Ideals of the Greeks and Trojans: A New Analysis The story of the Iliad portrays a decisive battle between the Greeks and the Trojans that has lasted for over 9 years. In the end the Greeks win the war, but not without a bloody conflict with the Trojans. The Greeks and Trojans each have positive characteristics that help them maintain some of their glory throughout the Iliad and lead to a tough fight between the two sides. Unfortunately, their emotions get the better of them and hinder their positive traits. The emotional struggle that both sides face throughout the story creates contrasting personalities and a struggle between two main groups that display contrasting ideals in battle. The personalities of the Greeks and Trojans differ widely as the Greeks are more strategic, but capricious, while the Trojans are more noble, but cowardly. This is an important positive trait for the Greeks as it gives them a great advantage in the war against the Trojans. . This is seen when Nestor suggests, in the seventh book, that a wall and trench be built to deter the Trojans' aggression from their ships. This trench plays a fundamental role in Book 12 where it causes the Trojans to waste time destroying the walls and provides an opportune moment for the Achaeans to launch a ranged attack: trying to loosen the buttress posts with the levers, the Achaeans first drove the earth to shore up the bastion: they fought to uproot them, hoping to demolish the Achaean walls themselves. But the Argives still did not give in to the assault, no, they closed the gaps with ox shields and hurled stones from the top of their chests at the enemy who was advancing under the walls.” (12.299 -