Malasiqui Catholic School Inc. Greek Epic: Iliad Lesson 3 PDF

Malasiqui Catholic School Inc. ARCHDIOCESE OF LINGAYEN–DAGUPAN GREEK EPIC: ILIAD Homer was an Ancient Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered a...

Malasiqui Catholic School Inc. ARCHDIOCESE OF LINGAYEN–DAGUPAN GREEK EPIC: ILIAD Homer was an Ancient Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered and influential authors in history. He was a singer and performer, thus known as a bard; others claim he was blind, therefore known as the blind bard. The Iliad is an epic poem in 24 books that is traditionally attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer. It takes Trojan War as its subject. However, The epic focused on wrath of the Greek hero Achilles. The term Iliad is derived from the city state of Ilium which is known as Troy. Therefore, Iliad means “Song/Story of Troy”. Characters of the Story  Greeks MENELAUS NESTOR AGAMEMNON ACHILLES PATROCLUS ODYSSEUS Greek deities on the side of the Greeks POSEIDON HERA ATHENA Trojans HECTOR PARIS KING PRIAM QUEEN HECUBA Greek deities on the side of the TROJANS ZEUS APOLLO APHRODITE ARES THE JUDMENT OF PARIS  The evil goddess of Discord, Eris, was not invited when the gods gave a banquet for King Peleus and Thetis. To cause chaos, Eris dropped a golden apple marked “For the Fairest.” All goddesses wanted it but it narrowed down to three: Aphrodite, Athena, & Hera. They asked Zeus to choose but refused to do anything with the matter. Instead, he instructed them to go to Mount Ida and find Paris. According to Zeus, he is an excellent judge of beauty. He lives with a nymph named Oenone. “You will lead the Trojans against the Greeks and turn Greece into ruins.” “You will get the most beautiful woman on earth.” “You will be the Lord of Europe and Asia.” And so Paris chose Aphrodite and gave her the golden apple. Helen is the daughter of Zeus and Leda. Her beauty reached different powerful families making her father Tyndareus, her mother’s husband, afraid to select one, fearing that the other would unite against him. Tyndareus extracted a solemn oath to which his daughter’s suitors must abide by. He said that if anyone causes problem to Helen’s husband, they will defend him at all cost. Each suitor agreed hoping he would be the chosen person. Tyndareus then chose Menelaus, the brother of Agamemnon, and made him King of Sparta as well. Aphrodite then led Paris to Sparta where he was welcomed by Helen and Menelaus. The ties between the host and guest were strong. Each was bound to help and never harm the other. Menelaus left Paris in his home and went to Crete. Paris broke the sacred bond and abducted Helen. Menelaus got back to find Helen gone. He called all the chieftains to help him as they are bound to do so. They sailed across the sea to lay mighty Troy in ashes. However, two chieftains were missing: Achilles and Odysseus. Achilles in the court of Odysseus in Ithaca King Lycomedes A thousand ships carried the Greek host. They met at Aulis, a place of strong winds and tides. However, once the north wind blew, they cannot sail to Troy.  “Artemis is angry. One of her beloved wild creatures, a hare, had been slain by the Greeks. ” “The only way to calm the wind and ensure a safe trip to Troy was to appease her by sacrificing a royal maiden, Iphigenia, the eldest daughter of Agamemnon. Calchas Agamemnon yielded. His reputation with the Army was at stake, and his ambition to conquer Troy and exalt Greece. He went back home for her. He wrote for his wife that he had arranged a great marriage for Iphigenia to Achilles. But when she came to her wedding, she was carried to the alter to be killed. She died and the north wind ceased to blow and the Greek ships sailed out over a quite sea. When they reach the mouth of Simois, one of the rivers of Troy, the first man to leap ashore was Protesilaus. It was brave deed, for the oracle had said that he who landed first would be the first to die. The Greeks paid him honors as though he were a god. The thousands ships carried a great host of fighting men and the Greek Army was very strong, but the Trojan City was strong, too. King Priam and Queen Hecuba had many sons to attack and defend the wall. For nine years