The poem "Iliad", told by Homer of an Ancient Greek war is a story within a story. There are many lessons to be learned deep within the artificially entertaining poem. Although it may seem as an ordinary story of pride and senseless death, Iliad gives its readers or listeners an intense look at Greek culture and lifestyle of the early centuries. A life style based on gaining power and respect, or as they liked to refer to it "Time". Iliad also gives a look into the relationship the early Greeks had with the mythical "Gods" we are all familiar with through the world famous Greek myths.
             The story of Iliad has a basic plot of a long lasting war getting the best of the soldiers that have fighting it for many years. In the begging of the story, the war had already been going on for nine years between the Achaeans and Trojans. Agamemnon, who is the chief commander of the Achaean army, takes as a war prize the daughter of a high priest of the Trojans and Achilles, the best soldier of the Achaean army takes another girl for himself. We then see the first interference of a God, Apollo, who the high priest serves. Apollo sends a plague upon the camp of the Achaeans and demands the return of the girl that Agamemnon took. Agamemnon agrees, but in turn demands that Achilles, who is of lower rank give up his prize.
             Ancient Greek societies were very strongly based on physical possessions as signs of rank and respectability. The idea of Time revolved around a very basic formula. A person, usually a soldier would have to risk something in order to possible gain more possessions, as in battle. When two soldiers would fight, each one risked his life and his armor, the winner of the battle would take the armor as a sign of victory and therefore would gain time and move up in the eyes of other soldiers.
             Agamemnon's demand for Achilles to hand over his war prize caused a great embarrassment to Achilles and almos...