Iliad and Odyssey PDF: Greek Mythology Summary

Okay, here is the conversion of the document into a structured markdown format: # INTRODUCTION TO GREEK MYTHOLOGY ## Two Lasting Epics An epic is a long poem that tells in a grand manner the deeds of great heroes. From ancient times, more than twenty-five hundred years ago, there have come down t...

Okay, here is the conversion of the document into a structured markdown format: # INTRODUCTION TO GREEK MYTHOLOGY ## Two Lasting Epics An epic is a long poem that tells in a grand manner the deeds of great heroes. From ancient times, more than twenty-five hundred years ago, there have come down to us two great epics in the Greek language, the *Iliad* and the *Odyssey*. The *Iliad* is a tale of war. In this war, known as the Trojan War, a number of Greek kings joined forces and laid **siege** ( *seej*: in war, the act of surrounding a place in order to cut it off from outside help and, over time, weaken and capture it ) to the city of Troy. The *Iliad* focuses on events that happen in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War. (The title, *Iliad*, comes from the Greek name for Troy, *Ilium*.) The Odyssey tells the story of a journey- the long journey home made by the Greek hero Odysseus after the end of the Trojan War. Along the way, Odysseus has many adventures and suffers dearly before reaching his native land. (We now use the word *odyssey* to refer to any long, wandering voyage filled with challenges on the way toward reaching a goal.) Some people think that these two great epics were composed by a blind poet, Homer, in the 8th century **BCE** ( *Before the Common Era or Before the Current Era* ), who wandered from city to city and earned his living by reciting poems. Most scholars, however, think that the *Illiad* and the *Odyssey* were not composed by a single poet but represent the work of many poets over a long time, who passed down stories of their heroes by word of mouth from one generation to another. Homer was the person who collected and pulled together the best versions of the various poems. Whatever the source of the poems, they must have been told and retold for many years before they were finally written down. This book retells selected adventures from the two epic poems as stories for you to read and enjoy. ## The Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology To understand the *Iliad* and the *Odyssey*, you need to know something about the religious beliefs of the ancient Greeks. If you have studied Greek *myths* ( *traditional stories that explain why things happen or how they came to be* ), you know that the ancient Greeks believed in many gods and goddesses: a god of war; gods of nature; and gods of music, poetry, dancing, hunting, and other arts and activities. As the ancient Greeks saw it, different gods ruled all parts of the universe: the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, the ocean, seas, and rivers, the mountains and forests, the winds and storms. The gods also controlled everything that happened to the people living on earth. Indeed, as told in the *Iliad*, nearly everything that happened in the Trojan War was guided by a god or goddess. The epic tells us that the gods helped cause the war and that they took sides, some helping the Greeks and some the Trojans. ## Godlike Powers and Human Behaviors In ancient Greek myths, the gods and goddesses acted in many ways like human beings. They felt strong emotions and often argued among themselves. They married and had children, and needed food and drink and sleep. They drank a delicious wine called nectar, ate a food called ambrosia, and enjoyed never-ending life and youth. Though the gods could not die, they could be wounded and suffer pain. They often took part in the **quarrels** ( *arguments, disagreements* ) and wars of people on earth, and they had weapons and armor like human warriors. The ancient Greeks thought their gods and goddesses had great powers. Some could make themselves invisible. Some could change into different forms, for example, into the shape of an animal. When an earthly disaster occurred - a great storm, an earthquake, a shipwreck - people thought it was caused by the anger of some god. The home of most of the gods was on the top of Mount Olympus. Here they lived in golden palaces and feasted together at grand banquets. In their cities, the ancient Greeks built grand temples for the worship of the gods. One of the most famous was the Parthenon, at Athens. At the **shrines** ( *places thought to be holy, often associated with some specific god or goddess* ) of the gods