The Iliad is a timeless epic that has persisted throughout the many changes undergone by the world, surviving history to continue to be as relevant as any other modern story. The Iliad also presents a vivid picture of the differences in culture within the Bronze Age society and the present day society. Homer displays the vibrancy of everyday life during the Bronze Age beautifully, presenting the customs as accurately as he saw and lived them. He describes in detail the arming of the hero, the battle between heroes, and the burial of the hero.
The arming of the hero is a perfect example of the customs in the war culture that Homer wrote about. Athena arms herself to face Apollo and join the Achaeans in battle, starting first with Zeus' war tunic.
"...assuming the war tunic of Zeus who gathers
the clouds, she armed in her gear for the dismal fighting.
And across her shoulders she threw the betasselled, terrible
aegis, all about which Terror hangs like a garland,
and Hatred is there, and Battle Strength, and heart-freezing Onslaught
and thereon is set the head of the grim gigantic Gorgon,
a thing of fear and horror, portent of Zeus of the aegis.
Upon her head she set the golden helm with its four sheets
and two horns, wrought with the fighting men of a hundred cities." (V:736-744)
Homer presents the traditions of war in a thorough description of Athena and her armor, sighting step by step the ways in which she gets ready to do battle. He also depicts the armor itself, explaining the way fear and loathing clung to it as well as the beautiful, terrifying designs fashioned upon it. Another example of a hero preparing for battle is that of Hera dressing herself to seduce Zeus.
"...dressed in an ambrosial robe that Athene
had made carefully, smooth, and with many figures upon it,
and pinned it across her breast with a golden brooch, and circled
...