The Iliad: Characters and Events Quiz

Introduction to Homer's Iliad

• The Iliad is an epic poem about the Trojan War.
• It's one of the oldest texts still read today.
• Written by Homer around 700 BCE.
• Divided into 24 books.
• Presented in media res (in the middle of the action).

Preface to the Trojan War

• Peleus (a king) and Thetis (a sea goddess) had a wedding.
• Eris (disagreement) was not invited, but showed up uninvited.
• She gave a gift, a golden apple, that caused an argument between Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena.
• The goddesses need a judge to decide.
• A random shepherd, Paris, a prince of Troy, was selected to judge.

How Paris Became a Shepherd

• Paris was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba.
• A prophecy foretold a dreadful future for Paris, causing his parents to abandon him.
• He was left on a mountain and raised by a she-bear.

Meanwhile...Thetis and Achilles

• Peleus and Thetis had a son named Achilles.
• A prophecy foretold Achilles’ tragic death.
• Thetis sought to protect him by various methods.

Helen of Sparta

• Daughter of Tyndareus (King of Sparta) and Leda.
• Considered the most beautiful woman alive.
• Her abduction by Paris triggered the Trojan War.

Leda and the Swan

• Leda was seduced by Zeus in the form of a swan.
• She had two eggs out of which Helen and Clytemnestra, and Castor and Pollux were born.
• One of each of the twins is immortal.

The Dioscuri

• Castor and Pollux are twin half-brothers.
• Castor was the son of Leda and Tyndareus
• Pollux was the son of Leda and Zeus.
• They were great warriors and later became gods of horse riders and sailors.

Helen's Suitors

• Helen had many suitors, mostly Greek princes and kings.
• Tyndareus, her father, was afraid of violent retaliation if he chose one suitor.
• A solution was suggested by Odysseus: all suitors had to swear an oath to defend Helen’s marriage.

Tyndareus' Choice

• Tyndareus chose Menelaus, Prince of Mycenae as Helen’s husband.
• Menelaus had political power and was supposed to sacrifice 100 cows to Aphrodite; however, he forgot.
• He later became the King of Sparta.

Paris at Troy

• Paris participated in games at Troy, and his sister (Cassandra) recognized him.
• He returned to Troy and became a prince.

The Abduction of Helen

• Paris learned of Helen's marriage to Menelaus and realized she was the woman he was promised.
• He sailed to Sparta.
• He was accepted as a guest.
• Helen fell instantly in love with him.
• Using a trick, she sneaked away to Troy.

The Suitor's Promise

• Menelaus was furious thinking Helen was abducted.
• He and Odysseus went to Troy to resolve this peacefully, but Troy refused to return her.
• All the kings and princes of Greece swore an oath to defend Helen's marriage.
• Menelaus went to Agamemnon to rally the Greek forces.

Gathering of Greek Forces

• Mycenae was one of the most powerful cities in Greece at the time.
• Menelaus asked Agamemnon to enforce the oath to defend Helen.
• Messengers were sent to all cities/kingdoms to call forces to war.
• Most suitors agreed to gather forces; however, some did not.

Odysseus' Deception

• Odysseus pretended to be crazy to avoid the war.
• Palamedes, another king, exposed Odysseus's deception.
• Odysseus was forced to agree to join the war.

Recruiting Number 1: Achilles

• Achilles was the best warrior in Greece but was not a suitor.
• He was not obligated to go to war.
• The Greeks wanted him because he was a great warrior and he was an excellent fighter.
• His mother, Thetis, was worried about the prophecy, so she disguised him as a woman.
• Odysseus convinced him to join the war in disguise.

Trouble at Aulis

• Calchas, advisor and seer of the Greek forces, revealed that Artemis was angered with Agamemnon.
• Artemis demanded a sacrifice of his daughter, Iphigenia, to appease her.
• Agamemnon reluctantly sacrificed his daughter.
• Clytemnestra, Agamemnon’s wife, was devastated by her daughter’s death.

Iphigenia

• Iphigenia was killed as a sacrifice, but Artemis ultimately spared her by transferring her body to her place among the maidens.
• She was brought back as one of Artemis' maidens.

The Greek Numbers

• Book 2 of the Iliad gives details about the Greek forces.
• Roughly 1200 ships and 90,000 soldiers.

Let's Talk About Troy

• Troy was a strong city, even stronger than Mycenae in Greece.
• Troy had many allies, helping them fight against the Greeks.
• The walls of Troy were built by Poseidon and Apollo.
• Led by King Priam.

King Priam

• Old King of Troy
• Leader of the Trojan side of the war.
• Good and reasonable king.