people left gifts of gold and silver. On **altars** ( *tables used for religious ceremonies* ) in the open air, animals were sacrificed to please the gods. ## Major Gods and Goddesses The king of the gods was Zeus. He was sometimes called the "Mighty Thundered". In his anger he hurled lightning bolts down from the heavens. The wife of Zeus, queen of the gods, was Hera. As you shall see, she was the great enemy of Troy and the Trojans. One of the daughters of Zeus, called Aphrodite, was the goddess of beauty and love. Poseidon was the god of the sea. He usually carried a three-pointed spear called a trident, a sign of his power over the oceans. Ares was the god of war and Hades the god of the underworld, the regions of the dead. One of the most powerful of the gods was Apollo, the god of the sun, and also of medicine, music, and poetry. Other major gods mentioned in the *Iliad* and the *Odyssey* include Pallas Athena, the goddess of wisdom; and Hermes, the swift-footed messenger god; and Hephaestus, the god of fire and the **forge** ( *a furnace for melting metal; also, a blacksmith's workshop* ) who made thunderbolts for Zeus and weapons of war for earthly heroes. ## Soothsayers and Sacrifices The ancient Greeks believed that their gods made their will known to people in various ways; for example, through the behavior of birds, vivid dreams, and sometimes even by appearing in different forms and speaking directly to people. To understand the will of the gods, the ancient Greeks also turned to **soothsayers** ( *persons who were believed to have the power of seeing into the future* ), who had the power of seeing into the future. In temples, priests called oracles gave answers from the gods to people's questions. The best-known oracle of ancient times was in the temple of Apollo at Delphi, in Greece. The Greeks never engaged in war or any other important undertaking without first sacrificing to the gods. These sacrifices usually took the form of ceremonies in which animals-sheep, goats, pigs, or cattle-were killed, and then parts of the animals burned as offerings to the gods. If they were defeated in battle, the ancient Greeks saw it as a sign of the anger of Zeus or some other immortal being on Olympus. When making treaties of peace, they called the gods as witnesses and prayed to Zeus to send terrible punishments on any who should break their promises. In the story of the Trojan War you will find many examples of such appeals to the gods by the chiefs on both sides. # MAJOR CHARACTERS ## A GUIDE TO MAJOR CHARACTERS ### Main Characters in the *Illiad* #### Main Greek Characters * **ACHILLES** (uh-kil-eez): The central hero of the *Iliad* and the greatest of the Greek warriors, he is known for his wrath, which, when inflamed by an argument with Agamemnon, brings trouble and sorrow to the Greeks fighting against Troy. * **AGAMEMNON** (a-guh-mem-nahn): The king of Mycenae (my-see-nee), elder brother of Menelaus, and commander-in-chief of the Greek forces fighting against Troy, his rash actions provoke a destructive feud with achilles. * **AJAX TELAMON** (A-jakes teh-luh-mahn): A son of King Telamon, and called "Ajax Telamon" to distinguish him from another warrior also named Ajax, this courageous Greek warrior is a huge man of giant strength. * **DIOMEDES** (die-uh-mee-deez): The young king of Argos, he is known for fighting bravely and speaking his mind in council meetings. * **HELEN** (hel-uhn): The extraordinarily beautiful wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, she is taken to Troy by Paris, thus sparking the Trojan War. * **MENELAUS** (meh-nuh-lay-us): He is the king of Sparta, younger brother of Agamemnon, and husband of Helen. * **NESTOR** (nes-ter): The king of Pylos and a once mighty warrior, he has grown too old to fight but still guides the Greeks with his wise advice. * **ODYSSEUS** (oh-dis-ee-us): The king of Ithaca, known for his bravery and for his clever mind, he is also the central hero of Homer's *Odyssey*. * **PATROCLUS** (puh-troh-klus): The devoted friend and constant companion of Achilles, he is a courageous warrior and commander of the Myrmidons (the army of Achilles). #### Main Trojan Characters * **ANDROMACHE** (an-drah-muh-kee): She is the devoted wife of Hector. * **CASSANDRA** (kuh-san-druh): The daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, and the sister of Hector and Paris, she has the gift of prophecy but was cursed by a god so that no one believes her. * **CHRYSEIS** (kry-see-iss): A daughter of Chryses (a priest of Apollo), she is taken captive by Agamemnon. * **HECTOR** (hek-ter): The