The Iliad & Ramayan: Striking Differences

Though the two are often compared as the founding epics of the Western & Hindu civilisations, there are two major differences. Even though the abduction of queens were the reason for the wars, in Iliad, Helen went willingly with Paris, whereas Sita was deceived & forcefully abducted by Ravan in Ramayan.

Also in the Iliad, when Achilles killed Hector, he pierced the sinews of Hector's feet, bound them with a thong, & tying the thing to his chariot, dragged his body all across the Trojan plain.

After Ravan's death in Ramayan, his younger brother Vibhishan was unwilling to perform his obsequies as he felt he was evil. But Rama enumerated all of Ravan's noble qualities & most importantly said all enmities should cease after death & insisted that Vibhishan should perform all obsequies with due respect.

What an unbridgeable difference in the two epics in the crucial matters of wifely faithfulness & treatment of enemies!