Intro to Mythology A preview of The Iliad

What is a myth? A legendary story that explains the beliefs of a group of people, or their idea about nature. Myths were created before organized religionA legendary story that explains the beliefs of a group of people, or their idea about nature. Myths were created before organized religion

Why did people tell myths? Myths were created in an oral society, when people did not know how to write.Myths were created in an oral society, when people did not know how to write. Myths were used to help make sense out of things that were hard to explain (EX: trying to find the reason for a tragedy)Myths were used to help make sense out of things that were hard to explain (EX: trying to find the reason for a tragedy)

What was the purpose of myths? Offered role modelsOffered role models Gave meaning to lifeGave meaning to life Explained the unexplainableExplained the unexplainable Presented guidelines for learning (children remembered morals and rules through the stories they heardPresented guidelines for learning (children remembered morals and rules through the stories they heard

Greek Mythology Greeks were passionate about their godsGreeks were passionate about their gods Greeks believed their gods were enormous. They believed some gods were over 25 feet tallGreeks believed their gods were enormous. They believed some gods were over 25 feet tall Gods had both good and bad powers, as well as good and bad intentionsGods had both good and bad powers, as well as good and bad intentions Gods and goddesses ate ambrosia and drank nectar- this was special to them onlyGods and goddesses ate ambrosia and drank nectar- this was special to them only

The Greek Gods The TitansThe Titans The OlympiansThe Olympians The Lesser GodsThe Lesser Gods

The Titans The Titans, also known as the elder gods, ruled the earth before the Olympians overthrew themThe Titans, also known as the elder gods, ruled the earth before the Olympians overthrew them Their leader, Cronus, was defeated by his son, ZeusTheir leader, Cronus, was defeated by his son, Zeus During their rule, the Titans were associated with the various planetsDuring their rule, the Titans were associated with the various planets There are 18 gods that belong to the TitansThere are 18 gods that belong to the Titans

The Olympians The Olympians are a group of 12 gods who ruled after the overthrow of the TitansThe Olympians are a group of 12 gods who ruled after the overthrow of the Titans All the Olympians are related in some wayAll the Olympians are related in some way They are named after their dwelling place, Mount OlympusThey are named after their dwelling place, Mount Olympus

gods#greek-gods gods#greek-gods

Important Gods Zeus- overthrows Cronus; leader of gods;Zeus- overthrows Cronus; leader of gods; Hades- brother of Zeus; leader of underworldHades- brother of Zeus; leader of underworld Hera- Zeus’s wife and sister; protector of marriageHera- Zeus’s wife and sister; protector of marriage Poseidon- god of the seaPoseidon- god of the sea Ares- god of warAres- god of war Aphrodite- goddess of love, desire and beautyAphrodite- goddess of love, desire and beauty

Intro to The Iliad A wedding took place in which the goddess Eris was not invited. In revenge she threw a golden apple inscribed “to the fairest” into the banquet hall, hoping to cause troubleA wedding took place in which the goddess Eris was not invited. In revenge she threw a golden apple inscribed “to the fairest” into the banquet hall, hoping to cause trouble The choice of the fairest came down to three goddess: Aphrodite, Athena and HeraThe choice of the fairest came down to three goddess: Aphrodite, Athena and Hera Zeus was asked to make the final decision- he refusedZeus was asked to make the final decision- he refused

The Iliad Zeus sent them to Mount Ida to find Paris and have him make the final decision (Paris’s father, Priam, sent him away from Troy because of a prophecy that he would one day bring destruction to the city)Zeus sent them to Mount Ida to find Paris and have him make the final decision (Paris’s father, Priam, sent him away from Troy because of a prophecy that he would one day bring destruction to the city) Each of the three goddesses offers Paris a bribe to name her the fairestEach of the three goddesses offers Paris a bribe to name her the fairest Hera offers to make him lord of Europe and AsiaHera offers to make him lord of Europe and Asia

The Iliad Athena promises to make him a great military leaderAthena promises to make him a great military leader Aphrodite promises that he would have the most beautiful woman in the world for his wifeAphrodite promises that he would have the most beautiful woman in the world for his wife Paris picks Aphrodite, which angers both Hera and Athena and causes them to dislike the Trojans in generalParis picks Aphrodite, which angers both Hera and Athena and causes them to dislike the Trojans in general

The Iliad The most beautiful woman in the world was Helen. Unfortunately, Helen was already married to Menelaus, the king of SpartaThe most beautiful woman in the world was Helen. Unfortunately, Helen was already married to Menelaus, the king of Sparta Before Helen married Menelaus, her father made all of her suitors swear to protect her eventual husband if he ever needed itBefore Helen married Menelaus, her father made all of her suitors swear to protect her eventual husband if he ever needed it Paris visits Menelaus, abducts Helen, (seemingly with her cooperation) and takes some of his fortuneParis visits Menelaus, abducts Helen, (seemingly with her cooperation) and takes some of his fortune

