Hiketeia is a ritual supplication in which an individual embraces the knees of another to solicit a favor or errand. The use of hiketeia in the Iliad establishes a nature of authority in figures of power, including Zeus and Achilles, demonstrating and creating debt in the “generosity” granted to the supplicant. The passages of Book One and Book Twenty-Four validate and examine the acquisition of power for both Zeus and Achilles by fulfilling the requests of Thetis and Priam made through the hiketeia. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In the first book Achilles' mother, Thetis, is an immortal goddess who performs hiketeia on Zeus. She grabs his knees with one hand and his face with the other. Thetis begs him to honor her son after Agamemnon dishonours him in front of his troops. He asks Zeus to give victory to the Trojans until Agamemnon desperately begs Achilles to return and fight. Since the hiketeia is sacred and a moment of pure subjection, the request cannot be dismissed casually. If a request is granted, the attacker is indebted to the person who granted the hiketeia. Zeus ultimately agrees to this request, despite the repercussions of his wife and the deaths of thousands of mortals, because he himself is indebted to Thetis for saving him from the Olympians: Go now. Hera might surprise us here. I'll take care of it. I will make this happen. Look, I'll bow my head if that satisfies you. This, I remind you, which among the mortal gods is the strongest and truest sign I can give. No word of my work, nothing can be revoked, there is no betrayal, nothing remains undone once I bow my head to say it will be done (Homer, 94). Zeus's deal is seen as generous because the gods will be angry at his decision, and thus Zeus has gained great power over Thetis. He is aware that Zeus will anger his wife, Hera, and the other gods by granting her this wish, and this strengthens Zeus' power over her. Zeus uses the power over Thetis that he gained in book one later in book twenty-four. Achilles has defeated and killed Hector, but instead of respectfully returning the corpse, he drags it in a chariot through the city to dishonor it because Hector killed Patroclus. Achilles' behavior angers the gods, so Zeus asks Thetis to tell Achilles to return the body to Hector's family. Thetis is bound to his command and recognizes it herself even before knowing Zeus' true request, Because... what does the great god want from me? Now I shudder to mingle with the immortals - Oh the torment - endless heartbreak! But I'll go. A high decree of the Father must lead to nothing, whatever he commands (Homer, 591). Zeus then sends Iris with a message to Priam, Hector's father. Iris tells Priam to go to Achilles and offer a ransom for Hector's body. Priam follows the order and is protected by Hermes on his journey to Achilles' camp. Seeing Achilles, Priam immediately performs the hiketeia. Crying, he hugs Achilles' knees and kisses his hands, imploring him to understand that he is a father whose fifty sons were all killed in this war. Achilles is overcome with guilt at the thought of his father and agrees to return Hector's corpse. However, guilt is not the reason why Achilles gives up. He has already received orders from Zeus (through Thetis) to return the body. He also sees it as a double opportunity. By granting Priam's request, Achilles manages to gain power over a great emperor and at the same time appears as a balanced, generous and compromising ruler. Achilles condescendingly places the blame for the situation on the.