The role of women in the Iliad is a topic that remains open to debate. The Iliad is set during and recounts the events of the Trojan War. For war, men belonged on the battlefield as warriors. Women, on the other hand, were in no way involved in war activities. While men fought bravely in war, women had to stay at home for years without seeing their loved ones. Homer portrayed female characters who lacked substance and were nothing more than property, while males were ideal in every sense of the word. Women were just accessories to men used for status. After all, males dominated in work, lifestyle and even love. Homer may have portrayed women as inferior characters just so the plot could unfold. But without women, would there be an Iliad epic to tell? With Chryses' capture by Agamemnon, subsequent events unfold in what becomes the Trojan War and the story of the Iliad. If you focus on mortals in the epic, women may seem to have little to offer, but the Iliad contains strong female characters if you include the gods. All the gods are all represented as powerful beings. Aphrodite, Athena and Hera, being female characters, do not lack power. Helen should also be noted; for she is the cause of the destruction of Troy. So to say that the women had little to no substance I would disagree, as they were crucial to the story. The Iliad is set in a "male-dominated world" during a war zone. Women are objectified and portrayed as nothing more than possessions of men. When Chryses was kidnapped she was considered a war prize for Agamemnon, who was willing to exchange her for Briseis, Achilles' war prize. Objectified women give them a more insignificant role. H... middle of paper... the Trojan War, when Agamemnon chose to help Menelaus but take her back. But although she was portrayed as a victim, she was a bold character who spoke her mind and no male stopped her. Helena has a direct relationship with the Trojan War, without her there was none? Women in this epic had many different roles, from dominant ones with power like the goddess of the story, to captive ones like damsels in distress as human beings, women were explained in many ways. The difference between the two sexes is very distinguishable, but despising females is out of the equation. Men have a dominant influence in the story by serving for their land by going to war and protecting the people. But it is women who are essential with their civilizing role of men who provide the plot of the story with their roles that unintentionally push men to act..