Homers The Iliad Greeks Achilles: Greek warrior and king of the Myrmidons.

Achilles leads the Myrmidons against the Trojans. He is considered the greatest warrior in the world. Achilles is the son of Peleus, the former king of the Myrmidons, and a sea goddess named Thetis. Agamemnon: Commander-in-chief of the Greek armies. He anger Achilles when he takes back a prize girls, Briseis. Menelaus: King of Sparta and brother of Agamemnon. After a Trojan named Paris took his wife, Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, the Greeks declared war on Troy. Helen: wife of Menelaus, kidnapped by Paris Ulysses: wise Greek warrior Aiax the Great: gigantic warrior Patroclus: Greek warrior and best friend to Achilles Diomedes: superior Greek warrior Calchas: Greek soothsayer who advises Agamemnon Nestor: wise old king who advises Agamemnon Diomedes: powerful Greek warrior Briseis: beautiful captive of Achilles, taken by Agamemnon Trojans Priam: King of Troy Hector: bravest and most accomplished of the Trojan warriors; son of Priam Paris: Trojan who took Helen From Menelaus, Hectors brother, son of Priam Dolon: Trojan spy who checks out the Greek camp Pandarus: superior Trojan archer Gods Zeus: king of the gods who promises Thetis hell take Achilles side Hera: queen of the gods, who favors the Greeks Athena: goddess of wisdom and war, who favors the Greeks Hephaestus: god of the forge, who favors the Greeks Aphrodite: goddess of love and beauty, who sides with the Trojans Apollo: feared sun god, who sides with the Trojans Ares: god of war, who sides with the Trojans Thetis: sea goddess who is the mother of Achilles Iris: messenger goddess Poseidon: god of the sea

Homers The Iliad Helen: The Face That Launched a Thousand Ships The events that led to the Trojan War began long before the war itself did. The ingredients included a treacherous beauty contest, a prized apple, an oath to protect a marriage, a bribe of love, an unfaithful wife, and an impenetrable wall. Together, they added up to a war that would last for a decade. The wedding of Peleus and Thetis was a marriage made in heaven. Almost all the gods and goddesses attended Mount Pelion (in northeast Greece) for the wedding for it was the rarest of occasions when a goddess married a mortal man. But Eris, the disagreeable goddess of discord, had not been invited. Angered at this slight, she tossed a Golden Apple, inscribed For the Fairest, among the goddesses. Immediately Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite started to fight over the apple. To decide the matter, Zeus appointed Paris, a Trojan prince and reputedly the handsomest of mortal men. Rather than trust the princes good judgment, all three goddesses attempted to bribe Paris. Hera promised him dominion over the whole world. Athena offered certain victory in every battle. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, merely offered the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen. Paris did not hesitate, quickly accepting the beauty and awarding the Golden Apple to Aphrodite. Unfortunately for Paris, Helen was married to the Greek king of Sparta, Menelaus. Helen was so beautiful that nearly every Greek princemore than two dozenhad wooed her. Each had sworn not only to abide by Helens choice, but to punish anyone who might steal the bride away. Learning of Helens disappearance, Menelaus asked his brother Agamemnon for help. Agamemnon, who would serve as commander in chief of the Greek forces, rounded up the former rivals for Helens hand. Reminding them of their oath of allegiance, Menelaus demanded they join him in recovering Helen and punishing the Trojans. Despite the few who seemed reluctant, the Greeks in time assembled quite a rescue force: more than 1,000 ships from over two dozen different Greek kingdoms. Troy fought to defend Paris and his new wife. Known for their high walls and impeccable archers, the prepared to fight the Greeks. Hector, Paris brother and the next in line for the throne of Troy, was the most brave and honored soldier. With the leadership of Hector, every Trojan man was ready to fight. The Long Siege of Troy Rather than mount a direct attack on the formidable fortress of Troy, the Greeks set out to destroy the surrounding towns and cities that supplied the city with both provisions and aid. The Greeks used their victories over these outlying regions not merely to cut off supplies to Troy, but to plunder food and provisions for their own armies. After nine long years, the Greeks had seized, ransacked, and looted innumerable towns, but had come no closer to penetrating the impregnable walls of Troy. Hector and Achilles had long standing quarrel between them. Both meant to seek revenge on the other.

Homers The Iliad Use the information above and the reading of The Iliad to answer the questions. 1. What caused the Trojan War?

2. What role do the gods and goddesses play in Greek culture? (at least 2 examples- one from introduction and one from the reading)

3. Who are the main characters?

4. How was the war affecting the Trojans? (pg. 119)

5. What does Hector encourage his mother to do? Why does he ask this? (pg. 120)

6. How does Hector fell toward his brother? Why is this? (pg. 121)

7. What is Paris response to Hectors request? What does this tell you about him? (pg. 122)

8. Who is Helen? What does she say about herself? (pg.122)

9. Where is Hectors heart? What does this say about him as a leader?(pg. 122)

10.

What is Hectors last stop? Foreshadow what you think will happen next. (pg. 123)