“The Iliad” (In Short). Characters Achilles: Achilles: Very powerful Achaean warrior Very powerful Achaean warrior Flaw: cocky and prideful Flaw: cocky

““The Iliad” The Iliad” (In Short)(In Short)

CharactersCharacters

Achilles:Achilles:Very powerful Very powerful AchaeanAchaean warrior warriorFlaw: cocky and pridefulFlaw: cocky and prideful

In later myths, we find out he had a In later myths, we find out he had a weak weak heelheel

Has two fates:Has two fates:Live a Live a long lifelong life with a family with a familyDie young but in Die young but in victorious battlevictorious battle


The Story of Thetis & Zeus:The Story of Thetis & Zeus: Zeus, the god of all gods, loved Zeus, the god of all gods, loved

thetis, the thetis, the goddessgoddess of the of the seasea The prophets said if they had a son, The prophets said if they had a son,

he would be stronger than he would be stronger than zeuszeus Zeus said “Heck no!”Zeus said “Heck no!” Zeus pawns thetis off on a mortal, Zeus pawns thetis off on a mortal,

peleuspeleus Together they have Achilles, a Together they have Achilles, a demi-demi-

godgod


Agamemnon:Agamemnon:King of King of MycenaeMycenaeBrother of Brother of MelelausMelelaus, king of , king of

SpartaSpartaBully Toward Bully Toward AchillesAchilles

Patroclus:Patroclus:Achilles’ Achilles’ Best friendBest friendDies in battle fighting Dies in battle fighting HectorHector


Odysseus: Odysseus: King of King of IthacaIthaca (Greek Island) (Greek Island)Strong like Achilles, but has more Strong like Achilles, but has more

BrainsBrainsBuilds the Trojan Horse and leads Builds the Trojan Horse and leads

the Achaeans to destroy the Achaeans to destroy TroyTroyConvinces Achilles to fight in the Convinces Achilles to fight in the

war against Troywar against Troy


Priam:Priam:Paris & Hector’s Paris & Hector’s fatherfatherThe king of The king of TroyTroyA pushover for Paris; he does A pushover for Paris; he does

whatever Paris wants him to dowhatever Paris wants him to do


Paris:Paris: Prince of Prince of TroyTroy ““Kidnaps” Kidnaps” HelenHelen, queen of Sparta, , queen of Sparta,

because he loves herbecause he loves her Everyone dislikes him because he Everyone dislikes him because he

puts Troy in Harms wayputs Troy in Harms way He brings Helen to Troy and causes the He brings Helen to Troy and causes the

war between the war between the TrojansTrojans and and AchaeansAchaeans When When AphroditeAphrodite, the goddess of love, , the goddess of love,

and and AthenaAthena, the goddess of wisdom and , the goddess of wisdom and war, ask him who is prettier, he says war, ask him who is prettier, he says Aphrodite, which makes Athena very Aphrodite, which makes Athena very angryangry


Menelaus:Menelaus: King of King of SpartaSparta Wife, Helen, is kidnapped by the Wife, Helen, is kidnapped by the

Trojan Prince, ParisTrojan Prince, Paris

Hector:Hector: Paris’ Paris’ brotherbrother Other prince of TroyOther prince of Troy Very prideful and loyal to his Very prideful and loyal to his familyfamily Fights Fights AchillesAchilles in a one-on-one battle in a one-on-one battle


Helen:Helen:The “Most beautiful woman in The “Most beautiful woman in

the world”the world”Leaves her husband, Leaves her husband, MenelausMenelaus, ,

king of Sparta, for king of Sparta, for ParisParis, Prince of , Prince of TroyTroy

Means trouble for the Trojans – Means trouble for the Trojans – the war is partially her fault the war is partially her fault because she left her countrybecause she left her country

CharactersCharacters Homer’s Gods & Goddesses:Homer’s Gods & Goddesses:

Not bound by Not bound by fatefate like mortals are like mortals are Have close bonds with Have close bonds with mortalsmortals

EX: Aphrodite & Paris, Athena & OdysseusEX: Aphrodite & Paris, Athena & Odysseus ImmortalImmortal

Their veins are full of Their veins are full of ichorichor instead of blood instead of blood Eat Eat ambrosiaambrosia and drink nectar and drink nectar

Also “eat” smoke from animal sacrifices Also “eat” smoke from animal sacrifices and spilled wine as and spilled wine as offeringsofferings from mortals from mortals

Repay mortals by helping in battle, Repay mortals by helping in battle, guiding them on quests, etc.guiding them on quests, etc.


