The Iliad

Homers Iliad
Homer is said to be the
first teller of
adventures of all
times. He was not the
first author because in
his day stories were
passed down---they
were told. He was a
blind man whose date
of birth is unknown.

Eris, Goddess of Discord

Angry because she was not invited to the
wedding of the Sea Goddess Thetis to King
Peleus, Eris tossed the Golden Apple marked
To the Fairest into the banquet.

The Fairest
Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena wanted the
apple
Zeus would not choose, he did not want the
goddesses angry with him
Paris was asked to make
the decision

The Decision
Hera offered to make
Paris ruler of Europe
and Asia
Athena offered to let
him lead Sparta in a
victory over the
Trojans
Aphrodite offered him
the most beautiful
woman in the world

Paris Chooses Aphrodite

The most beautiful woman
in the world is Helen, the
wife of King Menelaus
Aphrodite helps Paris
seduce and kidnap Helen

The Beginning of War

King Menelaus called on all those who were loyal to him.
They gathered a huge army, and built a thousand ships to carry
the army to Troy
Helen of Sparta was now called Helen of Troy
She was The face that launched a thousand ships

The Trojan War

The battle raged for 10
years
Many great heroes lost
their lives
A prophet predicted
that Troy could be
captured only with the
help of Achilles.

The Hero Achilles

Knowing of the prophecy, and worried
that her son would be killed in war,
Achilles mother dipped him in the river
Styx to make him immortal.
His only weakness was the place on his
heals where she held him.
During the war, Achilles is forced to give
up his war prize, a slave girl, to
Agamemnon, and so he refuses to fight.
Patroclus, his friend, asks Achilles if he
may ride out in his armor so the Trojans
would lose heart.

Achilles
Achilles agreed to allow his friend Patroclus to wear his armor.
The next day Patroclus was killed and stripped of the armor by
the Trojan hero Hector, who mistook him for Achilles.
Achilles was overwhelmed with grief for his friend and rage at
Hector.
Achilles kills Hector. He desecrated the body, dragging it behind
his chariot before the walls of Troy.
Finally Paris, aided by Apollo,
wounded Achilles in the heel
with an arrow; Achilles died of the wound.

10 Years of War
The Gods are tired of watching men kill each
other, and decide to help end the war. Athena
whispers an idea in the Spartan hero Odysseuss
ear.

The Trojan Horse

Odysseus tells them they
will build a huge horse of
wood.
Some would climb inside
and hide.
The rest would sail around
the tip of the island, where
they could not be seen.
One would stay behind and
tell the Trojans that he had
been abandoned by the
Greeks, and that the horse
was an offering to Athena.

The Fall of Troy

The Trojans believed
the trick.
They had a huge
banquet to celebrate
the end of the war.
At night the men from
inside the horse came
out and unlocked the
gates to the city.

The Burning of Troy

The city is invaded by the
army.
The Trojans are drunk and
spent from their night of
revelry, unable to fight
back.
The Spartans destroy and
burn the city.
Aphrodite saves Helen
from the destruction.

The War Ends

King Menelaus
accepts Helen back.
The Warriors can now
return home.
Odysseus leaves for
home, and his wife
and son.

THE ODYSSEY

What is an Epic?
Epics are long,
narrative poems
that tell the
adventures of
heroes who in some
way embody the
values of their
civilization.

What types of epics are the Iliad

and the Odyssey?
Iliad War Epic
Odyssey Journey

Modern Day Epics

Star Wars
Forrest Gump
Hobbit
Lord of the Rings
Wizard of Oz

How were heroes characterized

in Homers day?
Special Aristocrats
or Demigods
Placed somewhere
between Gods and
ordinary humans.

How is Odysseus different from

other heroes?
Hero in Trouble
Clever (not just brute
strength)
Did not want to go to
war

Why did Odysseus object to the

Trojan War?
He believes no war
should be fought over
an unfaithful woman
(Helen)
He wants to stay at
home with his wife
and newborn son

Odysseus attempts to
Draft Dodge
Tried to appear insane by planting salt instead of
seeds.
Draft recruiters throw his son in front of his plow
Odysseus reveals his sanity by avoiding running
over Telemachus

The Epic Begins

Odysseus been gone 20
years
Telemachus is 20 years old
Suitors have invaded his
house, robbing him of his
inheritance, and attempt to
marry his mother Penelope
(Odysseuss Wife)

Penelope and her suitors