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THE ODYSSEY
Homer
Zeus
MYTHOLOGY
The group of stories (folklore/legends) associated
with a culture
Believed to be true
Explains natural events that were not understood
THE GREEK WORLD
People could accumulate wealth through war or raids
on other cities. It was acceptable to steal goods and/or
people from another city.
In Ithaca (where Odysseus rules) wealth was measured
in possessions, livestock, servants, and slaves.
Greece was not a unified country like it is today; it was
made up of lots of little kingdoms.
ANCIENT PEOPLE TO KNOW
Odysseus (Ulysses)
Ruler of Ithaca
Penelope is his wife
Telemachus is his son
Priam
Ruler of Troy
His sons are Hector and Paris
Menelaus
Ruler of Sparta
His wife’s name is Helen
HOMER
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Lived in Greece
Lived about 850 BC (the dates vary; 850 BC is the best
estimate)
Was a traveling poet
Wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey
Believed to be blind
EPIC HERO QUALITIES
Embodies the spirit and values of a particular society
 Superhuman!- Is braver, stronger, smarter, and more
clever than the average person
 On a quest
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Something of great value to him or his people
Meets Villains
Try to keep him from his quest
 Villains are uglier, more evil and more cunning than the
average villain

Has one important weakness
 The divine world interferes with the human world

THE APPLE OF DISCORD
Peleus and Thetis, a sea-goddess, are getting
married.
 Eris, the goddess of discord, was not invited to
the wedding and was angry. She storms in and
throws a golden apple down on the banquet table.
“The apple belongs to whomever is the fairest,”
said Eris.
 Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all claim the apple.
They want Zeus to decide who should get it.
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This puts Zeus in a tough spot as he’s related to all of
them in a way.
THE APPLE OF DISCORD
Zeus decides to let Paris decide who should get
the apple.
 The women all try to bribe Paris:

Hera promises him power if he chooses her.
 Athena promises wealth.
 Aphrodite promises him the most beautiful woman in
the world.
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Who will he choose?
THE APPLE OF DISCORD
Paris chooses Aphrodite.
 In turn, Aphrodite gives Paris Helen.
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
Whoops! What’s the problem with that?
THE APPLE OF DISCORD
Paris goes to Sparta where Menelaus treats him
as an honored guest.
 When Menelaus leaves for a funeral, Paris steals
(?) Helen, along with a considerable portion of
Menelaus’s wealth.
 All the former suitors agree to fight to get Helen
back.
 Thus, the face that launched 1,000 ships:
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THE APPLE OF DISCORD
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Helen’s!
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This begins the Trojan War.