eldest son of King Hecuba and Queen Priam, he is a prince of Troy and the best and bravest of the Trojan warriors. * **HECUBA** (heh-kyuh-buh): She is the queen of Troy, wife of King Priam, and mother of Hector. * **PARIS** (pair-iss): A prince of Troy and a younger brother of Hector, he is known for his beauty more than his bravery. * **PRIAM** (pry-uhm): The king of Troy, husband of Hecuba, and father of many (including Hector and Paris), he is no longer a young man but still a courageous leader. ### Main Characters in the *Odyssey* * **ALCINOUS** (al-sin-oh-us): The king of the seafaring Phaeacians (fee-aa-shuns) and father of Nausicaa, he encourages Odysseus to tell his story and helps him return to Ithaca. * **ANTINOUS** (an-tin-oh-us): He is one of the leaders of the suitors who want to marry Penelope. * **ARGOS** (ahr-gos): He is Odysseus' old dog. * **EUMAEUS** (yoo-may-us): He is the old and loyal swineherd who looks after the pigs that belong to Odysseus, and who helps Odysseus overcome the suitors. * **EURYCLEIA** (yoor-ih-klee-uh): A trusted old servant in Odysseus' household, she was nursemaid to both the young Odysseus and his son Telemachus. * **EURYMACHUS** (yuh-rim-uh-kus): He is one of the leaders of the suitors who want to marry Penelope. * **LAERTES** (lay-uhr-teez or lay-air-teez): He is the father of Odysseus. * **MELANTHIUS** (meh-lan-thee-us): He is a rude and disloyal goatherd who serves in the household of Odysseus. * **MENELAUS** (meh-nuh-lay-us): He is the king of Sparta who, reunited with his wife Helen after the Trojan War, welcomes Telemachus and tells him what he knows about Odysseus. * **NAUSICAA** (nah-sih-kuh or nah-sih-kay-uh): The daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete (ahr-ee-tee), she helps Odysseus when he comes to Phaeacia. * **NESTOR** (nes-ter): The aged king of Pylos, he has returned home after the Trojan War and welcomes Odysseus's son, Telemachus, who has come to Pylos seeking news of his father. * **ODYSSEUS** (oh-dis-ee-us): The king of the island of Ithaca and central hero of the *Odyssey*, after the Trojan War, he uses his wits and courage to return to his wife and homeland, and resumer his place as king. * **PEISISTRATUS** (pie-sis-truh-tus): A son of Nestor and prince of Pylos, he becomes a close friend of Telemachus and travels with him in hopes of finding news of Odysseus. * **PENELOPE** (puh-nel-uh-pee): The faithful wife of Odysseus and mother of their son, Telemachus, she uses her wits to put off the suitors pressuring her to choose one of them to marry. * **PHILOETIUS** (fih-lee-shyus): He is the loyal cowherd who looks after the cattle that belong to Odysseus, and who helps Odysseus overcome the suitors. * **TELEMACHUS** (tuh-leh-muh-kus): The son of Odysseus and Penelope, he is at first unsure how to protect his father's kingdom from the suitors, but, guided by the goddess Athena, he grows in wisdom and determination, and eventually helps his father overcome the suitors. ### Gods, Goddesses and Other Supernatural Characters * **AEOLUS** (ee-uh-lus): The god of the winds, at first he helps Odysseus, but later refuses to help him. * **APHRODITE** (af-ruh-die-tee): She is the goddess of love and beauty. * **APOLLO** (uh-pah-low): He is the powerful god of the sun, and also of medicine, music, poetry, and archery. * **ARES** (air-eez): He is the god of war. * **ATHENA** (uh-thee-nuh): A favorite daughter of Zeus, she is the goddess of wisdom who helps both Odysseus and his son Telemachus. * **CALYPSO** (kuh-lip-so): She is the goddess who holds Odysseus captive for seven years. * **CIRCE** (sur-see): She is the goddess and enchantress who turns some of Odysseus' men into swine. * **HADES** (hay-deez): He is the ruler of the underworld and god of the dead. * **HEPHAESTUS** (hih-feh-stus): The god of fire and the forge, he makes thunderbolts for Zeus and sometimes weapons of war for earthly heroes. * **HERA** (hair-ah): She is queen of the gods and the wife of Zeus. * **HERMES** (her-meez): He is a messenger of the gods, and also the god of wealth, luck, and thieves. * **IRIS** (eye-ris): She is a messenger of the gods. * **POLYPHEMUS** (pah-luh-fee-mus): He is a one-eyed flesh-eating giant, also known as the Cyclops, who traps Odysseus and some of his men in a cave. * **POSEIDON** (puh-sigh-dun): The brother of Zeus and god of the sea and earthquakes, he his angry with Odysseus and seeks to prevent him from returning to his homeland of Ithaca. * **THETIS** (thee-tis): She is a goddess of the sea and the mother of Achilles. * **ZEUS** (zoose): He is the mighty 