victory wavered, now to this side, now to that. Neither was ever able to gain any decided advantage. A quarrel flared up between Agamemnon and Achilles, again because of a woman. Chryseis was captured and delivered to Agamemnon as his prize. Chryses, the father of Chryseis prayed of her release to Phoebus Apollo. And the god listened and from his chariot, he shot fiery arrow down upon the Greek army. The Greek’s army is dwindling in numbers. Achilles called an assembly because they could not hold on to both pestilence and the Trojans. The prophet Calchas stood up and said he knew why the god was angry. But asked for his safety. “Chryseis must be returned to her father. ” Achilles called an assembly because they could not hold on to both pestilence and the trojans. The prophet calchas stoop up and said he knew why the god was angry. But asked for his safety. “Chryseis must be returned to her father. ” “But if I lose her who will be my prize of honor? I will have another in her stead.” Agamemnon sent his squires to Achilles’ tent. They took away his prize of honor, the maiden Bryseis. Obviously, Achilles was boiling mad. That night, Thetis, a sea nymph and Achilles’ mother came to him. She was angry as he is. She told Achilles that he had nothing to do with the Greeks. She went up to Heaven and asked Zeus to bring victory to the Trojans. The war had reach Olympus, the gods were angry against each other causing division among the temple.  TROJANS GREEKS Zeus knew that the Greeks are nothing without Achilles. That’s why he sent a lying dream to Agamemnon promising him victory if he attacked. and so the war again began.  Paris VS Menelaus Menelaus was about to drag Paris if it not been for Aphrodite’s persistent intervention as she tore away the strap that kept the helmet on.  Paris VS Menelaus “Menelaus won. Give us Helen!” Agamemnon spoke to both armies, declaring that Menelaus was victor and bidding Trojans give Helen back. The trojans would have agreed if not because of Hera and Athena. Athena went down the battlefield and persuaded Pandarus, a trojan, to break the truce and shoot an arrow at Menelaus. He did so and wounded him. The Greeks went furious again and the war continued. On the side of the Greeks, with Achilles gone, the two greatest champions were Ajax and Diomedes. They had killed many trojans. On the side of Trojans, aside from Hector, Prince Aeneas is the bravest. He is the son of Aphrodite. Diomedes deeply wounded Aeneas but was saved by Aphrodite and Apollo. Diomedes raged on and faced Hector and Ares. He called the Greeks to fall back. But Hera was angry. She begged Zeus if she could release her horses to drive the trojans and Ares from the battlefield. She stood beside Diomedes and urged him to strike Ares using his spear. Then, Athena drove it and entered Ares’ body. Ares bellowed as loud as ten thousand cry in battle. He fled up to Zeus in Olympus and complained bitterly of Athena’s violence. Zeus said that he was a intolerable as his mother and ordered him to stop his whining. At this time, the trojans are forced to fall back. Hector gave farewell to his wife Andromache and his son Astyanax. She asked if he could stay but Hector said that he must be in the forefront leading the trojans. Once again, the battle continued. Zeus had remembered his promise to Thetis to avenge Achilles’ wrong. He ordered the immortals to stay in the Olympus. He went down to earth himself to help the trojans. Hector seemed irresistible. The Greeks were driven back almost to their ships.  “Try to find some way to appease him. Instead of going home disgraced.” In the Greek Camp, Agamemnon wanted to sail back to Greece. But Nestor, another chieftain spoke out boldly that if he had not angered Achilles, they would have been defeated. Agamemnon agreed to send Briseis back with all precious gifts he owns. Odysseus, together with other two chieftains, went to the tent of Achilles and found Patroclus, Achilles’ friend. Achilles welcomed them but when they told their reason, he refused. He will not fight with the men who dishonored him. Odysseus went back to the camp with a heavy heart. The next day, the war continued. The Greeks were cornered to their ships. But Hera laid her plans to