Nevertheless, Polyphemus demonstrates hubris during this scene by believing that because he is a giant, he is unbeatable by anyone, even a god. This is shown when Odysseus meets Polyphemus and greets him with gifts. Failure to give gifts can lead to revenge from the gods. Odysseus tells Polyphemus this, but Polyphemus “would not let you go for fear of Zeus because the Cyclopes have more force by far”. Polyphemus then rage’s the gods further by kidnapping and eating Odysseus’ men, both of which are considered extremely insulting in Greek society. Polyphemus is so confident in his invulnerability he lets the men roam free inside the cave, a mistake that leads to his downfall. Polyphemus’ hubris in believing he is invulnerable and his total lack of the respect for the gods caused him to be blinded forever.
There is also much hubris in The Iliad. Paris deals with a pride that makes him think he’s better than everybody else (hubris). This pride comes from both getting his way all the time and the lovely gifts Aphrodite gave him, the gifts that have brought the two nations to war. When Paris fights with Menelaus, Aphrodite snatches Paris away, and sets him down in his bedroom filled with scent. It’s not Paris’ fault that Aphrodite saves him from death. His fault comes from how he deals with being saved. Paris doesn’t feel the need to go back to war right away, so he tells Helen, “but come, let’s go to bed let’s lose ourselves in love.” Paris is blinded by his own hubris. His hubris denies him of the fact that his people are dying for his pleasures, which they themselves have given up. Paris is way past the point where he can eliminate himself of hubris. The only thing he cares about is himself, so a loss of something or someone dear to him wouldn’t make him feel anything.
Another example of hubris is during the battle between the Achaeans and the Trojans, Hector decided to wear Achilles’ armour. By doing this act, it seems that Hector was trying to relate himself as the equal of the mighty Achilles. Achilles can be considered a semi-god because he was indestructible. Since, Hector wore Achilles’ armour, it was considered hubris. Achilles then responded to this by killing Hector in revenge. Not only did he kill him, but he stripped Hector’s corpse and dragged it around behind his chariot by tying the body to his chariot. The Greek armies themselves were amazed by the treatment of Hector’s corpse, but Achilles didn’t care. This shows how merciless the punishment of hubris can be.
In The Metamorphoses, there are a few stories that show mortals being hubris and what their punishments were. One story in The Metamorphoses that shows hubris is the Story of Niobe. Niobe lived in Ancient Greece and she had seven children. She was swollen with pride that she had so many children to the point, where she became hubris about it. She sang your own praises that she had seven children while the goddess Leto only had two. So Niobe thought she was better than Leto. Leto eventually heard about Niobe and sent her two children, Apollo and Artemis, to kill Niobe’s children. Apollo and Artemis, who were both good marksmen, shot each and every one of Niobe’s children with their arrows, and killed them. In addition to the killing of Niobe’s children, she was also turned into a statue. This shows that the gods showed no mercy at all.
Another story in The Metamorphoses that displays hubris is the Story of Arachne. Arachne was an excellent weaver and spinner, but she was also hubris. Arachne began telling people she was better at spinning and weaving than the goddess Athena. Athena was also known as a good spinner and weaver. Athena was angry that Arachne would say such things, so she challenged Arachne to a weaving contest. Athena had woven a beautiful cloth showing the gods and goddesses sitting together in Mount Olympus and doing good deeds for mortals. Arachne, on the other hand, displayed more signs of hubris, when she had woven a cloth showing the gods and goddess getting drunk. When Athena saw it she was even angrier than she had been before. Arachne’s cloth was clearly better than Athena’s cloth, but Athena didn’t care. Athena then directed a finger at Arachne and turned her into a spider.
Overall, hubris over pride is often of the main issues for mortals and heroes in Greek mythology that causes them to get into large inconveniences. It doesn’t matter how first-rate or capable you are in something, the gods will never accept you being the greatest, only second to best. If Polyphemus hadn’t believed that because he is a giant, he is unbeatable by anyone, even a god. If Polyphemus hadn’t let the men in the cave, he would have been alive, not stabbed in the eye. These are all key example of why hubris, arrogance should be avoided to not have wrath from the gods.