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 In ancient times, the great city of Troy was located on the northwest coast of the land now known as Turkey. The city stood at the foot of Mount Ida, near the shores of the Aegean Sea. Strong walls protected the city from its enemies. In the years before the Trojan War began, the city enjoyed peace and prosperity under the rule of King Priam and his wife, Queen Hecuba. The had many children, among them a beautiful daughter named Cassandra. The god Apollo loved Cassandra so much that he offered to grant her any wish. Cassandra asked for the power of prophecy, the ability to see into the future. Apollo gave her this gift, but then she angered the god. Apollo could not take back his gift, but he proclaimed that no one should ever believe Cassandra or pay any attention to her predictions, even tough they were true. And so when Cassandra predicted the evils that were to come upon Troy, even her own people did not believe her. The eldest son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba was Hector, the noblest of the Trojan heroes. A younger son, Paris, would bring sorrow and disaster to Troy. ### The Queen's Dream Just before Paris was born, a strange thing troubled the family of old King Priam. Queen Hecuba had a dream in which she saw her newborn base turn into a flaming torch that burned up the walls and the high towers of Troy. She told the king her dream. When the child was born, they called a soothsayer and asked him what the dream meant. "It means," he said, "that if this babe lives, he shall be a torch to turn the walls and high towers of Troy into heaps of ashes." "But what can be done to prevent this terrible thing?" asked Priam. "The child must not live," answered the soothsayer. In great sorrow, Priam called his master shepherd and told him to take the child into thick woods, leaving him alone on the slopes of Mount Ida, where he would not live long without care and nourishment. The Shepherd did as he was commanded. He laid the infant by a tree and then hurried away. But the spirits who haunt the woods and groves saw the babe. They pitied and cared for the babe. Some brought it honey from the bees, some fed it with milk from the goats, and some protected it from the wolves and bears. After five days, the shepherd, who could not stop thinking about the babe, came back to the place where he had left him. Fearing the worst, he glanced toward the foot of the tree. To his surprise, the babe was still there. It looked up and stretched its plump hands toward him. The shepherd\'s heart would not let him turn away. He look the child in his arms carried it to his own humble home in the valley, and there he brought it up as his own son. The boy grew to be tall and brave, and a great help to the shepherds around Mount Ida. One day as young Paris tended his sheep, he met Oenone, a river *nymph* ( *in mythology, a nature spirit in the form of a beautiful you girl* ) of Mount Ida. Day after day he sat with her near her woodland home. Soon, Paris and Oenone were wedded. Neither of them dreamed that any sorrow would come their way. But sorrow would come, and its cause lay in a quarrel among three goddesses, Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena. ### The Quarrel of the Goddesses The quarrel among three goddess began during the marriage between Peleus ad Thetis. Peleus was the king of the land called Thessaly in Greece. Thetis was a beautiful sea nymph, one of the immortals. Although Thetis did not want to marry a mortal man, she at last consented. Kings and queens from near and far came to their wedding feast, and all the gods were invited -all except one. The one exception was Eris, the goddess of **discord** ( *disagreement, conflict* ). Eris had once lived on Olympus, but she caused so much trouble that Zeus **banished** ( *sent away as a punishment* ) her forever. Angry that she had not been invited tothe wedding, Eris decided to disturb the marriage feast. She suddenly appeared and threw on a table a beautiful golden apple, on which were **inscribed** ( *written, engraved* ) these words: *For the fairest.