"The Iliad" by Homer tells the story of the complex Trojan War. Homer introduces many characters and key figures but the two most prevalent are the warrior Achilles and the statesman Odysseus. These two emerge as Hero's in the Iliad and their adventure is well documented. Achilles and Odysseus have many similarities and many differences as shown through their actions in this story. These two men have qualities such as courage and endurance that make them similar to each other as well as morals and values that set them apart from one another.
             Achilles and Odysseus are both members of the Achaean army. Their roles in the war are similar as soldiers but dissimilar as characters. Both men fight the Trojans for the sake of Agamemnon and Greece but their motives for fighting are very different. Odysseus fights for fortune and adventure and seeks nothing more than the spoils of his battles. Achilles on the other hand fights to become a great warrior that will be remembered for all time. This is not to say that neither Odysseus nor Achilles wished to be wealthy or remembered as a great hero, I mean to state that the most important reasons for these two men to the battle were focused on two different areas.
             Both Achilles and Odysseus had many triumphs in the Trojan War, Achilles took twelve cities and Odysseus' battle with the suitor was an important part of "The Iliad." Despite their many successes in the Trojan War, the two warriors were equally reluctant to fight such a battle. Much like Achilles, Odysseus knew of his fate following the war. Odysseus learned from an oracle that his trip home from the Trojan War would last twenty years, and Achilles knew that this battle would bring him great fame and he would be remembered for all time, but he would also die very young soon after the battle. Achilles' and Odysseus' similarity in their knowledge of their future led to them similarly not wishing to fight in the war. Both men tried to d...