The Iliad opens with Agamemnon seeking to command obedience through the intimidation of Kalchas. Achilles here summons Kalchas to give an interpretation of why Apollo would inflict such a plague upon the Achaeans. At this event, Achilles promises to protect Kalchas against anyone, such as Agamemnon, who would inflict a vengeance on him for his interpretation. The fear of authority is then neutralized with the protection. Although Kalchas interprets that Agamemnon's action of dishonoring the priest is the cause for the anger against the Achaeans, Kalchas refrains to say this and does not utter a word against Agamemnon for his fear of retribution. We can see here that the fear as a basis for authority is limited as the protection is offered. The political power wielded by Agamemnon is to some extent checked by Achilles. .

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             Now, having shown the limits of fear as a basis for authority, Achilles raises up the fundamental question of authority. As he questions Agamemnon's inheritance of wealth and the scepter as a basis of his kingship, Achilles brings up the important question of his authority. Achilles derides Agamemnon for never having earned his authority through acts of courage. He says "Never once have you taken courage in your heart to arm with your people for battle, or go into ambuscade with the best of the Achaeans " (Iliad 1.225-27). However, in the Iliad, there are numerous occasions in which Agamemnon and Nestor praises the idea of elevating oneself to be the kingliest through inheritance by itself. Though, for Achilles, such inheritance creates only an illusion of kingship which consists of no solid establishment of authority. Not only that, Achilles raises up one more important challenge against Agamemnon. Achilles speaks to Agamemnon that "with your mind forever on profit, how shall any one of the Achaeans readily obey you " (Iliad 1.149-150). Here, the word "readily " broadens the issue from obedience to the demeanor of those merely asked to obey (Hammer 82).