Chronology of Events in The Iliad

• The following events are ordered from earliest to latest, beginning with legendary events.

Chronology of Events

• Oath of Tyndareus
• Wedding of Peleus and Thetis
• Judgment of Paris
• Kidnapping of Helen of Troy
• 1200 BCE – Trojan War (The Iliad takes place during this war).
• Events of The Aeneid (after the Trojan War, but before Rome’s foundation).
• 753 BCE – Foundation of Rome by Romulus and Remus.
• 750 BCE – Homer writes The Iliad and The Odyssey.
• 509 BCE – Foundation of the Roman Republic.
• 19 BCE – Death of Virgil, leaving The Aeneid unfinished.
• 400s CE – Migration/Invasion of Germanic Peoples into Western Europe (Beowulf’s setting).
• 582 CE – Death of the legendary Beowulf.
• 750 CE – Approximate date for the writing of Beowulf.

Key Quotations and Analysis

The Iliad (Homer)

• Quote: “Sing, Goddess, the rage of Achilles.”
• This is the opening line of The Iliad.
• It frames Achilles’ wrath as the central theme.
• It explores Greek values of heroism, glory (kleos), and the consequences of unchecked rage.
• Greek warriors valued personal honor above all, even over loyalty to their leaders.

The Aeneid (Virgil)

• Quote: “I am Aeneas, duty-bound.”
• Aeneas introduces himself.
• It emphasizes his role as Rome’s destined founder.
• Contrasts with Achilles.
• Achilles fights for personal honor, Aeneas prioritizes duty (pietas).
• Romans valued duty to family, gods, and state over individual desires.

Beowulf

• Quote: “Fate goes ever as it must.”
• Beowulf accepts his fate before fighting the dragon.
• It highlights the Germanic concept of wyrd (fate).
• Destiny is inevitable, but heroes still fight bravely.
• It reflects the transition between pagan fatalism and emerging Christian ideas of divine will.

Religion in Ancient & Medieval Lives

• Religion was deeply intertwined with daily life in ancient and medieval societies.
• It shaped personal identity, governance, and cultural values.
• The Iliad, The Aeneid, and Beowulf each portray religion as a guiding, and sometimes disruptive force.
• In The Iliad, the gods are active participants in human affairs.
• Zeus, Athena, and Apollo take sides in the Trojan War, illustrating the Greek belief in divine intervention.
• When Agamemnon dishonors Achilles, Thetis appeals to Zeus, showing how mortals sought divine favor.
• The gods' arbitrary nature reflects Greek anxieties about fate and justice.
• In The Aeneid, divine will is more deterministic.
• Aeneas’ fate is preordained by Jupiter, and his journey to Italy is driven by pietas (duty).
• The Roman gods serve the greater destiny of Rome.
• This reflects Roman values of duty over personal ambition.
• Beowulf presents a fusion of pagan and Christian elements.
• Fate (wyrd) dictates outcomes, yet there are references to a singular, omnipotent God.
• When Beowulf fights Grendel, he acknowledges that “God must decide” the battle.
• This duality reflects the Christianization of Germanic traditions.
• Religion in these texts reveals evolving ideas about divine influence.
• Greek gods are meddlesome.
• Roman gods enforce duty.
• Beowulf bridges pagan and Christian thought.

Impact of Sex

• Sex, as both an act and a symbol, plays a crucial role in these texts.
• It reveals cultural values about power, duty, and morality.
• In The Iliad, sex is a cause of war.
• Paris’ abduction of Helen leads to the Trojan War.
• Women like Helen and Briseis are treated as war prizes.
• It reflects Greek views on women as possessions.
• In The Aeneid, sex is an obstacle to duty.
• Aeneas and Dido’s affair ends in tragedy.
• Aeneas must fulfill his divine mission to found Rome.
• Virgil contrasts passion with responsibility.
• It promotes Roman ideals of state over self.
• Beowulf has little emphasis on sex.
• Women serve as peace-weavers through marriage alliances.
• Wealhtheow represents the ideal of a diplomatic wife who maintains harmony.
• This suggests a Germanic warrior culture where sex was secondary to lineage and loyalty.
• Sex in these texts highlights key values.
• Greek dominance
• Roman duty
• Medieval stability

Reputation & Fame

• Ancient and medieval heroes were deeply concerned with their legacy.
• The Iliad, The Aeneid, and Beowulf each depict honor and reputation as central motivations.
• Achilles fights for kleos (eternal glory).
• He chooses short-lived fame over a long life.
• The Greeks valued individual honor above all.
• Aeneas prioritizes pietas (duty) over personal glory.
• When he sees Hector’s ghost in a dream, he follows his destiny instead of seeking revenge.
• Romans admired discipline over ambition.
• Beowulf seeks eternal renown.
• Before fighting the dragon, he acknowledges that he may die, but “fame after death is the noblest of goals”.
• Germanic culture emphasized legendary deeds.
• These texts reveal evolving ideals.
• Greek self-glory
• Roman duty
• Medieval honor.

A timeline of key events related to The Iliad, ranging from legendary events to historical dates. It covers the Trojan War, the writings of Homer, and the migration of Germanic peoples. The lesson also includes a key quote and its analysis.