The Trojan WarThe Trojan War

*<%^)*<%^)

The Trojan WarThe Trojan War

The Trojan War actually occurred: The city The Trojan War actually occurred: The city of Troy fell into the hands of the Greeks.of Troy fell into the hands of the Greeks.

Archaeologists have found historical Archaeologists have found historical evidence of the war. evidence of the war.

Was it exactly as told in Was it exactly as told in The IliadThe Iliad??– No. It was probably fought over commerce No. It was probably fought over commerce

and trade between Greece and Asia Minor.and trade between Greece and Asia Minor.– But Homer’s version (The Iliad) is more But Homer’s version (The Iliad) is more

exciting!exciting!– Some of the characters may have been based Some of the characters may have been based

on real personalities.on real personalities.

What’s a What’s a TrojanTrojan??

A person from TroyA person from Troy One who shows qualities like those One who shows qualities like those

of the soldiers who defended of the soldiers who defended ancient Troy: endurance, ancient Troy: endurance, toughness, determined energytoughness, determined energy

Where’s Where’s Troy?Troy?

Troy is across the Troy is across the Aegean Sea from Aegean Sea from Greece.Greece.

Troy was also Troy was also called called IliumIlium, , IlionIlion, , and and IliosIlios..

A well-walled city A well-walled city with broad streets with broad streets and beautiful and beautiful palaces…until the palaces…until the Trojan War.Trojan War.

When?When?

The beginning of the 12The beginning of the 12thth century century B.C.B.C.

1193 – 1184 B.C.1193 – 1184 B.C. That’s 3,200 years ago!That’s 3,200 years ago!

– B.C. = Before ChristB.C. = Before Christ– A.D. = Anno Domini A.D. = Anno Domini (The Year of Our (The Year of Our

Lord)Lord)

Who?Who?

Greeks Greeks (Achaeans)(Achaeans)– AchillesAchilles

Greatest Greek Greatest Greek WarriorWarrior

– King AgamemnonKing Agamemnon– NestorNestor– OdysseusOdysseus– PatroclusPatroclus– MenelausMenelaus

Helen’s HusbandHelen’s Husband

TrojansTrojans– HectorHector

Greatest Trojan Greatest Trojan WarriorWarrior

– King PriamKing Priam Father of HectorFather of Hector

– AeneasAeneas– ParisParis

Helen’s AbductorHelen’s Abductor

With whom did the gods With whom did the gods side?side?

GreeksGreeks– HeraHera– PoseidonPoseidon– HermesHermes– AthenaAthena

TrojansTrojans– ArtemisArtemis– AresAres– ApolloApollo– AphroditeAphrodite

Zeus tries to remain neutral, but he shows empathy for Priam and Hector (Trojans).

How did it start?How did it start?

Eris, goddess of discord, was not invited Eris, goddess of discord, was not invited to a wedding banquet on Mt. Olympus.to a wedding banquet on Mt. Olympus.

Into the banquet hall, Eris tossed a Into the banquet hall, Eris tossed a golden apple inscribed “For the Fairest.”golden apple inscribed “For the Fairest.”

Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite asked Zeus Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite asked Zeus to decide who deserved the apple.to decide who deserved the apple.

Zeus would not choose. (He’s no fool!)Zeus would not choose. (He’s no fool!) Zeus says Paris is an excellent judge of Zeus says Paris is an excellent judge of

beauty, and refers the goddesses to beauty, and refers the goddesses to him.him.

The Judgment of ParisThe Judgment of Paris Paris was the son of King Priam of Troy.Paris was the son of King Priam of Troy. He was rather weak and cowardly.He was rather weak and cowardly. Priam had sent him away from Troy Priam had sent him away from Troy

because an oracle prophesied that he would because an oracle prophesied that he would be the ruin of the city.be the ruin of the city.

When the goddesses appeared to him, they When the goddesses appeared to him, they each offered him a bribe:each offered him a bribe:– Athena would make him a great warrior.Athena would make him a great warrior.– Hera would make him ruler of Europe and Asia.Hera would make him ruler of Europe and Asia.– Aphrodite would give him the most beautiful Aphrodite would give him the most beautiful

woman in the world.woman in the world.

