1. By: Homer Information by: Hilary Johannas Illustrations by: Kat McIntosh

3. M ore than 1000 years B.C. near the East end of the Mediterranean Sea there was a great city of gold. The city was second to none on earth. This city was called Troy …

4. The cause of the city’s long lasting fame was a war. Charge

5. The cause of the war went back to a dispute between three jealous goddesses.

6. ErisEris apple There was an evil goddess named Eris. Eris was not liked by many and did not receive and invitation to a party. To create chaos, she conjured up a golden apple and addressed it to the “fairest goddess.”

7. The decision was narrowed down to three goddesses, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite.

8. Zeus refused to choose which of the three goddesses were fairest. Instead Paris, a banished prince of Troy was to choose.

9. Each of the three goddesses offered Paris a gift so that he would choose them.

10. Hera Hera promised Paris he would be ruler of a large territory.

11. Athena, the goddess of war, promised Paris a great victory.

12. Aphrodite, goddess of love, promised Paris that the fairest woman in the world would be his.

13. This is known as the judgment of Paris, and it is known as the real reason why the Trojan war was fought.

14. The fairest woman in the world was named Helen. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leda. Every prince in Greece wanted to marry her. The man she called father was named King Tyndareus.

15. Her father made all of the suitors swear an oath saying they would punish anyone who tried to harm Helen.

16. King Tyndareus, chose for her Menelaus and made him King of Sparta.

17. Aphrodite led Paris to Helen and he took her away with him.

18. Menelaus called all the suitors for help. They readied to sail to Troy and burn it to ashes.

19. Odysseus Odysseus, first in rank, didn’t want to leave his family. So, he pretended to be insane. Gone Crazy…be back soon!

20. However, to prove his was faking his condition Odysseus was put to the test. His son’s life was purposefully endangered, and Odysseus came to his rescue, proving he was NOT crazy.

21. Once discovered, Odysseus was made to join the army. A great fleet was made ready, so they could travel from Ithaca to Troy. Bye-Bye Good Luck We’ll miss you!

22. For nine years the battle waged, but there was never a solid victory.

23. Eventually the war had reached Olympus. The gods raged against each other. For Troy Aphrodite Ares Apollo Artemis For the Greeks Hera Athena Poseidon

24. Finally, Odysseus came up with a plan. They would create a large wooden horse and hide inside. The horse would be presented as a gift and accepted inside the city walls. At night, after the celebration of victory, Odysseus and his men would sneak out of the horse and seize the city.

25. The plan worked!!! In his excitement, Odysseus proclaimed he had won the victory without the help of the gods. For this lack of humility, Poseidon, god of the Ocean, decided Odysseus must be punished.

26. Poseidon vowed that Odysseus would never return to his home or his family.

27. Odysseus's journey home …thus the Odyssey, begins….