The Iliad and The Trojan War Please add if necessary to the summary in the Writing Assignments section of your notebook. These are the main events of the Trojan War.
What follows… Here is a quick “crash course” through the lengthy Trojan War and Homer’s first epic, The Iliad. While this does not include every character, battle, and event, this provides the main “beats” of the Trojan War.
What started the war? Zeus, king of the gods, saw that the earth was over-populated, especially by his demigods – children Zeus fathered with human women. The Trojan War was his opportunity to depopulate the earth.
The Apple of Discord This was a golden apple that went up for grabs at the marriage of Peleus and Thetis (parents of Achilles). Everyone was invited with the exception of Eris, goddess of discord. Angered, she threw the golden apple into the proceedings of the reception. Inscribed on the apple, was “for the fairest one.” Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite hoped to claim the apple and asked Zeus to make the decision of who was “fairest.” Instead Zeus, choice Paris, a Trojan mortal, to make the decision.
Who did Paris choose? Hera = vast wealth Athena = heroic victories in battle Aphrodite = the most beautiful woman in the world Enter Helen… the most beautiful woman in the world…
Helen While on a diplomatic mission, Paris immediately fell in love with Helen. Helen’s husband, Menelaus, treated Paris as a royal guest in his home. While Menelaus was at a funeral, Paris stole Helen to be his wife in Troy.
“The Face That Launched 1,000 Ships” Menelaus partners with Greek commander, Agamemnon to wage war against Troy and reclaim Helen.
Assembling the Army… Agamemnon and Menelaus assemble a fierce army of Greek soldiers. Agamemnon and Menelaus recruit two of the greatest Greek warriors to help lead their army… Achilles Odysseus
Achilles One of the most powerful and skilled of the Greek warriors. Achilles was dipped in the river Styx at birth making him invincible all over except the ankle which he was held by.
Odysseus Also one of Greece’s most skilled warriors. King of Ithaca. His adventures home are chronicled in The Odyssey.
The War Begins… The Greeks touched down on Troy with a huge naval fleet. The fight continued for nine long years. Neither side was letting up, especially the Greeks.
The Death of Patroclus During the war, a close friend of Achilles, Patroclus, died at the hands of Trojan prince, Hector. Patroclus had worn Achilles’ armor in battle that day, tricking Hector into believing that he was fighting Achilles. Infuriated, Achilles calls out Hector. Achilles kills Hector. Afterwards, Achilles ties Hector to his chariot and drags his body around for nine days.
The Death of Achilles Paris, who was skilled in Archery, launches an arrow to the only vulnerable spot on Achilles’ body… his heel.
The Trojan Horse Tactic An idea came to Odysseus that could help them finally win the war… Odysseus constructed a giant hollow horse, which was given to the Trojans as a gift of surrender (the horse was a sacred animal to the Trojans). Unbeknownst to the Trojans, the Greek soldiers are actually hiding inside the horse… The Trojans take the statue into their gates and celebrate their “victory.”
The Raid of Troy While the Trojans are asleep, the Greeks begin their assault of Troy.
The Fall of Troy… With Troy decimated and destroyed, the Greeks set sail for their respective homelands. Odysseus leads his remaining Achaean soldiers home to Ithaca.