Athena:Athena:Goddess of wisdom and Goddess of wisdom and warwarAngry at Paris because he said Angry at Paris because he said

Aphrodite was prettier than herAphrodite was prettier than herShe allies with the Achaeans She allies with the Achaeans because of thisbecause of this

AresAres::The god of The god of warwarAllies with Allies with TrojansTrojans


Aphrodite:Aphrodite:The goddess of The goddess of loveloveAllies with Allies with TrojansTrojans

Apollo:Apollo:The god of The god of PoetryPoetryAllies with Allies with TrojansTrojans


Thetis:Thetis:The goddess of the The goddess of the seaseaAchilles’ Achilles’ mothermotherAllies with the Allies with the TrojansTrojans

Poseidon:Poseidon:God of God of the seathe seaAllies with the Allies with the AchaeansAchaeans

CharactersCharacters Zeus:Zeus:

God of all God of all godsgods Neutral partyNeutral party

Hephaestus:Hephaestus: God of God of firefire and metal-working and metal-working Neutral PartyNeutral Party

Hades:Hades: God of the God of the underworldunderworld Neutral partyNeutral party

Timeline of EventsTimeline of Events

1.1. Paris insults Athe4na by saying Paris insults Athe4na by saying Aphrodite is Aphrodite is prettierprettier..

2.2. Menelaus doesn’t want to go to Menelaus doesn’t want to go to war; Agamemnon is trying to get war; Agamemnon is trying to get ThessalyThessaly (Formerly known as (Formerly known as Aeolus) to join their alliance.Aeolus) to join their alliance.

3.3. Paris “Steals” Helen.Paris “Steals” Helen.


4.4. Agamemnon and Menelaus declare Agamemnon and Menelaus declare war on war on TroyTroy; Thessaly joins.; Thessaly joins.

5.5. The Achaeans and Trojans fight for The Achaeans and Trojans fight for ninenine years. years.

6.6. Agamemnon captures two Agamemnon captures two maidens, maidens, ChryseisChryseis and and BriseisBriseis; he ; he gives Briseis to Achilles and keeps gives Briseis to Achilles and keeps Chryseis for himself.Chryseis for himself.


7.7. ChrysesChryses, Chryseis’ father and a priest, , Chryseis’ father and a priest, asks Agamemnon to let his daughter asks Agamemnon to let his daughter go; Agamemnon says no.go; Agamemnon says no.

8.8. Chryses prays to Apollo to put a Chryses prays to Apollo to put a plagueplague on the Achaeans; plague lasts for nine on the Achaeans; plague lasts for nine days.days.

9.9. The Achaeans get angry about the The Achaeans get angry about the plague and make Agamemnon give plague and make Agamemnon give Chryseis back; Agamemnon does, but Chryseis back; Agamemnon does, but takes Briseis takes Briseis


10.10. Achilles lets Briseis go, but gets angry Achilles lets Briseis go, but gets angry and and refusesrefuses to fight in the battle to fight in the battle anymore.anymore.

11.11. Achilles prays to his mother, Thetis, to Achilles prays to his mother, Thetis, to “pull some strings” in battle and “pull some strings” in battle and sabotagesabotage the Achaeans to teach the Achaeans to teach Agamemnon a lesson.Agamemnon a lesson.

12.12. Thetis gets Thetis gets ZeusZeus to make the Achaeans to make the Achaeans weak and lose the battle led by weak and lose the battle led by HectorHector, , Prince of Troy and Paris’ brother.Prince of Troy and Paris’ brother.


13.13. PatroclusPatroclus asks to fight in Hector’s asks to fight in Hector’s battle, disguised as Achilles, in order battle, disguised as Achilles, in order to trick and scare the Trojans.to trick and scare the Trojans.

14.14. The Trojans are scared and retreat; The Trojans are scared and retreat; HectorHector does not and he kills Patroclus. does not and he kills Patroclus.

15.15. Achilles finds out Patroclus has dies Achilles finds out Patroclus has dies and swears and swears revenge revenge on Hector; Thetis on Hector; Thetis asks asks HephaestusHephaestus to make Achilles a to make Achilles a new suit of armor to fight in.new suit of armor to fight in.