* Just as Eriss planned, the wedding feast broke into loud arguments. Athena, goddess of wisdom, claimed the prize, but Hera, wife of Zeus and queen of the gods, refused to listen. Aphrodite, goddess of beauty, said that the apple obviously belonged to her. Discord had indeed come to the wedding feast. Who shoul have the apple "for the fairest"? Not one of the gods dared to decide so dangerous a question- not even Zeus himself. Zeus knew that whatever he might decide, he would be sure to offend two of the three goddesses. And so the task of judging which goddess was the fairest was given to a mortal, the handsome young shepherd of Mount Ida, Paris. ### The Judgement of Paris One warm afternoon, Paris sat in the shade of a tree at the foot of Mount Ida. As his flocks grazed upon the hillside, he heard what sounded like sweet music. He raised his eyes and gasped to see three immortals standing before him-Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. They told him of their argument and handed him the golden apple. And ther asked him to give the apple to the one whom he judge to be the fairest. Hera said, "Paris, give me the prize and you will have wealth and kingly power." Then gay eyed Athena spoke: "Be wise and honor me, Paris," she said. "I will give you wisdom that shall last forever, and great glory among men." Last of all spoke Aphrodite, whose beauty dazzled the young shepherd into wide-eyed amazement: "Give me the prize," she said, "and you shall have for your wire the most beautiful woman in the world." At these words, the shepherd fell on his knees and placed the golden apple in Aphrodite's hands. He hardly noticed as the to other goddesses vanished ina dark cloud. And so, determinede to seek his **destiny** ( *what will happen o a person in the future, as determined by some higher power or unseen plan* ), Paris made his way to the city of Troy. At that time, King Priam of Troy was holding a great feat at which the princes other young men of the land were competing in games of athletic skill. At these games, everybody admired the noble appearance of Paris, though nobody knew who he was. In the competitions he won all the first prizes, for Aphrodite had given him godlike strength and swiftness. He defeated eeven Hector, who was the greates *victor* athlete of Troy. "Who are you?" asked the king of the handsome **victor** ( *winner* ). "Before this day," answered Paris, "I tended the flocks and herds on Mount Ida." Hector, who was **furious** ( *extremely angry* ) because he had not won a prize, came forward to argue with Paris. Suddenly old Priam cried, "Hector, stand close to the young shepherd, and let us look at you." Turning to his wife, Hecuba, Priam asked, "Did you ever see two so nearly alike? The shepherd is not as tall, bu they have the same eyes, the same smile, the same walk. Ah, what if our young babe di not die after all?" Then Priam's daughter Cassandra, who had the gift of prophecy, cried out, "Oh, this young shepherd is the child you sent to sleep the sleep of death on Ida's wooded slopes!" King Priam and Queen Hecuba joyfully welcomed their son. Everybody rejoice except Cassandra. She knew the evil that Paris would bring to Troy, and she tried warn them, but nobody woud believe what she said. And so Paris was taken into his father's house and given a place of honor. And he forgot his fair young wife Oenone, leaving her to loneliness among the woods and streams of Mount Ida. ### Helen of Troy Paris tool his place as prince of the royal house of Troy. Always in his mind was the promise made to him onMount Ida- that he would have the most beautiful woman in the world for his wife. Under the guidance of Aphrodite, Paris set sail for the part of ancient Greece called Sparta, for there lived a woman celebrated for her matchless beauty. This was Helen, wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta. Landing in Sparta, Paris hurried to rhe court of King Menelaus. The king gave banquets in his honor. Helen, the beautiful queen, joined in her husband's kind attentions to their guest. Soon after trhe arrival of Paris, King Menelaus wa called away to the island of Crete. Taking advantage of the absence of Menelaus, Paris persuaded Helen to leave her husband and go with him to Troy. He tols her of the promise Aphrodite had made to him, assuring Helen that she would be received with great honor and protected against the anger of Menelaus. And so Paris told Paris took Helen back to Troy with him. At the smae time he stole gold treasures an other costly things that belonge to King Menelaus. After a stormy voyage by sea, Paris and Helen at last reached Troy. They were welcomed with rejoicing by King Priam an Queen Hecuba, In a short time they were married. Hector, eldest son of Priam, waa angry with Paris for what he had done .He advised King Priam so send Helen bak to Sparta. But Priam would not listen, and so Hellen remained in Troy. Priam should have listened , for the act if carrying off Hellen would soon spark war between the Trojans and the Greeks. I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.