Homer's "Iliad" is typically focused on its male characters: Achilles, primarily, but also Hector and Agamemnon. Even so, it seems that the most important characters in the epic are female. Athena and Hera are among the most powerful forces in the book. Ares, the god of war, must surrender to Athena on two occasions. Athena and Hera are more than just assertive and forceful. They are sly, quick-witted, and sharp-tongued. Using her womanly resources and a bit of deception, Hera manipulates her husband Zeus in many instances in the book.
Since mainly all of the most important characters in t…
