-193). This essay attempts to map the structure of this universe by tracking the movements of the gods rather than those of human beings who are earth-bound. Most of the gods, led by Zeus and Hera, have either made Olympus (heaven) their home or at least visit there, and also visit the earth and seaside where humans live. Poseidon and Thetis, the gods of the sea, also move freely between the sea, the land, and Olympus. On the other hand, while most gods never visit the underworld (except Hades who lives there), Thetis went to the underworld to help Zeus in the past, lived on earth with Peleus for a while and now, during the Trojan War, moves between the sea, the seaside and Olympus to help his son Achilles. By doing so Thetis influences the course of events in the poem. Zeus, the ruler among the gods, stays in heaven and influences the events of the whole world from Olympus or Ida. He rules the world not only by his own power, but also through other gods as his agents, especially Athena and Apollo. As Athena is responsible for supporting the Achaeans, especially Achilles, and Apollo for supporting the Trojans, especially Hector, rivalry often arises between the two and there is a distinct difference in their locations and movements. Athena is based at Olympus and descends to the earth to help the Achaeans, while Apollo often uses Pergamos in the city of Troy as his base and goes to help the Trojans from there. However, in Books 1 and 24, we also get a glimpse of Apollo living on Olympus with other gods and entertaining them with his music. Both Athena and Apollo are authorised to use the aegis, a symbol of Zeus’ authority, to honour their protégés, Achilles and Hector respectively. Athena and Apollo do not directly confront each other, but only indirectly through the heroes whom they support. Moreover, Apollo defends Troy only to prevent it from falling ‘beyond fate’, rather than trying to change its fate itself. Apollo can be seen to be working with Athena to achieve the same goal, to ensure that Troy will fall at the right time. Athena and Apollo are like two sides of Zeus’ plan or his right and left arms, to guide events to their predetermined conclusions.