and down their ranks the fiery-eyed Athena bore
her awesome shield of storm, ageless, deathless –
a hundred golden tassels, all of them braided tight
and each worth a hundred oxen, float along the front.
Her shield of lightning dazzling, swirling around her,
headlong on Athena swept through the Argive armies,
driving soldiers harder, lashing the fighting-fury
in each Achaean’s heart – no stopping them now,
mad for war and struggle. Now, suddenly,
battle thrilled them more than the journey home,
than sailing hollow ships to their dear native land.
– Homer
The Iliad, Book 2, lines 528-538. Goddess of war and wisdom Athena loves a good battle and in this instance she is providing the Achaeans with the courage to keep fighting. War is hell – even when glorified in Homer’s Iliad – but it is also intoxicating and gives an adrenalin rush to the participants. This passage tells us that after Athena’s encouragement, battle provides more of a thrill to the Achaean soldiers than the prospect of going home.