Homeric Insults in Context: Language and Society in the >Iliad< and the >Odyssey<

Why does Helen call herself “chilling,” “horrid,” and “dog-faced,” in situations where no one is blaming her? Why does Agamemnon accuse Odysseus of greed and enjoyment of wine without an apparent reason? Why do warriors in the Iliad exchange long lines of reciprocal accusations before fighting, instead of concentrating on the battle? Why is Paris called “archer” as an insult, while other characters of the Iliad are praised for their prowess with the bow? These long-standing issues can be so...