Iliad and Odyssey: Critical Analysis

• An epic is a long poem that narrates the deeds of great heroes.
• The Iliad and the Odyssey are two ancient Greek epics that have survived for over 2,500 years.
• The Iliad centers on the Trojan War, specifically events in its tenth and final year.
• The Iliad gets its name from the Greek term for Troy: Ilium.
• The Odyssey tells the story of the Greek hero Odysseus' journey home after the Trojan War.
• Odysseus faces many adventures and hardships as he travels back to his homeland.
• "Odyssey" is a term used for any lengthy voyage filled with challenges.
• Homer, a blind poet from the 8th century BCE, may have composed these epics.
• Homer traveled and recited poems for a living.
• It is believed that the Iliad and the Odyssey are composite works from many poets, passed down orally.
• The poems were told and retold before being written down.

The Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology

• Understanding the Iliad and the Odyssey requires knowledge of ancient Greek religious beliefs.
• Greeks believed in multiple gods and goddesses governing various aspects.
• War
• Nature
• Music
• Poetry
• Other Arts
• Gods ruled different parts of the universe like the:
• Heavens
• Earth
• Sun
• Moon
• Oceans
• Rivers
• Mountains
• Forests
• Winds
• Storms
• Gods controlled events on Earth.
• The Iliad suggests that the gods guided events in the Trojan War.
• Gods took sides in the war, assisting Greeks or Trojans.
• Gods behaved like humans with emotions and arguments.
• They married, had children, and needed nourishment and sleep.
• Nectar was their wine and ambrosia was their food.
• Gods were immortal and eternally youthful.
• Gods could be wounded and feel pain.
• They participated in human conflicts and had weapons and armor.
• Gods possessed great powers like invisibility and shapeshifting.
• Earthly disasters were blamed on divine anger.
• Mount Olympus was the home of the gods, with golden palaces and grand banquets.
• Ancient Greeks built temples for worship, such as the Parthenon in Athens.
• People offered gifts at shrines and sacrificed animals on altars to please the gods.
• Zeus was the king of the gods, known as the "Mighty Thunderer", and hurled lightning bolts.
• Hera was Zeus' wife and queen of the gods and the great enemy of Troy and the Trojans.
• Aphrodite, a daughter of Zeus, was the goddess of beauty and love.
• Poseidon was the god of the sea, symbolized by a trident.
• Ares was the god of war.
• Hades was the god of the regions of the dead, the underworld.
• Apollo was a powerful god of the sun, medicine, music, and poetry.
• Pallas Athena was the goddess of wisdom.
• Hermes was the swift-footed messenger god, and god of wealth, luck and thieves.
• Hephaestus was the god of fire and the forge and made thunderbolts and weapons.

Soothsayers and Sacrifices

• Gods revealed their will through bird behavior, dreams, and direct appearances.
• Greeks consulted soothsayers to understand the gods' will.
• Priests in temples, known as oracles, gave answers to questions from the gods.
• The Temple of Apollo at Delphi was a well-known oracle in Greece.
• Greeks sacrificed to the gods before wars or important events.
• Sacrifices involved killing animals like sheep, goats, pigs, or cattle; burned as offerings.
• Defeats in battle were seen as the anger from Zeus or Olympus.
• Gods were called as witnesses when making treaties of peace.

Main Characters in the Iliad

Main Creek Characters

• Achilles is the Iliad's central hero, the greatest Greek warrior, known for his wrath.
• Agamemnon is the King of Mycenae, Menelaus’ brother, and commander of Greek forces.
• Ajax Telamon, a son of King Telamon, is an immensely strong and powerful warrior, distinguished from another warrior in the Iliad named Ajax by the name Ajax Telamon.
• Diomedes is the young king of Argos, noted for fighting bravely and speaking his mind.
• Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, is taken to Troy by Paris, sparking the Trojan War.
• Menelaus is the King of Sparta, Agamemnon's younger brother, and Helen's husband.
• Nestor is the King of Pylos, too old to battle but is known for his wise advice.
• Odysseus is the King of Ithaca, and the central hero of Homer's Odyssey, and is known for his Cleverness.
• Patroclus is Achilles' devoted friend, brave warrior, and commander of the Myrmidons.

Main Trojan Characters

• Andromache is the devoted wife of Hector.
• Cassandra is Priam and Hecuba’s daughter, cursed that no one believes her gift of prophecy.
• Chryseis is the daughter of Chryses, a priest of Apollo, and taken captive.
• Hector is King Priam's eldest son, Troy's prince, and its bravest warrior.
• Hecuba is Troy's queen, Priam's wife, and Hector's mother.
• Paris is Troy's prince and Hector's brother, known for his beauty rather than bravery.
• Priam is the King of Troy, Hecuba's husband, and father of Hector and Paris.

