The gods play a central role in the Rezeptionsgeschichte of the Homeric epics, and it would no doubt be possible to devote an entire book to this topic. The purpose of the present chapter, however, is more limited and modest in scope. It primarily comprises a representative collection of ancient comments which discuss the narrative function of the gods in the Homeric epics, in other words a collection of notes on what is sometimes referred to, if somewhat misleadingly, as the Homeric Götterapparat. Conversely, the present chapter does not treat comments on questions of theology, faith, religious behaviour, cult practice, etc., in their own right, because they go well beyond the domain of literary criticism. Equally omitted are the different forms of allegorical explanation, arguably the most common and long-lived hermeneutic ancient approach to the gods in Homer.

DIVINE INTERVENTIONS

The scholia recognise a fundamental difference between human and divine characters and their respective spheres of action. Consequently, the appearance of a divine character on the human plane is seen as an exceptional measure which is called for by particular circumstances, for example, if things are going terribly wrong and must be set straight by the intervention of a god. (In Iliad 1 Achilles is about to draw his sword and to kill Agamemnon when Hera urges Athena to intervene.)