1. The Trojan War Before The Odyssey there was…

2. The Trojan War 1193-1184 B.C. (ten years)

3. Real Reasons for War Commerce & Trade disputes between Greece and Asia Minor But, let’s be honest, these reasons are boring and common. Mythology spices it up a bit…

4. How to Ruin a Perfectly Good Wedding in Four Easy Steps 1.Forget to invite a really rude goddess. 2.Have three good-looking but conceited goddesses fight over a gift. 3.Have someone fall in love with someone else’s wife. 4.Take the wife anyway.

5. The Goddesses Eris (discord) –Not invited –Gets angry –Tosses apple “for the fairest one” Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena –Want apple –Begin to quarrel –Zeus finds a sucker –I mean mortal!—to judge

6. And now let’s bribe the twit… Hera –Offers political power He refuses since he’s already a prince Athena –Offers success in war He’s a lover not a fighter, yo’. Aphrodite –Offers him the most beautiful woman in the world Well, he is a lovaaa not an fighta…yo’. Oh yeah, and it didn’t hurt Aphrodite’s chances that they were all naked and Aphrodite happens to be the goddess of beauty. Literally, beauty personified. Picture CENSORED Get your minds out of the gutter, you filth.

7. The Men who started the WAR Paris (the sucker) –Chose Aphrodite, because she promised him Helen + King Menelaus of Sparta –Helen’s husband (oh, snap!) + Agamemnon –Menelaus’ brother –King and Leader of all Greeks = War against Troy

8. Helen Paris wins her She leaves her husband (unwillingly…kidnapped…she gets the blame for starting the war, how unfair…unless she wasn’t a very unwilling hostage. Hrmmm…Paris was hot...who knows….) Her husband and his brother go after her Called the “face that launched a thousand ships”

9. Rrrreeeady: Fight! GREECE Menelaus—king & husband Helen Helen (ish) Agamemnon—king and leader Achilles—chief, great warrior Ajax—chief Odysseus—smart, horse idea Hera, Athena, Poseidon, and others TROY King Priam Paris—kidnaps Helen Hektor—chief, bother of Paris Aeneas—only survivor, founder of Rome Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, and others

10. Beware of Greeks bearing gifts Odysseus (Greek) comes up with the Trojan Horse The phrase “Beware of Greeks bearing gift” is born Greeks trick the Trojans Greeks win Only (-ish) Trojan survivor is Aeneas, who later founds Rome

11. What is an epic poem? Long narrative poem revolving around actions of a hero Complex, with many plot turns and characters Cover a long span of time- not told at one sitting Has a physically impressive hero of national or historical importance Vast setting involving much of the known physical world Journey Supernatural forces at work Glorification of the hero at the end Action begins in medias res (in the middle of things)

12. In the Beginning was….. the invocation of the Muse. The poet begins by stating the tale’s subject and asking for poetic inspiration from a guiding spirit.

13. The Telemachy The first four books of The Odyssey. Named for Telemachus and follow the action of Odysseus’ son Explains relationship of gods to men - role of fate and choice Introduces Penelope and situation at Ithaca (wicked suitors) Prelude

14. If we are fortunate, if the gods and muses are smiling, about every generation someone comes along to inspire the imagination for the journey each of us takes. - Bill Moyers

15. Ithaka by Cavafy As you set out for Ithaka, hope the voyage is a long one …