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The Iliad
Homer
Homer’s Background
 Known as “The Poet”
 Legend as a blind bard
 Symbolic blindness
 Greeks contrasted inner vision with physical vision
Homer’s Style
 Special formulaic language – fixed and recurring
epithets
 “Swift-footed Achilleus”
 “Wine-dark sea”
 Beginning in medias res – in the middle of things
 Calls on a muse to inspire
 Fondness for lists (genealogies and catalogues)
 Oral way to organize information
 To give credit, immortalize
How did the Trojan War Start?
 King Peleus and Thetis (a sea nymph) – their
wedding
 All the gods were invited
 Except Eris (goddess of discord)
 Who wants her at a wedding???
 Angry, Eris tossed golden apple among the guests
 “To the fairest”
Trojan War continued
 Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite claimed the prize
 Zeus chose Paris (Trojan prince) to decide
Trojan War Continued
 Each goddess tried to bribe Paris
 Hera: King of Europe and Asia
 Athena: Wisdom and skill in war
 Aphrodite: the most beautiful woman in the
world
 Paris picks……………
Trojan War continued
 Aphrodite
 Hera and Athena now hate Paris
 Become allies to the Greeks
Archetypes!!!!!!!
 Apple – temptation, cause of discord
 The failing of man – tempted by women
 Man’s character flaw (lust, weakness) causes
bloodshed and turmoil
Trojan War continued
 Helen (Greek) was the most beautiful woman alive
 Married to Menelaus, king of Sparta (Greek)
 Paris (Troy) is a guest at Menelaus’ court
 “Steals” Helen
 Menelaus gets help from his brother, Agamemnon, king
of Mycenae
 Troy vs Sparta, Mycenaean / Greek
Real Sacking of Troy
 1200 BCE
 Last attempt of the Mycenaean Empire to remain in
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

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power
Mycenaeans arrived in Greece around 2100 BCE and
flourished from 1600 BCE to 1200 BCE
1100 BCE – empire had vanished
300 years of Dark Age
What brought the Greeks out?
 Alphabet, adapted from the Phoenicians
The Iliad
 10th year of the war when the poem opens
 Actions happens during 51 days, mostly during 4
days
 Why?
 It’s about the rage of Achilles and the
consequences of his rage
Who is Achilles?
 Leader of the Myrmidons
 From northern Greece
 Prophecy: Stay home and live a long life / Go to
war and lead a short life, but be remembered and
honored by all
 City-states loosely joined to together for war
booty/fame
 Different armies followed different Greek leaders
Beginning of the Iliad
 Greek army besieging Troy
 Greeks are stricken by plague, sent by Apollo
(Troy)
 Why?
 Agamemnon (Greek) refused to return a
captive girl (Trojan) who turned out to be the
daughter of Apollo’s priest
Beginning of the Iliad and Achilles
 Agamemnon finally gives her back
 Agamemnon steals Achilles (Greek) concubine,
Briseis (Trojan)
 Achilles refuses to fight
 Achilles is the best of all Greeks, strongest
 Yet, doesn’t have the most power
 Greeks can’t win without Achilles
Achilles
 Why is he the best, the strongest?
 Thetis (sea nymph) is his mom
 She dipped him in the river Styx = immortality
 Held onto his heel
 “Achilles heel”
The Iliad, Book 18
 Greek situation without Achilles is BAD!
 Finally, Agamemnon offers to give up Briseis and add lots
of loot
 Achilles says no way (pouting)
 Greek situation worsens – morale is low
 Agamemnon, Diomedes, and Odysseus are wounded
 Achilles says, “Nope.You stink.”
The Iliad, Book 18 - Patroklus
 Patroklus – Achilles best friend
 Wears Achilles armor into battle
 Increase morale for the Greeks
 Decrease morale for the Trojans
 Patroklus is doing great
 Apollo (Troy) intervenes
 Helps Hector kill Patroklus
The Iliad, Book 18 – Armor and Body
 Hector takes Achilles armor – BIG DEAL
 Greeks and Trojans fight over Patroklus’ body – BIG
DEAL
The Iliad, Book 18 – Achilles’ Anger
 Achilles is VERY upset at Patroklus’s death
 Blames himself
 Cries out to his mom
 I wish you had stayed with the immortals; your pain will be
great
 Why? He must avenge his friend’s death
 Prophecy: after Hector dies, Achilles will die
The Iliad, Book 18 – Achilles’ Anger
 Thetis (mom) to Achilles – don’t leave without your armor!
 Athena protects Achilles while he gets Patroklus
 Trojans see Achilles and want to retreat
 Hector says – No way, let’s get them!
 Greek Culture:You can’t escape your fate. The only thing that
singles out greatness to your personal actions in a chaotic
world.
Book 24 – Achilles’ Anger
 Funeral for Patroklus
 Achilles drags Hector around the Patroklus
 Apollo protects Hector’s body from decay
Book 24 – Gods argue
 Some say, “Enough” – Hermes should steal
Hector’s body
 Hera, Poseidon, and Athena say – No way!
 Hera and Athena – hate Trojans (Paris)
 Poseidon – hates Trojans / offended by the
Trojans
Book 24 – Gods argue
 Apollo: Hector sacrificed to all of you
 AND, Achilles is acting out of pride
 Hera: Hector is mortal / Achilles is half god
 Zeus: Hector is really a good guy
 Can’t steal him because Thetis is watching
(Achilles’ mom)
 Send Priam with gifts / protected by Hermes
Book 24 – Why?
 Why does the Iliad end with the funeral of Hector?
 What are the culminating events?
 What is this story REALLY about?
 What is realized through Hector and Achilles?