16.16. Achilles fights Hector and Achilles fights Hector and killskills him. him.

17.17. Achilles ties Hector’s body to the back Achilles ties Hector’s body to the back of his of his ChariotChariot and drags it across the and drags it across the battlefield for nine days; he is trying to battlefield for nine days; he is trying to make a point as he is very upset over make a point as he is very upset over Patroclus’ death at Hector’s Hands.Patroclus’ death at Hector’s Hands.

18.18. Achilles angers the Achilles angers the GodsGods with his with his vengeful actions and they demand he vengeful actions and they demand he cease.cease.


19.19.PriamPriam visits Achilles and Begs visits Achilles and Begs for Hector’s body back so the for Hector’s body back so the Trojans can give him a proper Trojans can give him a proper burial; Achilles agrees.burial; Achilles agrees.

20.20.““The Iliad” ends with Hector’s The Iliad” ends with Hector’s funeral.funeral.

What Happens What Happens Between…?Between…? Paris dies in an attack; he is struck by a Paris dies in an attack; he is struck by a

poisoned arrow of poisoned arrow of PhiloctetesPhiloctetes, the , the Prince of Prince of ThessalyThessaly..

Paris goes to his first wife, Paris goes to his first wife, OenoeOenoe, who , who has promised to heal his would after he has promised to heal his would after he left her for Helen.left her for Helen.

Oenoe refuses to heal his wounds Oenoe refuses to heal his wounds because he hasn’t been back for her for because he hasn’t been back for her for tenten years; he’s been too focused on years; he’s been too focused on Helen. Helen.

What Happens What Happens Between…?Between…? Paris returns to Troy to Paris returns to Troy to diedie; Oenoe ; Oenoe

regrets her decision and tries to save regrets her decision and tries to save Paris but it’s too late.Paris but it’s too late.

Helen is forced to remarry – she Helen is forced to remarry – she marries marries Deiphobus,Deiphobus, Paris’ brother-in- Paris’ brother-in-law.law.

Odysseus, at the advice of Odysseus, at the advice of Athena Athena and and with the help of with the help of EpeiusEpeius, a Greek artist, , a Greek artist, leads the Achaeans in a build of a leads the Achaeans in a build of a giant hollow wooden giant hollow wooden horsehorse, known as , known as the Trojan horse.the Trojan horse.

What Happens What Happens Between…?Between…? Some Achaeans hid inside and the Some Achaeans hid inside and the

rest sailed away in the ships to trick rest sailed away in the ships to trick the Trojans into thinking they the Trojans into thinking they surrenderedsurrendered..

SinonSinon, a Greek, was left behind to , a Greek, was left behind to convince the Trojans that the Greeks convince the Trojans that the Greeks deserted him and that the horse was deserted him and that the horse was a sign of a sign of good luckgood luck..

The majority of the Trojans believed The majority of the Trojans believed Sinon and Sinon and partiedpartied all night. all night.

What Happens What Happens Between…?Between…? While they slept in a drunken stupor, While they slept in a drunken stupor,

the Achaeans broke out of the horse the Achaeans broke out of the horse and killed everyone, and killed everyone, destroyingdestroying Troy.Troy.

Deiphobus, Helen’s new husband, is Deiphobus, Helen’s new husband, is killed in the fall of Troy by King killed in the fall of Troy by King MenelausMenelaus..

Helen returns to Sparta to live with Helen returns to Sparta to live with MenelausMenelaus again. again.

What Happened to What Happened to Achilles?Achilles? When he was an infant, Thetis attempted When he was an infant, Thetis attempted

to make Achilles immortal by dipping to make Achilles immortal by dipping him into the him into the River StyxRiver Styx. .

She held him by his left She held him by his left ankleankle, which , which made his heel the only body part to not made his heel the only body part to not be dipped in the magical waters; this be dipped in the magical waters; this was the only are4a capable of a mortal was the only are4a capable of a mortal woundwound..

In a battle, Achilles is shot in the hell by In a battle, Achilles is shot in the hell by a stray arrow shot by a stray arrow shot by Paris;Paris; Achilles dies. Achilles dies.

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“The Iliad” (In Short). Characters Achilles: Achilles: Very powerful Achaean warrior Very powerful Achaean warrior Flaw: cocky and prideful Flaw: cocky