Iliad composed between BC Homer

Not much known Some theories that he could be a fictional composite of oral tradition

Greek Culture Intervention of gods Gods have human qualities Priests/oracles spoke for gods; must be respected

Trojan War Greeks v Trojans

Trojan War Paris, prince of Troy was asked by three goddesses to choose the most beautiful. He was bribed by Aphrodite to choose her. As his prize, he was allowed to choose a beautiful woman: Helen, who was the wife of a Greek king, Menelaus This began the war

Homeric Epic Invocation of a muse: ask the muse to Inspire; States the theme and subject In medias res in middle of the situation; the epic begins in the middle of the war Epic Similes : heroic, grand events compared to simple events Epithets : descriptions that are repeated

Greek Characters Achilles: mightiest Greek warrior; son of mortal king and sea-goddess, Thetis Agamemnon: King of Mycenae; Menelaus’ brother Clytemnestra: Agamemnon’s wife Helen: Menelaus’ wife Menelaus: King of Sparta Patroclus: Achilles’ dear friend Calchas: seer who counsels the Greeks Nestor: Orator

Trojans Andromache: wife of Hector Briseis: young girl, captured by Achilles Chryseis: young girl, captured by Agamemnon, daughter of priest of Apollo Hector: son of Priam and Hecuba; commander of Trojans Hecuba: wife of Priam Paris: son of Priam and Hecuba Priam: King of Troy

Gods Goddesses Aphrodite: goddess of love; sides with Trojans Apollo: god of poetry, music, and prophecy; sides with Trojans Athena: goddess of wisdom; sides with Greeks Hera: wife of Zeus; enemy of Trojans Hermes: messenger of gods Thetis: sea-goddess; Achilles’ mother Zeus : father-god; neutral

Iliad Book I The Greek camp is suffering from a plague The plague is the result of the gods’ anger Agamemnon refuses to return his war prize, Chryseus-the daughter of Apollo’s priest Achilles and Agamemnon quarrel Achilles decides to withdraw from the war Asks his mother to intervene in favor of the Trojans – His mother is a sea goddess: Thetis

Greek values A warrior’s material possessions were a measure of honor and prestige – the loss of spoils = shame Gods and goddesses played active role Respect for dead was a sacred duty; must receive proper burial or soul doomed to wander the earth