Queen Hecuba

• Queen of Troy
• Intelligent and pious.
• Mother of many important children, including Hector.

Paris

• Lover boy
• Started the war.
• Kind of weak, not good at fighting but skilled archer.
• Son of Priam and Hecuba.

Cassandra

• Princess of Troy.
• Daughter of Priam and Hecuba.
• Priestess of Apollo.
• Had the gift of prophecy, but it was cursed, such that no one believed her prophecies.

Hector

• Eldest son of Priam and Hecuba.
• Considered the greatest warrior of Troy.
• Led the Trojan troops in the battlefield, and he was very brave and protective of his people.
• Incredibly strong and gracious.
• Loved by the people.

Andromache

• Wife of Hector.
• Mother to their son Astyanax.
• Did not want Hector to go the war because she did not want their son to grow up without a father.

Troilus

• Son of Priam and Hecuba
• Prophecy foretold his death, but some accounts state no such prophecy.
• Beautiful.
• One of the Trojan leaders, though young.

Aeneas

• Leader of the Dardanians.
• Son of Anchises and Aphrodite.
• Hector's right-hand man.
• The Aeneid.

Sarpedon

• Leader of the Lycians.
• Son of Zeus and Europa.
• Great general.

Story of Zeus and Europa

• Europa was a Phoenician princess.
• Zeus was in love with her and transformed himself into a bull to seduce her.

Story of Zeus and Europa's children

• Zeus gave her gifts (Talos, Laelaps, a perfect javelin)
• She had children (Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon)-- future judges of the Underworld.
• Sarpedon left Crete and became a great ruler of Lycia in the Trojan War.

The Greeks Arrive

Zeus's Dream to Agamemnon

The Gods Debate

• Aphrodite saved Paris, causing confusion about the war's outcome.
• The Gods deliberated about the war and some had strong biases in either side.
• Zeus wanted the war to end, while other Gods believed the war should continue and favored the Greeks.

The Sides (Gods)

• Greeks: Athena, Hera, Poseidon
• Trojans: Apollo, Aphrodite, Ares
• Neutral: Zeus
• Uncommitted: Hades, Hermes, Demeter

The Confusion is Broken

• Zeus sent Athena to start the fighting.
• Athena went to Pandarus, the Trojan's best archer, who shot an arrow at Menelaus.
• The truce was broken, and the war resumed.

Diomedes

• Diomedes was one of the original suitors for Helen.
• A skilled warrior, but not necessarily the best.
• He hopped off his chariot and rushed into the Trojans after Pandarus shot Menelaus.
• He was exceptionally skilled, even able to injure and kill some gods.

Divine Help (Diomedes)

• Pandarus saw Diomedes, and aimed his bow to shoot him. Diomedes ripped out the arrow, and prayed to Athena for strength.
• Athena gave him strength in addition to insight and the ability to see other Gods, granting advantageous support in the battle.

Absolute Domination (Diomedes)

• Athena gave Diomedes strength and the ability to see other Gods.
• She warned him to stay away from all the Gods except Aphrodite.
• Diomedes continued his rampage, described as a lion attacking a flock of sheep.

Death of Pandarus

• Aeneas was concerned after Pandarus was shot by Diomedes.
• Pandarus said he already shot Diomedes, but felt no harm.
• Diomedes threw a spear at Pandarus, hitting him in the face, killing him.

Diomedes vs. Aeneas

• Aeneas jumped out to protect Pandarus' corpse.
• Diomedes didn't care about honor, and proceeded to attack Aeneas' corpse.
• Aeneas was knocked out, but not killed.
• Someone else interrupted the fight.

Diomedes Wounds a Goddess (Aphrodite)

• Aphrodite appeared to protect Aeneas and carried him off.
• Diomedes was able to see her thanks to Athena.
• Diomedes gouged Aphrodite's wrist.
• Aphrodite shrieked and was carried back to Olympus by Iris.

Aeneas Saved; Enter Ares

• Diomedes tried to fight Apollo, but Apollo pushed him back every time.
• Diomedes gave up on killing Aeneas and went to fight other enemies.
• Apollo took Aeneas to Artemis to be healed.
• Apollo called out to Ares to defeat Diomedes.

Ares

• Diomedes was no match for Ares. However, Ares and other Trojans took the lead, pushing the Greeks back near their ships.
• Hera and Athena complained to Zeus, about the Trojans' victory.
• Zeus allowed them to fight.

Athena vs. Ares

• Athena went down to Diomedes to fight beside him, and Athena fought Ares.
• Diomedes wounded Ares with his spear.
• Ares retreated, leaving the fight.
• The Greeks pushed the Trojans back.

