The Perils of Martial Honor

The iliad is generally considered to be the first great work of western literature. Agamemnon and achilles were also well aware that it would only take an unfortunate turn in battle or perhps a shipwreck for either of them to wind up as a slave. Odysseus barely escapes being enslaved on several occasions in the odyssey. A warrior's honor is his willingness to play a game on which he stakes everything. His grandeur is directly proportional to how far he can fall.