Athena is the goddess of just war. In other words, she believes in fighting a war if there is a purpose behind it. Ares, Zeus’ and Hera’s obnoxious son, believes in war because he is a warrior and loves conflict. Discuss these two approaches to the concept of war. How is this distinction delineated in the Iliad? How is it delineated in wars that are fought today? Is any war justified? In the Iliad, Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior, sulks the whole time because Agamemnon took his prize girl away. What do you think of this behavior? Is it ironic that such a strapping Greek man would give up his warrior status based on the principle that someone took his prize away? Achilles’ choice is pivotal in the Odyssey. He knows before he leaves the war that he can choose to live a short life and die a hero, or not go to war and live a long and prosperous life. Discuss Achilles’ choice. Do you think that his decision not to fight for so long was a part of his choice to live a long life? Why does he feel so passionate about giving up that choice to avenge his friend Patroclus’ death? What would you choose? A central theme in the dynastic dramas is fate. Because one member in a family angered the gods, the following generations had to suffer the consequences. Discuss the concept of fate. Do you believe in it? Could those characters have done anything proactive to change their fate?