Trojan War

• Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures,

• Eris, goddess of strife

Peleus-mortal man who marries Thetis

Thetis-sea nymph whose son would be greater than his father

Marriage feast of Peleus and Thetis

To the prettiest of them all

Judgment of Paris:

Hera

•offered to make him king of Europe and Asia

Athena

•offered wisdom and skill in war

Aphrodite

•offered the love of the world's most beautiful woman

Achilles, son of Peleus and Thetis:

•tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx

•forgot to wet the heel she held him by

•raised by Chiron, centaur

•war lord

Helen:

Daughter of Zeus and Leda

Most beautiful woman in the world

Wife of King Menelaus of Sparta

•afraid that anyone she chose, would offend the other suitors

•each suitor swore an oath, that they would defend the interests of whoever Helen chose to marry

•Any who refused to swear this oath, would not be eligible

•All the suitors agreed and swore the oaths to accept whoever became Helen's husband

Menelaus

Agamemnon:

•married Clytemnestra

•had five children: four daughters and one son

•King of Mycenae •became the most powerful prince in Greece

Menelaus:

•King of Sparta

•chosen to marry Helen

•fights bravely and well, even when wounded

Menelaus:

•recovered the body of Patroclus after he is killed by Hector

•depicted as a reasonably wise and just leader

Agamemnon's and Menelaus’ family:

•marred by rape, murder, incest, and treachery

•Greeks believed this violent past brought misfortune upon the entire family

Paris:

Son of Priam, brother of Hector

No time, kleos

Why?

Trojan War

Mycenaean kings and those who were suitors for Helen

Trojan War

War lords:Achilles

Ajax

Sacrifice of Iphigenia:

•Artemes punished Agaemenon by refusing to allow the winds to blow toward Troy

•sacrifice of Iphigenia was required to restore the winds

Conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles:

• Chryses, who’d come to the ships to find his daughter,Chryseis

• Briseis