The Trojan War

A look at “The Iliad,” Homer’s literary

version of the events surrounding the Trojan

War.

The Apple of Discord

• Roots of the Trojan War- began at the marriage between Thetis and Peleus.

• Thetis: a sea nymph and future mother of Achilles

• Peleus: chosen for Thetis by the gods because they feared a prophecy that said her child would be greater than Cronus. He was a mortal man, therefore not as great a threat.

• In attendance were mortals, gods, and goddesses; however, the couple purposefully did not invite Eris, the goddess of discord, to the celebration. Angered and outraged, she came to the wedding anyway.

• Upon her arrival, Eris tossed a golden apple onto a banquet table and stated that it would belong to the fairest person in attendance.

Three goddesses in Three goddesses in attendance reached for attendance reached for

the apple at once!the apple at once!

They were…They were…Hera:Hera:• Daughter of Cronus Daughter of Cronus

and Rheaand Rhea• Zeus’s wife and sisterZeus’s wife and sister• Worshipped as Worshipped as

goddess of marriage goddess of marriage and birthand birth

• Queen of the godsQueen of the gods• Sacred animal: Sacred animal:

peacock (symbolic of peacock (symbolic of her pride)her pride)

AthenaAthena• Perceived as a threat Perceived as a threat

by Zeus. He by Zeus. He swallowed her as an swallowed her as an infant; however, she infant; however, she was later born as a was later born as a full-grown woman.full-grown woman.

• Became Zeus’s Became Zeus’s favorite daughter by favorite daughter by his first wife, Metishis first wife, Metis

• Goddess of wisdom Goddess of wisdom and armsand arms

• Accompanied by the Accompanied by the goddess of victory, goddess of victory, NikeNike

AphroditeAphrodite• Zeus’s supposed, Zeus’s supposed,

adopted daughteradopted daughter• Goddess of love (lust) Goddess of love (lust)

and beautyand beauty• Created from the Created from the

removed genitals of removed genitals of Uranus at the hands of Uranus at the hands of CronusCronus

Who won out?Who won out?• All three goddesses appealed to All three goddesses appealed to ZeusZeus

for the apple. for the apple. • He knew better than to choose among He knew better than to choose among

them.them.• He placed the decision on He placed the decision on ParisParis, the , the

prince of Troy and the most “prince of Troy and the most “beautiful beautiful man alive.”man alive.”

Fair Fight?• Although the decision was supposed to be

made without prejudice, all of the goddesses pled their cases to Paris and offered him a gift if they were the winner (chosen to be the “fairest of them all”).

Hera•Offered him power

Athena•Bribed him with wealth

Aphrodite• Promised

him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world

After a lengthy assessment, Paris chose Aphrodite.

• He was, in return, granted the hand of Helen, the wife of Menelaus of Sparta.

• Helen was known around the world for her beauty. Men fell instantly in love / lust with her.

• She was a mortal daughter of Zeus that had been created from the former’s union with Leda, while in the form of a swan.

The TheftThe Theft• Against the advice of his sister, Against the advice of his sister, CassandraCassandra, Paris set , Paris set

off on a voyage to Sparta. When he arrived, he off on a voyage to Sparta. When he arrived, he announced himself as an ambassador from Troy and announced himself as an ambassador from Troy and was treated with great hospitality by the king, was treated with great hospitality by the king, MenelausMenelaus..

• Shortly after receiving his visitor, the king had to Shortly after receiving his visitor, the king had to attend a funeral in another land. Paris attend a funeral in another land. Paris kidnappedkidnapped Helen, along with a great deal of the country’s Helen, along with a great deal of the country’s wealth. wealth.

• Oddly enough, the couple was married only a few Oddly enough, the couple was married only a few days after returning to Troy.days after returning to Troy.

What’s a husband to do?• Menelaus, angered by the indecency,

gathered together Helen’s former suitors. • Each one of these men had pledged an oath

to her father, Tyndarecus, protect her before her husband was chosen.

• Odysseus, protagonist of The Odyssey, was among the men and went to Troy with Menelaus to demand Helen’s return. When they were denied, it became clear that war was the only means of resolve.