Main Characters in the Odyssey

• Alcinous is the King of the seafaring Phaeacians who helps Odysseus return to Ithaca.
• Antinous is a leader among the suitors vying to marry Penelope.
• Argos is Odysseus' old dog.
• Eumaeus is Odysseus' loyal swineherd who helps fight the suitors.
• Eurycleia is Odysseus' trusted servant and nursemaid to Odysseus and Telemachus.
• Eurymachus is a leader among the suitors seeking Penelope's hand.
• Laertes is Odysseus' father.
• Melanthius is a rude and disloyal goatherd serving Odysseus' household.
• Menelaus is the King of Sparta, reunited with Helen, and welcomes Telemachus.
• Nausicaa is the daughter of King Alcinous, who assists Odysseus in Phaeacia.
• Nestor is the King of Pylos who welcomes Telemachus seeking news of Odysseus.
• Odysseus is both King of Ithaca and hero of the Odyssey, who returns to his wife and homeland.
• Peisistratus is Nestor's son, becomes close to Telemachus, and aids in finding Odysseus.
• Penelope is Odysseus' faithful wife, using her wits to fend off suitors seeking marriage.
• Philoetius is the loyal cowherd who assists Odysseus in overcoming the suitors.

Deities and Supernatural entities

• Telemachus is Odysseus and Penelope's son, who faces growth and challenges during the Odyssey.
• Aeolus is the god of the winds, helps Odysseus initially but later refuses.
• Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty.
• Apollo is the god of the sun, medicine, music, poetry, and archery.
• Ares is the god of war.
• Athena is Zeus' daughter, the goddess of wisdom and helper of Odysseus and Telemachus.
• Calypso is the goddess who holds Odysseus captive for seven years.
• Circe is the goddess and enchantress turning Odysseus' men into swine.
• Hades is the ruler of the underworld and god of the dead.
• Hephaestus is the god of fire and the forge, crafter of thunderbolts and weapons.
• Hera is Zeus's wife and queen of the gods.
• Hermes is the messenger of the gods, also associated with wealth, luck, and thieves.
• Iris is a messenger of the gods.
• Polyphemus is a one-eyed giant (Cyclops) who traps Odysseus in a cave.
• Poseidon is the god of the sea and earthquakes, antagonist to Odysseus, preventing his return.
• Thetis is a goddess of the sea, mother of Achilles.
• Zeus is the king of the gods, husband of Hera, and father of Athena, Aphrodite, Ares, and Apollo.

Before the Iliad

How the Trojan War Began: The Apple of Discord

• Troy stood on Turkey's northwest coast, near Mount Ida and the Aegean Sea.
• Protective walls surrounded Troy.
• King Priam and Queen Hecuba ruled Troy with prosperity.
• Cassandra, their daughter, was loved by Apollo.
• Apollo grants prophecy, allowing sight into the future to Cassandra but revokes ability for others to believe her.
• Cassandra predicted evil events, but nobody believed her.
• Hector was Priam and Hecuba's noblest son; Paris brought sorrow to Troy.
• Queen Hecuba dreamed of her infant son Paris, turning into flaming torch burning Troy.
• A soothsayer interpreted the dream: "if this babe lives, he shall be a torch to turn the walls and high towers of Troy into heaps of ashes."
• Priam ordered his master shepherd to leave the infant alone on Mount Ida to die.
• Spirits cared of the babe, saved the infant and protected it from wild animals.
• The shepherd returned after five days to find the baby Paris alive and took him home.
• Paris met Oenone, a river nymph of Mount Ida, and married her.
• A quarrel among Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena prompted sorrow.

The Quarrel of the Goddesses

• During Peleus and Thetis' wedding, Eris, the goddess of discord, was excluded.
• Eris threw a golden apple inscribed "For the fairest" into the wedding, causing arguments.
• Athena claimed the apple for wisdom; Aphrodite and Hera disagreed.
• No god dared to decide who was the fairest, Zeus assigned Paris, a shepherd on Mount Ida.

The Judgement of Paris

• The three goddesses appeared before Paris.
• Hera promised wealth and power.
• Athena promised wisdom and glory.
• Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman on Earth.
• Paris awarded the apple to Aphrodite.
• Paris went to Troy.
• King Priam was holding athletic games.
• Paris won all games due to Aphrodite's gift.
• Paris announced he tended flocks on Mount Ida and reunited with Priam and Hecuba.
• Cassandra recognized Paris and warned the people of the evil he would cause.
• Paris was welcomed and given a prince's honor, forsaking Oenone.

Helen of Troy

• Paris had the promise to have the most beautiful woman in the world for his wife.
• Paris set sail to Sparta under Aphrodite's guidance.
• Helen was wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta.
• The king gave Paris banquets.
• Paris persuaded Helen to leave, assuring her of honor and safety from Menelaus' anger and took gold treasures.
• Paris and Helen reached Troy and married.
• Hector was angry and advised Priam to return Helen to Sparta.
• Priam refused, sparking war between Trojans and Greeks.