Today: The Story of the Trojan War 1/14/08 BR- What do you think are appropriate reasons for a country to go to war with another? Today: The Story of the Trojan War

Cast of Characters: You should Make a chart that explains how each of these people played a role in the Trojan War Helen Paris Aphrodite Menelaus Agamemnon Hector Achilles Odysseus

Chapter 5 - The Trojan War The story of the Trojan war is told in Homer’s epic poems Iliad and Odyssey. Iliad (Troy is also called Ilion) is the story of the fall of Troy. Odyssey is the story of Odysseus and his journey home after the war.

Time Line Athena, Aphrodite, Hera have a contest as to who is most beautiful. Paris (of Troy) gives the prize of most beautiful to Aphrodite. In return, Aphrodite (godess of love) makes the most beautiful woman in the world (Helen) fall in love with him Helen was Aphrodite’s bribe to Paris (all 3 had offered him a bribe.) The face that launched 1,000 Ships?

Time Line 2. Helen is already married to Menelaus of Sparta. Paris visits Menelaus and while under Meneleaus’ protection he steals his wife and hurries back to Troy. This was a huge insult not only to Menelaus but to Zeus (Remember the story of the old man and woman from ch. 2?)

Time Line 3. Menelaus goes to his brother Agamemnon (who had recently united the Greeks in a loose sort of nation) to help him get back his wife and punish the Trojans. 4. Agamemnon rounds up all of the big names of Greece and their armies (Odysseus, Achilles, and others) and sails to Greece.

Time Line 5. The Greeks lay siege to the city of Troy for 10 years! Due to the Trojan defenses and problems between the Greeks It seems that the city will survive. Untill..

The Trojan Horse

Time Line 6. Wily Odysseus comes up with an idea to get into the city (the Trojan Horse.) The Greeks build a giant horse. In the middle of the night they put their best soldiers inside and the rest of the Greeks pack up and make it look like they have abandoned the siege. In reality they have just sailed down the coast.

Time Line 7. The Trojans take the “horse” into the city and throw a big party - because they had finally beaten the Greeks. That night, when everybody is asleep from the party, the Greeks inside jump out and attack. The surprise attack allows the Greeks to take the city.

The city is sacked (robbed and burnt to the ground.)

The rest of the story.. There is a lot more to it (Hector, Achilles, Paris and many other prominent characters are killed during the war.) Odysseus is the only person who makes it home. It takes him another 10 years to get back and he has many adventures (His story is told in the Odyssey.

Assignment: 45 Points - Due Wednesday Make sure you complete the cast of characters chart, and read chapter 5. Then - design a 6 panel cartoon that tells the story of the Trojan War.