Overview
This lecture covers the mythological events and main characters surrounding the Trojan War, as told in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, including its origins, key conflicts, and aftermath.
Foundations of the Trojan War
- Homer, a blind poet, authored the Iliad and the Odyssey, epic poems about the Trojan War and its heroes.
- Troy was a wealthy kingdom with supposedly unbreakable walls, ruled by King Priam and Queen Hecuba.
- Notable Trojans include Hector (heroic prince), Cassandra (prophetess cursed never to be believed), and Paris (whose actions sparked the war).
- Prophecies foretold that Paris would cause Troy's destruction, but he was spared as a child and raised by a shepherd.
Origins of the Conflict
- Zeus fathered Helen, the most beautiful woman, who was married to Menelaus, king of Sparta, after all suitors swore to defend her husband.
- Eris, goddess of discord, instigated rivalry among goddesses by offering a golden apple “to the most beautiful,” judged by Paris.
- Paris chose Aphrodite’s bribe: Helen’s love, leading him to abduct Helen from Sparta.
- Paris’s actions fulfilled prophecies and caused the Greek coalition to form under their oath to retrieve Helen.
The Assembling of Heroes
- Greek leaders included Agamemnon (overall commander), Menelaus, Odysseus (known for cunning), Diomedes, and Nestor (wise elder).
- Achilles, invulnerable except for his heel, was the Greeks’ greatest warrior; his friend Patroclus fought alongside him.
- Achilles initially hid from war but was revealed by Odysseus’s trick.
- Divine involvement: various gods and goddesses supported either side based on past grievances and loyalties.
Key Events of the War
- The Greeks besieged Troy for nine years, often raiding nearby settlements.
- Conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon over the captive Briseis led to Achilles withdrawing from battle.
- Paris and Menelaus dueled for Helen, but Paris was rescued by Aphrodite.
- Hector killed Patroclus, thinking him to be Achilles, causing Achilles to rejoin the battle in rage.
- Achilles killed Hector, desecrated his body, but later returned it to Priam.
- Achilles was killed by Paris with Apollo’s guidance.
The Fall of Troy and Aftermath
- Odysseus devised the Trojan Horse, enabling Greeks hidden inside to open Troy’s gates at night.
- Troy was sacked; Priam and Hector’s family were killed or enslaved.
- Cassandra was taken by Agamemnon, later killed with him by his wife Clytemnestra.
- Few Trojans escaped, most notably Aeneas, who would found the Roman lineage.
- Some Greeks returned home, like Menelaus and Helen; Odysseus’s return was long and perilous, told in the Odyssey.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Iliad — Homer’s epic poem recounting the events of the Trojan War.
- Odyssey — Homer’s epic about Odysseus’s journey home post-war.
- Trojan Horse — Giant wooden horse used as a deceptive ploy by Greeks to infiltrate Troy.
- Achaeans — Another name for the Greeks in Homer’s epics.
- Concubine — A woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife.
- Prophecy — Prediction of future events, often by divine inspiration.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review character motivations and alliances for each main figure.
- Read selected passages from the Iliad focusing on Achilles, Hector, and the fall of Troy.
- Study key differences in divine involvement on both sides of the war.