1. T HE O DYSSEY Homer

2. M YTHOLOGY The group of stories (folklore/legends) associated with a culture Believed to be true Explains natural events that were not understood Zeus

3. T HE G REEK W ORLD People could accumulate wealth through war or raids on other cities. It was acceptable to steal goods and/or people from another city. In Ithaca (where Odysseus rules) wealth was measured in possessions, livestock, servants, and slaves. Greece was not a unified country like it is today; it was made up of lots of little kingdoms.

4. A NCIENT P EOPLE TO K NOW Odysseus (Ulysses) Ruler of Ithaca Penelope is his wife Telemachus is his son Priam Ruler of Troy His sons are Hector and Paris Menelaus Ruler of Sparta His wife’s name is Helen

5. H OMER Lived in Greece Lived about 850 BC (the dates vary; 850 BC is the best estimate) Was a traveling poet Wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey Believed to be blind

6. E PIC H ERO Q UALITIES Embodies the spirit and values of a particular society Superhuman!- Is braver, stronger, smarter, and more clever than the average person On a quest Something of great value to him or his people Meets Villains Try to keep him from his quest Villains are uglier, more evil and more cunning than the average villain Has one important weakness The divine world interferes with the human world

7. T HE A PPLE OF D ISCORD Peleus and Thetis, a sea-goddess, are getting married. Eris, the goddess of discord, was not invited to the wedding and was angry. She storms in and throws a golden apple down on the banquet table. “The apple belongs to whomever is the fairest,” said Eris. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all claim the apple. They want Zeus to decide who should get it. This puts Zeus in a tough spot as he’s related to all of them in a way.

8. T HE A PPLE OF D ISCORD Zeus decides to let Paris decide who should get the apple. The women all try to bribe Paris: Hera promises him power if he chooses her. Athena promises wealth. Aphrodite promises him the most beautiful woman in the world. Who will he choose?

9. T HE A PPLE OF D ISCORD Paris chooses Aphrodite. In turn, Aphrodite gives Paris Helen. Whoops! What’s the problem with that?

10. T HE A PPLE OF D ISCORD Paris goes to Sparta where Menelaus treats him as an honored guest. When Menelaus leaves for a funeral, Paris steals (?) Helen, along with a considerable portion of Menelaus’s wealth. All the former suitors agree to fight to get Helen back. Thus, the face that launched 1,000 ships:

11. T HE A PPLE OF D ISCORD Helen’s! This begins the Trojan War.