Gods play an integral role in Homeric society. They are very active in the lives of humans, both in wartime and peacetime. People depend on the gods to help them fight wars, protect their loved ones, and just improve their everyday lives. Since they do play such a large role in the lives of humans, people often blame or credit gods for things they had no involvement in. This can lead to complicated dealings between gods and humans. The best way for humans to get what they want from the gods is to respect them, and then show this respect. The gods are much more obliging to the people that honor them greatly than those that do not.
             In their dealings with the gods, people have to remember that honoring them is not the same as not insulting or being impertinent to them. Just because they have not disrespected the gods is no assurance of help or noninterference by the gods. For example, when the Achaians erect a wall around their boats, they do not make anygrand sacrifice? to the gods (Iliad 7.433-464). The gods then take this as an insult and make sure the wall does not last very long. It is enough to upset the gods just by not paying them the homage they think they deserve. This can cause a very volatile situation where the gods are likely to let you know they have not been honored enough for their liking.
             Honoring the gods is an excellent way to get them to aid you in your labors. Then how does one honor the gods? The Iliad gives us many examples of humans honoring the gods. The most often used method is prayer. People are often praying to the gods to show their admiration and ask for help. One of the first examples we see is Chryses praying to Apollo (Iliad 1.35-42). Chryses prays over and over again to the god Apollo asking for help with the return of his daughter. Chryses reminds Apollo of all the ways he has paid tribute to him over the years. Chryses built a temple to Apollo where he is the priest. He...