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THE ODYSSEY
BACKGROUND
Zuroeveste – English 9
The Trojan War
◦ Between 1194-1184 BC
◦ Waged against the city of Troy by the Greeks
◦ War began when Paris
(of Troy) took Helen from
her husband Menelaus
(king of Sparta).
◦ Was going to be resolved
by simply returning Helen,
or “fight to the death”, but
when Paris cowered from
the fight, war began.
Odysseus – King of Ithaca
Famed for his courage, intelligence, and leadership
In Greek mythology, Odysseus was the son of Laertes and Antikleia.
Married to Penelope, with a son, Telemachos
Fortunate enough to receive
the special aid and
protection of the goddess
Athena (goddess of wisdom
and military victory).
Participation in Trojan War
◦ When asked to join the other cities in the war by
Menelaus, he was VERY hesitant to leave his wife
and family.
◦ Therefore, he pretended to be insane. He
ploughed a field with an ox and an ass yoked
together and scattering salt in the furrows
◦ Messenger was not tricked, however, and lay
down Telemachos in the path of the plough.
◦ As he leaves, Odysseus tells Penelope that if he
does not return, she is to remarry when
Telemachus comes of age.
Odysseus’ First Major Task was
a BIG ONE
◦ It was Odysseus who persuaded the reluctant
Achilles to join the Greek expedition to Troy
◦ The warrior Achilles was predicted to be THE
ONLY way the Greeks could win the Trojan war…
so this was a big deal!
◦ When Paris cowered in defeat, the Trojan War
officially started, and Achilles bravely led warriors
into the bloody battle.
10 years of war
go by!
Odysseus & the Trojan Horse
◦ Odysseus originated idea of the Trojan horse
◦ His army built a large wooden horse and hid Odysseus, Achilles, &
members of his army inside.
◦ The Greeks offered it to the Trojans as a sign of their surrender and
the Trojans accepted the gift and brought it inside the walls of
their city.
◦ In the night, Odysseus and his men
crept out, unlocked the gates of the
city, and the battle began.
◦ Troy was defeated handily.
End of the War
◦ When Achilles was struck in the ACHILLES…
◦ …by PARIS……..
◦ That was a major bum-bum-bahhh moment.
◦ THIS STORY tracks the journey of Odysseus
back home to his wife and son…
after a 10 year war in Troy.