What was Queen Hecuba’s dream when she had conceived Paris?
The Iliad is a notable literary work by Homer. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Iliad.
Answer
What was Queen Hecuba’s dream when she had conceived Paris? [NU: 2015]
Homer (c. 800 BCE – c. 701 BCE) presents war and prophecy in his famous epic poem “The Iliad” (762 BCE). Queen Hecuba, wife of Priam, saw a dream when she conceived Paris. That dream was a sign of Troy’s future destruction.
The Strange Dream: When Hecuba was pregnant with Paris, she saw a dream. She dreamed that she gave birth not to a child but to a burning torch. The torch spread fire all around Troy. This dream made her frightened. She told Priam about it.
Interpretation of The Dream: The wise priests and prophets were asked to explain the dream. They said the torch meant danger for Troy. It meant that her child would bring ruin. If the child lived, Troy would face destruction. The dream was taken very seriously.
Fate of Paris: Because of the dream, Priam and Hecuba feared the child. When Paris was born, they ordered him to be left on Mount Ida. But shepherds raised him secretly. Later, Paris returned to Troy. His actions, like abducting Helen, fulfilled the prophecy.
Link to The War: The dream of Hecuba connects directly to the Trojan War. Paris’ birth, survival, and later choices caused disaster. His taking of Helen brought the Greeks to Troy. The burning torch in the dream became the burning of Troy itself.
To sum up, we can say that Queen Hecuba’s dream of the burning torch was a true sign. It showed Paris would bring destruction to Troy. The prophecy proved correct, and Homer presents it as a realistic warning of fate.