1. The Journey of a Lifetime: Notes and Background
The Odyssey
The Journey of a Lifetime:
Notes and Background

2. Odysseus…….a different kind of hero

3. Background of Greek History
Western Civilization began about 3000 years ago
Trojan War: 1st believed a myth; then evidence found in Turkey
Trojan War: ~ 1200BC
Troy – led by Hector
Achaaens – led by Agamemnon, Menelaus, Odysseus
Homer, the author of The Odyssey & Iliad, was believed to be blind and lived ~ BC; little is known about him

4. Greek Civilization
At time of Trojan War – Greece was in a “Dark Ages” – economic struggles, no writing system, no art or culture of its own
All communication was passed on orally
But! They could sail, and adopted the cultures of other civilizations they visited, such as Egypt and the Far East
The 1st Olympic games was one result
So was an alphabetic writing system
Thus, Homer could finally tell the
tale…

5. What Brought Odysseus to Troy?
Helen is married to Menelaus
Paris of Troy seduces her & takes her away
Trojan War begins – Odysseus goes to support Menelaus & Agamemnon
Odysseus wins with “Trojan Horse”
Menelaus takes Helen Home
Agamemnon goes home – but is murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover

6. In retaliation of Agamemnon’s murder, his children, Orestes and Electra, murder their mother, Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus
Oh, what a tangled web we weave…….

7. Meanwhile, Odysseus is left to wander for 10 years ……..
ZEUS
CYCLOPS
POSEIDAN
Poseidan is mad at Odysseus’s pridefulness and that he blinded his son, Cyclops
So, he keeps wrecking ships, & killing off Odysseus’ men, but can’t kill him because Zeus won’t allow it (Athena is Daddy’s girl – and she likes Odysseus)

8. “The Face that Launched 1000Ships”

9. Where does Odysseus go?

10. The Gods and their whims are forever tied to their human Greek counterparts

11. REMEMBER:
Greeks understood mythology as a religion that they completely believed
Out of respect, they worshipped various gods in the belief that the more they pleased them, the more favorable their lives would be
Individual city states would adopt a certain god, hoping it would give their state an advantage over another
So, Homer’s Odyssey was definitely a true reflection of Greek beliefs, way of life, and moral code

12. Fate v. Free Will: The Eternal Struggle

13. The Structure of the Odyssey: 3 Stories in One
One: What’s going on in Ithaca with wife Penelope and son Telemachus while Odysseus is gone
Two: The story of Odysseus’s 10-year wanderings
Three: These all come together when Odysseus gets back to Ithaca and destroys his enemies

14. Themes in the Odyssey Appreciation for & love of home
Overcoming obstacles & temptations in life’s journey to reach a place of peace and joy
The importance of using wisdom, manners, and following a religious code to have good fortune in life
The dangers and misfortune that come to those with too much pride or ego

15. The Odyssey: Modern Lessons from Ancient Times