Background Information for Homer's The Odyssey

The Trojan War The true cause of the Trojan War was economic. Troy’s location enabled it to control all trade and shipping through the Dardanelles, and once Troy was destroyed, the Greeks could expand their trade routes as much as they pleased.

Legend of the Trojan War According to legend, the war began over one, really good- looking, mortal girl. What’s her name?

That itself is an interesting tale to read, but here is a brief That itself is an interesting tale to read, but here is a brief synopsis: A goddess (Eris) was angry with the other gods because she was not invited a particular wedding, so she decided to cause some trouble. She threw a golden apple into the crowd of gods and goddesses and wrote on it: “To the Fairest.” After some discussion amongst themselves, it was decided that it must go to Hera, Athena, or Aphrodite. They then went to Zeus to determine who amongst the three was indeed the “fairest”. Being too wise to enter into any such dispute, he sent them to the Trojan prince Paris (who had been sent to an island to sheep herd by his father King Priam, who had heard the prophecy that Paris would end up bringing about the fall of Troy – how accurate!). It was decided that Paris should determine the fairest!

Well…even goddesses know how to sweeten the deal. Each Well…even goddesses know how to sweeten the deal. Each goddess offered Paris an “incentive” to choose her as the fairest. Hera offered him a kingdom. Athena offered to help Troy defeat the Greeks in battle (think about that one!). Aphrodite (“thinking like a man”) offered to make the most beautiful mortal woman in the world Paris’s wife. Well…even though Paris was already married (an unimportant detail), he went with Aphrodite’s offer (which had very negative consequences)…and the golden apple was given to her. In mythology, this incident is known as “The Judgment of Paris.”

Aphrodite immediately went to work to keep her end of the. bargain Aphrodite immediately went to work to keep her end of the bargain. Unfortunately, the most beautiful mortal woman in the world was Helen, who was married to King Menelaus of Sparta. Aphrodite brought Paris to King Menelaus’s kingdom, and when Menelaus went away on a trip, Paris wooed Helen, who actually fell in love with him but was afraid because of her marriage to King Menelaus. Regardless, it took little convincing to go to Troy with Paris. Helen by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

King Menelaus returned home to find that Paris had King Menelaus returned home to find that Paris had “abducted” his Helen. Menelaus went to his brother, Agamemnon. It took several years for the outraged Menelaus to assemble an army, and, when he did, kings and soldiers from all over Greece, including Achilles and Odysseus, sailed to Troy to bring back Helen… and…according to myth, thus began the TROJAN WAR!!!! Helen is the inspiration behind the old and famous saying… “the face that launched a thousand ships”!

Paris

Helen and Paris

King Menelaus and Agamemnon

The Trojan War went on for 10 years, and finally, the Trojans The Trojan War went on for 10 years, and finally, the Trojans were defeated. Do you know how? (In the end, Paris was killed and Helen was returned to King Menelaus – who still wanted her back…for pride’s sake…but he made her life miserable).

The Iliad This story opens in the 10th – and last – year of the Trojan War. The war is at a stalemate (they can’t get behind that Trojan wall), and in the Greek camp there is much dissension amongst the Greeks themselves. The Iliad is the story of that dissension…and WAR!!!

Achilles, hero of Greece, killed Hector, prince and hero of Troy, but was later killed by Paris.

The Odyssey In The Odyssey, Homer starts by telling about the last days of the Trojan War in this second epic. The story relates that the man responsible for the fall of Troy is Odysseus, who conceived of the plan to use the huge wooden horse (the Trojan Horse) to get into the gates of Troy. The Trojans almost didn’t bring the horse inside, because Laocoon, the Trojan priest said it was a trap. But then Poseidon's’ sea monster came out of the ocean and killed Laocoon, so… It worked!!!!! The Greeks defeated the Trojans.

Because Odysseus was instrumental in Troy’s destruction, he Because Odysseus was instrumental in Troy’s destruction, he angered the gods who were sympathetic to Troy, and they vow that he will have a long and difficult journey home. This journey, which takes 10 years, is the subject of Homer’s The Odyssey.

Now…let’s get ready to read and discuss The Odyssey by taking a quick look at what this adventure entails. ENJOY!