The Iliad Menelaus, and his brother Agamemnon, call on Helen’s suitors and others to help recover HelenMenelaus, and his brother Agamemnon, call on Helen’s suitors and others to help recover Helen 1200 ships sail to Troy where they fight for years to take the city1200 ships sail to Troy where they fight for years to take the city The story opens in the tenth year of the war.The story opens in the tenth year of the war.

mysteries-the-trojan-war#ancient-mysteries-the- trojan-war mysteries-the-trojan-war#ancient-mysteries-the- trojan-war

Part 1 – Part 2 Nine years after the start of the Trojan War the Greeks (Achaeans) capture a pair of beautiful women, Chryseis and Briseis.Nine years after the start of the Trojan War the Greeks (Achaeans) capture a pair of beautiful women, Chryseis and Briseis. Agamemnon, the leader of the Achaean forces takes Chryseis as his prize, and Achilles, the Achaeans greatest warrior, claims Briseis.Agamemnon, the leader of the Achaean forces takes Chryseis as his prize, and Achilles, the Achaeans greatest warrior, claims Briseis. Chryseis’s father, Chryses offers a ransom for his daughter, but Agamemnon refuses to give her back.Chryseis’s father, Chryses offers a ransom for his daughter, but Agamemnon refuses to give her back.

Part (Cont.) Chryses prays to Apollo, who sends a plague to the Achaeans.Chryses prays to Apollo, who sends a plague to the Achaeans. When Agamemnon learns that Chryseis is the cause, he gives her back but demands Briseis from Achilles as compensation.When Agamemnon learns that Chryseis is the cause, he gives her back but demands Briseis from Achilles as compensation. Furious, Achilles refuses to fight for Agamemnon any longer.Furious, Achilles refuses to fight for Agamemnon any longer.

Part 1-2 (Cont.) Achilles asks his mother the sea nymph Thetis to enlist the help of Zeus to destroy the Achaeans.Achilles asks his mother the sea nymph Thetis to enlist the help of Zeus to destroy the Achaeans. With Zeus supporting the Trojans and Achilles refusing to fight, the Achaeans suffer great losses.With Zeus supporting the Trojans and Achilles refusing to fight, the Achaeans suffer great losses. After a long time of fighting, the Trojans push the Achaean army all the way behind the ramparts and destroy their ships.After a long time of fighting, the Trojans push the Achaean army all the way behind the ramparts and destroy their ships. Defeat seems certain, since the Achaeans are stranded in Troy with no ships.Defeat seems certain, since the Achaeans are stranded in Troy with no ships.

Part 2 Achilles feels guilty, so he agrees to a plan that will allow his beloved friend Patroclus to take his place in battle.Achilles feels guilty, so he agrees to a plan that will allow his beloved friend Patroclus to take his place in battle. Patroclus helps the Achaeans push the Trojans away from the ships and back to the city walls.Patroclus helps the Achaeans push the Trojans away from the ships and back to the city walls. The counterattack soon falters and Aplollo knocks Patroclus to the ground where Hector slays him.The counterattack soon falters and Aplollo knocks Patroclus to the ground where Hector slays him.

Part 3-4 (Cont.) Achilles is so sad about Patroclus he agrees to reconcile with Agamemnon.Achilles is so sad about Patroclus he agrees to reconcile with Agamemnon. Thetis goes to Mount Olympus and persuades the god Hephaestus to forge Achilles a new suit of armor.Thetis goes to Mount Olympus and persuades the god Hephaestus to forge Achilles a new suit of armor.

Part 3-4 The Trojans believe they are safe, so they do not expect Achilles to return to battle.The Trojans believe they are safe, so they do not expect Achilles to return to battle. Achilles catches the Trojans off guard and slaughters many.Achilles catches the Trojans off guard and slaughters many. The Trojans flee behind city walls.The Trojans flee behind city walls. Hector, the greatest of the Trojan warriors, fights Achilles. Achilles kills him in battle and drags his body (hooked to the back of his horse) back to the Achaeans’ camp.Hector, the greatest of the Trojan warriors, fights Achilles. Achilles kills him in battle and drags his body (hooked to the back of his horse) back to the Achaeans’ camp.

Part 3-4 Each day for the next 9 days Achilles drags Hector’s body in circles around Patroclus’s funeral.Each day for the next 9 days Achilles drags Hector’s body in circles around Patroclus’s funeral. Finally the gods agree that Hector should be properly buried. Hermes escorts King Priam, Hecor’s father, into the Achaean’s camp.Finally the gods agree that Hector should be properly buried. Hermes escorts King Priam, Hecor’s father, into the Achaean’s camp. Priam evokes the memory of Achilles’s father Peleus and Achilles agrees to return the body.Priam evokes the memory of Achilles’s father Peleus and Achilles agrees to return the body. The war comes to a temporary truce.The war comes to a temporary truce.