Hector Rallies

• Hector was concerned about the Greeks' advances.
• He went to the city mid-battle, encouraging everyone to pray to the gods.
• He grabbed Paris and made him fight.
• The Trojans held their ground.

Hector vs. Ajax

• Hector fought with reinforcements and Paris.
• Ajax wished to duel with him on the battlefield, and Hector agreed.
• They fought for hours, evenly matched.
• The battle ended with nightfall.

Temporary Truce

• The battle ended at nightfall.
• Greeks and Trojans agreed to a one-day truce to bury those who had fallen.
• They discussed the future of Helen's return
• Paris refused to return Helen.
• Greeks built a trench and wall for support.

The Next Morning

• Zeus prevented Gods from interfering in the battle.
• Trojans prevailed, pushing Greeks back to their walls.
• Hera and Athena couldn't help.
• Battle ended at nightfall.

Greeks Are Desperate

• Agamemnon recognized wrongdoing
• He sent his people to apologize to Achilles.
• They delivered Briseis to return her, along with gifts to appease Achilles and Patroclus
• He refused to fight until the Trojans attacked their ships.

The Trojan Spy

• Hector wanted to spy on the Greek camp.
• He sent a Trojan named Dolon to spy.
• Dolon agreed to be the spy in exchange for Achilles' chariots and horses after the war.
• Odysseus and Diomedes caught Dolon
• Dolon was executed.

Spies Collide

Spies Invade

Nestor's Plea

• Nestor, an old, wise king who encouraged fighting, asked Patroclus to convince Achilles to help the Greeks.
• He asked to convince Achilles to help the Greeks, and motivate his troops, if Achilles would not help in person.

Patroclus' Response

• Patroclus was moved by Nestor's words.
• He doubted he would succeed in convincing Achilles to provide help.

The Battle Continues

• Hector led a charge against the Greek camp walls.
• It was a bloody battle.
• The Trojans pushed the Greeks back to their ships.
• Hera and Poseidon became angry at Zeus for not helping the Greeks.
• Poseidon disobeyed Zeus to help the Greeks.

Hera Seduces Zeus

• Hera seduced Zeus to cause him to fall asleep.
• Poseidon used this opportunity to help the Greeks.
• The Greeks pushed the Trojans back to the front of their camp.
• Ajax wounded Hector and Hector returned to the city for healing.

Zeus Wakes Up; Trojans to Ships

• Zeus woke up and was angry with Poseidon's disobedience.
• He sent Apollo to help the Trojans.
• The Trojans, with Apollo's help, pushed again reaching Greek ships.

Patroclus Fed Up

• Patroclus was upset with the Greeks' losses.
• Patroclus confronted Achilles.
• Achilles allowed Patroclus to fight.

Patroclus Leads the Charge

• Patroclus charged into the battle, wearing Achilles' armor.

• The Trojans were terrified.

• Patroclus pushed the Trojans back to near the city walls.

• Patroclus killed Sarpedon, but he was eventually killed by Apollo and Euphorbus.

The Fall of Patroclus

• At the city walls. Patroclus killed Cebriones,
• Patroclus was pursuing the Trojans, attempting to enter the city.
• Apollo hit Patroclus in the back of the head, stunning him.
• Euphorbus, Troy's best Spearman, pierced Patroclus causing him to retreat.

The Death of Patroclus

• Hector saw Patroclus retreating and chased after him.
• Hector caught Patroclus, turned him around, and drove his spear deep into Patroclus' stomach.
• Patroclus fell to the ground with a thud, dying but not yet dead.

Hector to Patroclus

Patroclus' Dying Response

Hector's Response to the Dead Patroclus

Aftermath

Aftermath: The following night

The Morning

The Battle

• Zeus lifted the ban on the Gods so they could aid the battle on either side.
• Achilles, enraged and grieving, pushed the Trojans back towards the Scamander River.
• He fought in the river itself.

Achilles vs. Scamander

• Achilles killed half of the Trojan army in the River Scamander.
• The bodies of Trojans clogged the river.
• Scamander, the god of the river, challenged Achilles to stop fighting, but Achilles refused.
• Hephaestus threw fireballs onto Scamander to aid Achilles.

Retreat

The Chase

The Fight

• Athena influenced Hector to return to engage in the battle.
• Achilles and Hector engaged in a duel.
• Achilles killed Hector in the neck.
• Before he died, Hector reminded Achilles of his own fate
• Priam, Hecuba, and Andromache watched from the wall.
• Achilles took Hector's armor.
• Achilles then showed disrespect to the dead body of Hector.

Disrespecting the Corpse

Afterwords

Patroclus' visit

The Following weeks

Priam's Visit

Images of battles and important moments.