Women have filled many different roles in society throughout human history. Since the beginning of time, men have always been considered superior. A perfect example of the suppressive role of women is shown in Homer's Iliad. Women are treated as property and are used for the mere purpose of reproduction within the family. Crippled by their unfortunate circumstances, they were taken and given as if they were material possessions. In Homer's Iliad, women are seen and presented as rewards for male heroines and usually for the greatest fighters. They are described as inferior to men both physically and intellectually. Throughout the epic, women play an important role that symbolizes their relative significance and the impact they have on the different interactions that take place. The action and drama that overwhelm the Iliad belong to that of a male world. The interaction between man and woman in this epic is similar to that between a child and a toy. Females, being the playthings of poetry, are either praised and cared for, as a precious toy would be, or simply kept for the sake of entertainment. There are not many mortal women in this epic, but very few play an important role in the plot. Female deities, like Helen, however, seem to have more control than the males in the story. By comparing and contrasting mortal women and divine woman interactions in the Iliad, we can expand on a glimpse of what Homer considers the appropriate place for women during the time of this Trojan War. Although Homer's ideas seem antiquated today, they are entirely philosophical of his historical era. The Iliad begins with an argument between Achilles and Agamemnon over Briseis, who was considered a war prize. One of… half the paper… or end in sight” (I, 59-60). For nine days the Achaean army rained arrows on a beautiful woman who ultimately caused them great suffering. The action of women plays an important role in War and in this epic. One's actions can have important consequences on warfare in general. The war continued to grow in anxiety and anger due to women filling important roles during the war. Works Cited1) Marlowe, Christopher. "The Face That Launched a Thousand Ships by Christopher Marlowe, famous classical poet - All Poetry." All Poetry - Poets post in a free online community, fun cash contests support on Allpoetry. Network. 14 October 2011. . (Doctor Faustus name of the book)2) Homer, Robert Fagles and Bernard MacGregor Walker. Knox. The Iliad. New York: Penguin, 1991. Print.