Abstract

This paper aims to elucidate some intricate (re-)actions of Paris in the Iliad 6 based on Plato’s tripartite theory of soul. Due to certain philosophical prejudices, some interpretations cannot identify certain nuances related to the characters’ intrapsychic activities and tend to label the Homeric character as “simple” or “incomplete”. Since the problem of “anachronism” is insurmountable, interpreters have to ensure the best philosophical model to understand some aspects of the Homeric psychology. For different reasons, I shall argue that an intertextual approach based on the theory of soul in Plato’s Republic can help us better understand certain emotional impulses. Finally, the paper will take a closer look at some aspects involving the example of Paris’ epithymetic reactions in the Iliad 6.