Part 1 of Essay
The shield of Achillles plays a major part in the Illiad. It portrays the story of the Achaeans and their fight against the Trojans in a microcosm of the larger story. Forged by the god Hephaestus, who was a crippled smith, it depicts the two cities and the happenings within , as well as Agamemnon’s kingly estate. ....

Part 2 of Essay
.... a thriving vineyard, a herd of longhorn cattle, and a dancing circle. Once Hephaestus completes the shield, he makes a breastplate and helmet for Achilles. The armor he forges is indestructible and worthy of a god. Through Homers description of the shield and how it is forged, the reader can begin to understand the importance and value of this device in a literary context. The two cities depicted on the shield represent a city in Greece and Troy. One of the cities is filled with men dancing and singing and ....