Rallying the TroopsRallying the Troops• Helen was indeed a Helen was indeed a

beautiful woman; in beautiful woman; in fact, there is a phrase fact, there is a phrase associated with her. associated with her. She was said to have She was said to have had the face “that had the face “that launched a thousand launched a thousand ships.”ships.”

• In addition to In addition to Odysseus, several other Odysseus, several other notable heroes went to notable heroes went to seek her return seek her return including: Achilles, including: Achilles, Ajax, and Hercules.Ajax, and Hercules.

• After collecting a massive army, Menelaus After collecting a massive army, Menelaus chose chose AgamemnonAgamemnon to be the commanding to be the commanding general. general.

• All seemed to be well until one of the men killed All seemed to be well until one of the men killed a a stagstag in the forest of the goddess, in the forest of the goddess, DianaDiana. .

• Highly angered and blaming Agamemnon, she Highly angered and blaming Agamemnon, she vowed that she would not let the wind blow until vowed that she would not let the wind blow until a sacrifice was made. a sacrifice was made.

• A seer named Calchas proclaimed that he must A seer named Calchas proclaimed that he must sacrifice his daughter, sacrifice his daughter, IphigeniaIphigenia, to calm the , to calm the fury of the goddess. fury of the goddess.

• Seeing this was the only way to launch his ships, Seeing this was the only way to launch his ships, he agreed; the young girl was executed on an he agreed; the young girl was executed on an alter. As her blood trickled on the alter, the wind alter. As her blood trickled on the alter, the wind began to blow.began to blow.

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!• It took a long time for the army It took a long time for the army

to finally land on the beaches of to finally land on the beaches of Troy. Troy.

• They might never have gotten They might never have gotten there without the help of there without the help of Telephus, who had been Telephus, who had been wounded by Achilles.wounded by Achilles.

• The oracle at Delphi had The oracle at Delphi had prophesied that only the man prophesied that only the man who wounded him could heal who wounded him could heal him. him.

• Achilles agreed to heal Telephus Achilles agreed to heal Telephus in exchange for information in exchange for information about the whereabouts of Troy.about the whereabouts of Troy.

An appeal to the king…

• Once again, Menelaus went to Priam, king of Troy, and asked for Helen’s return.

• They were refused yet again.

The Trojan WarThe Trojan War• This event lasted for ten years.

• During this time, many lives were lost as the battling countries fought to see who should keep Helen.

Notable Deaths:• Patroclus: brother (rumored friend) of

Achilles, killed by Hector (son of Priam and leader of the Trojan army).

• Hector: killed by Achilles. His body was mutilated and dragged behind a chariot.

• Achilles: killed by Paris after being shot in the ankle with an arrow. After his death, Odysseus and Ajax fought over his armor.

• Ajax: went insane and killed himself after losing in combat to Odysseus.

Toward the end of the war…Toward the end of the war…

• Odysseus came up with a plot to get inside Odysseus came up with a plot to get inside Troy. Troy.

• He built an enormous horse and placed it He built an enormous horse and placed it outside the gates of the city.outside the gates of the city.

• Inside of the horse, a squad of men were Inside of the horse, a squad of men were hidden.hidden.

• The Trojans, thinking this was a symbol of The Trojans, thinking this was a symbol of defeat, brought the structure inside the walls.defeat, brought the structure inside the walls.

• It was said that Athena aided Odysseus in this It was said that Athena aided Odysseus in this plot because she was still angry that she had not plot because she was still angry that she had not been chosen to receive the golden apple.been chosen to receive the golden apple.

Conclusion of the WarConclusion of the War• After After SinonSinon helped the horse to helped the horse to

enter the gates of Troy, the men enter the gates of Troy, the men inside waited until nightfall.inside waited until nightfall.

• As the Trojans slept, the Spartans As the Trojans slept, the Spartans climbed out of the structure and climbed out of the structure and slew the sleeping city’s populace.slew the sleeping city’s populace.

After the WarAfter the War• Menelaus: wanted to kill his wife, Menelaus: wanted to kill his wife,

Helen, for her alleged infidelity; Helen, for her alleged infidelity; however, he was charmed by her however, he was charmed by her and allowed her to live. and allowed her to live.

• Odysseus set sail to return home to Odysseus set sail to return home to his wife and child, Telemachus. It his wife and child, Telemachus. It is at this point that ….is at this point that ….

The OdysseyThe Odyssey begins!begins!