Black Ships Before Troy By Rosemary Sutcliff

The Story Based on Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad” The Iliad was written by Homer (800 b.c.e)– Greek Poet The story of the Trojan War actually happened 400-500 years before Homer made up his version

Setting Greece Troy (city-state; current day Turkey)

CHARACTERS

The GREEKS aka The Aegeans… (They’re called the Aegeans because they are on the Aegean sea.)

ACHILLES Son of Peleus and Thetis Powerful Greek warrior Proud and headstrong Mad at Agamemnon for taking his war prize, Briseis

AGAMEMNON Greek King (King of Mycenae) Leader of Greek Army Brother of Menelaus (Sparta) Arrogant, selfish Often thinks of his own needs before those of his people Took Achilles’ war prize (Briseis)

PATROCLUS Close friend and advisor of Achilles Grew up with Achilles Devoted to Achilles and the Greeks

Odysseus Warrior and clever Greek commander Good public speaker Helps mediate between Agamemnon and Achilles

Diomedes (aka Tydides) Youngest of Greek commanders Bold and impetuous After Achilles withdraws from battle, Athena inspires him with so much courage that he wounds two gods: Aphrodite and Ares

Ajax Greek commander Second mightiest Greek warrior after Achilles So big and strong that he wounded Hector twice with boulders

Nestor Greek King (Pylos) Oldest Greek commander Very wise Advisor to military commanders, esp. Agamemnon Good public speaker (Who was the other one??....)

Menelaus King of Sparta Younger brother of Agamemnon Quieter and less imposing and arrogant as Agamemnon Not the mightiest of warriors Married to HELEN, who was taken by the Trojan prince, PARIS

The Myrmidons Greek soldiers under Achilles’ command

Calchas A soothsayer Identifies the cause of a plague ravaging the Greek army (which caused the initial rift between Agamemnon and Achilles)

Phoenix A kindly, old warrior Helped raise Achilles while he himself was young Achilles deeply cares for him Mediates between Achilles and Agamemnon

THE TROJANS

Priam King of Troy Husband of Hecuba Father to 50 Trojan Warriors (including Hector and Paris) Too old to fight, but level headed and earns respect of Trojans and Greeks

Queen of Troy Wife of Priam Mother of Hector and Paris Hecuba Queen of Troy Wife of Priam Mother of Hector and Paris

Hector One of the most important characters of the Greek mythology. He is a Trojan prince and a great fighter in the Trojan War. He is the eldest son of King Priam of Troy and Hecuba

Paris Paris - A son of Priam and Hecuba and brother of Hector. Paris’s abduction of the beautiful Helen, wife of Menelaus, sparked the Trojan War. Paris is self-centered and often unmanly. He fights effectively with a bow and arrow (never with the more manly sword or spear) but often lacks the spirit for battle and prefers to sit in his room while others fight for him, thus earning both Hector’s and Helen’s scorn

Helen Originally Greek and married to Menelaus (Greek king) Helen Originally Greek and married to Menelaus (Greek king). She ran away to Troy with Paris and became his wife.

Gods and Goddesses

Thetis is a sea nymph- goddess of the water; mother of Achilles

Hera Hera (Roman name: Juno), wife of Zeus and queen of the ancient Greek gods, represented the ideal woman and was goddess of marriage and the family. However, she was perhaps most famous for her jealous and vengeful nature.

Athene (Athene is the Greek spelling; Athena is Roman spelling) Athena- the goddess of wisdom and military victory, and also the patron of the city of Athens

Aphrodite In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the goddess of Love, Beauty, Pleasure, and Happiness

Zeus Zeus was the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who ruled as king of the gods of Mount Olympus (Jupiter in Roman)