help them. She saw Zeus sitting on Mount Ida. She plans to make Zeus fall so in love that he cannot resist her. She borrowed Aphrodite’s girdle and added some charms. When Zeus saw her, he forgot everything. This time, the trojans were forced to fall back. Hector was wounded, lying gasping on the plain. Troy might have been sacked if Zeus had not awakened. He was about to scold Hera but she thought of an alibi. She said that she did not cause Troy’s defeat. It was Poseidon’s fault. Zeus sent Iris, the rainbow messenger to carry his command to Poseidon to withdraw from the field. The sea god obeyed and the sea turn against the Greeks. Apollo had revived the fainting Hector and breathed into him surpassing power. The Trojans were almost near enough to set the ships on fire. The Greeks, hopeless, thought only of dying bravely.  “You can keep your wrath while your countrymen go down in ruins. I CANNOT!” Patroclus saw the rout with horror. He asked if he could borrow Achilles’ armor thinking that the Trojans might tremble in fear as they see his armor. Achilles gave his armor and lend his men the Myrmidons to accompany Patroclus. So Patroclus put on the splendid armor. The trojans thought that the Greeks were led by Achilles. He fought as glorious as that great hero himself. He met Hector face to face. Hector’s spear gave him a mortal wound and his soul fled from his body.  “I will no longer live among men if I do not make Hector pay with his death for Patroclus’ death.” “I will kill the destroyer of him I loved; then I will accept my death when it comes.” Nestor’s son Antilochus returned to Achilles’ tent. Grief took hold of Achilles that everyone around him feared of his life. His mother came and tried to comfort him. She knew that Achilles will die right after Hector. So she gave him an armor fashioned by the god of armor Hephaestus. Achilles stormed through the Kingdom of Troy, slaughtering all in his path and seeking Hector everywhere. The gods and goddesses, too, were fighting each other. Achilles stood before Troy accompanied by Athena. Hector was alone. Apollo had left him to his fate. They kept on running after one another. Athena made Hector stop as she disguise as his brother Deiphobus.  “If I kill you, I will give back your body to your friends and do you do the same to me.” “Madman. There are no covenants between sheep and wolves, nor between you and me.” Achillles hurled a spear and it missed its aim. Athena brought it back. Then Hector struck with a true aim; the spear hit the center of Achille’s shield. That was useless for his shield could not be pierced. Hector turned to Deiphobus to get his spear, but he was not there. Athena had tricked him. He knew that there was no way of escape. He rushed with his weapon. Achilles aimed his spear in an opening of the armor Hector recovered from Patroclus. He drove it right in Hector’s throat. Hector fell, dying at last. Achilles stripped the bloody armor from the corpse. He pierced the feet of the dead man and fastened them with thongs to the back of his chariot, letting the head trail. Then he lashed his horses. He dragged the corpse around the walls of Troy. Up in Olympus, there was dissension. This abuse of the dead displeased all the immortals except Hera and Athena and Poseidon. Zeus sent Iris to Priam, to order him to go without fear to Achilles to redeem Hector’s Body, bearing a rich ransom.  “Remember, Achilles. Your own father, of like years with me and like me wretched for want of a son.” “Yet I am by far more to be pitied who have braved what no man on earth did before, to stretch out my hand to the slayer of my son.” King Priam heaped a car with splendid treasures and went over the plain to the Greek Camp. He clasped Achilles’ knees and kissed his hands. Achilles felt awe. Grief stirred within Achilles’ heart as he listened. Then he bade his servants wash and anoint Hector’s body and cover it with a soft robe. King Priam brought Hector home. Nine days, they lamented him; then they laid him on a lofty pyre and set fire to it. When all was burned ,they quenched the flame with wine and gathered the bones into a golden urn. They set the urn in a hollow grave and piled great stones over it. And with it, the Iliad ends.