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The Trojan War
Homer's The Iliad
Greek Culture around 1250 B.C.
• City States had their own Kings (who were
like governors). Some kings waged war
with others to gain more land & power.
• Kings could be good or bad people who
may have had genuine concern for their
citizens. . . Or not.
• Women were often treated as property.
• People lived off of the land. Metal work
involved bronze. Iron came a bit later.
Greek Values, Honor, & Culture:
– Proving oneself on the battlefield: Dying in
battle or killing others in battle.
– Honoring the Gods with gifts/sacrifices.
– Code of Hospitality.
– Family (though affairs were common for the
men and this was apparently fine).
– Respect for elders, friends, history.
– Patriotism.
– Gifts and war prizes (including women and dead
soldier's armor).
– Peer Pressure.
TROY (Ilium) = "Iliad" is the
story of Ilium.
How did the Trojan War
begin?
What reasons did the
Achaeans have to attack
Troy?
Greek Motives for War:
• Honor: All Kings swore an oath years
before to respect Helen's marriage and
defend it at any cost. When Paris took
her, they were honor bound to go get her
back.
• Greed: Troy was a wealthy city and people
from all over the known world used it as a
trading port/post. A lot of money went
through this city because of its location.
Who Were
The Trojans?
Priam:
King of Troy, father of Hector
and Paris
Hector:
Son of Priam
Andromache
Hector's wife
Paris
Other Important Trojans
• Briseis: A woman Achilles captured and took as
•
•
•
a prize, but for whom he has real affection.
Agamemnon takes her from Achilles, starting the
conflict in the Iliad.
Cassandra: Priam and Hecuba's daughter who
can foretell the future, but who no one ever
listens to.
Chryses: Apollo's priest who begins the action in
book one of the Iliad.
Hecuba: Queen of Troy, Priam's first wife.
Caught in the Middle:
Helen of Sparta/Troy
•
Perhaps Paris told her:
Who Were the
Greeks/Achaeans?
King Agamemnon and his brother,
Menelaus (Helen's husband). Both
known as the "Son of Atreus"
Achilles:
Swift-footed, Son of Peleus
"Crafty" Odysseus
Other Important Achaeans:
• Ajax and Ajax the lesser (brothers
and great fighters). Ajax is huge and
strong.
• Calchas and Nestor: Old advisors to
Agamemnon.
• Patroclus: Achilles' best friend.
• Phoenix: Achilles' old mentor.
• Thetis: Achilles' mother, a water
goddess.