2. The Trojan War (The stuff that happens before The Odyssey begins!)

3. Homer gathered stories of war to write two epics: The Iliad and The Odyssey.

4. The Iliad This epic covers the 10 year Trojan War fought in Troy. Despite long-standing hostility, the Trojans and Spartans ultimately battle over the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen.

5. Paris, Prince of Troy, is chosen to judge a beauty contest of the Greek goddesses. They all bribe him for the prize. Aphrodite wins because she promises him the love of Helen.

6. Helen is married to Menelaus. She falls in love with Paris and leaves for Troy to be with him. Agamemnon, bro. of Menelaus, leads warriors to Troy to retaliate and take Helen back home.

7. Troy is protected by a strong wall that cannot be penetrated by the enemy. Thus, the Spartans ’ attacks are unsuccessful. Odysseus devises a plan to get into the city.

8. The Spartans build a huge wooden horse to hand over as a peace offering. The horse is filled with Spartan soldiers ready to attack. The Trojans accept the horse and bring it into their city.

9. In the night, the Spartans invade Troy. They kill, destroy, and set fires. Once Troy is completely overcome, the Spartans prepare to return home without Achilles who has been killed in battle.

10. Despite their victory, the Spartans face retribution from the gods for disobeying orders during the war. Odysseus ’ journey home begins the next epic, The Odyssey.

11. The saga begins… Odysseus’ journey is cursed by the gods because of 2 instructions from the gods that he ignored during the Trojan War: 1. Do not defy the gods. *The Spartans stole & destroyed a statue the Trojans constructed to honor the gods. 2. Do not completely destroy Troy. *The Spartans burnt Troy to the ground & killed/abducted the Trojans. Therefore, the gods have cursed Odysseus’ journey home with deadly obstacles.