1. The Iliad (background)

2. How it all began... Wedding banquet on Mt. Olympus Eris, goddess of discord Golden apple Argument between Aphrodite, Hera, Athena Zeus chooses Paris, Prince of Troy, as judge

3. The bribes... Hera offers to make Paris ruler of all Europe and Asia Athena promises to give Troy victory over all the Greeks Aphrodite offers him the most beautiful woman in the world

4. Paris chooses Aphrodite, who gives him the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen

5. Menelaus, King of Sparta and husband to Helen, calls upon his brother, Agamemnon, to help him get Helen back. Together they call upon all their Greek allies to help them wage war against Troy. Achilles Odysseus Ironically, two of the greatest heroes of Greece try to avoid going to Troy at all.

6. . AULIS Map of Ancient Greece

7. The Greeks meet at Aulis before sailing for Troy. Artemis' anger. Unfavorable winds. Demand of sacrifice. Agamemnon agrees.

8. The Trojan War For 9 years, the war has been indecisive. Homer begins The Iliad in the 10th year of the war.

9. The Quarrel... Chryses (Apollo's priest) wants Chryseis back and offers a substantial ransom Agamemnon refuses to give her up. Apollo send rain of arrows over Greek camp. Men force Agamemnon to relinquish Chryseis, so Agamemnon takes Achilles' war prize, Briseis.

10. An angry Achilles withdraws himself and his men from the fight... And so it begins.