Whom did he choose?Whom did he choose?

Paris gave the Paris gave the apple to Aphrodite.apple to Aphrodite.

She then took Paris She then took Paris to Helen, the most to Helen, the most beautiful woman in beautiful woman in the world.the world.

Hera and Athena, Hera and Athena, however, vowed however, vowed revenge.revenge.

HelenHelen

Helen was a daughter of Zeus.Helen was a daughter of Zeus. She was the wife of Menelaus.She was the wife of Menelaus. Menelaus was the brother of the Menelaus was the brother of the

Greek King, Agamemnon.Greek King, Agamemnon. See the problem?See the problem?

Paris takes HelenParis takes Helen

The Greeks RespondThe Greeks Respond

Menelaus asks all of Greece to help.Menelaus asks all of Greece to help. Greek armies set off across the sea Greek armies set off across the sea

to lay siege to Troy and leave it in to lay siege to Troy and leave it in ashes.ashes.

And so begins the Trojan War.And so begins the Trojan War. Helen is often referred to as “The Helen is often referred to as “The

Face that Launched a Thousand Face that Launched a Thousand Ships.”Ships.”

Odysseus and Achilles Join Odysseus and Achilles Join LateLate

Odysseus didn’t want to fight for Helen.Odysseus didn’t want to fight for Helen.– He thought her a faithless woman.He thought her a faithless woman.– He did not want to leave his home (Ithaca).He did not want to leave his home (Ithaca).

Achilles was kept back by his mother.Achilles was kept back by his mother.– Thetis was a sea nymph who knew he was fated Thetis was a sea nymph who knew he was fated

to die in Troy.to die in Troy.– She had dipped him in the river Styx to try and She had dipped him in the river Styx to try and

give him immortality. (She held him by the heel.)give him immortality. (She held him by the heel.) Both of these great Greek warriors were Both of these great Greek warriors were

later called (forced) into battle where they later called (forced) into battle where they played important roles in many battles.played important roles in many battles.

The Battle RagesThe Battle Rages

Due to the influence of various Due to the influence of various gods and goddesses, the war went gods and goddesses, the war went back and forth for many years.back and forth for many years.

For details of the war, read the For details of the war, read the epic poem by Homer called epic poem by Homer called The The IliadIliad, a word which means “a series , a word which means “a series of disastrous events.”of disastrous events.”

Agamemnon Agamemnon

Leader of all Greek forces during Leader of all Greek forces during Trojan WarTrojan War

Sacrificed his daughter (Iphegenia) Sacrificed his daughter (Iphegenia) to Artemis in order to get favorable to Artemis in order to get favorable winds for the ships to sail to Troywinds for the ships to sail to Troy

Offended Achilles by taking his Offended Achilles by taking his “prize” (a girl named Briseis) after “prize” (a girl named Briseis) after one battleone battle

Achilles PoutsAchilles Pouts

Because Agamemnon offended him, Because Agamemnon offended him, Achilles refused to fight.Achilles refused to fight.

Then things went badly for the Then things went badly for the Greeks, and they begged him to Greeks, and they begged him to return.return.

He allowed his friend Patroclus to He allowed his friend Patroclus to fight in his place, wearing his armor.fight in his place, wearing his armor.

Patroclus is killed by Hector (who Patroclus is killed by Hector (who thought it was Achilles).thought it was Achilles).

Achilles ReturnsAchilles Returns

Enraged over the death of Enraged over the death of Patroclus, Achilles returns to Patroclus, Achilles returns to battle.battle.

His mother procures for him some His mother procures for him some new armor (made by Hephaestus).new armor (made by Hephaestus).

He kills Hector and desecrates the He kills Hector and desecrates the body.body.

Achilles RelentsAchilles Relents

King Priam sneaks into the Greek King Priam sneaks into the Greek camp and begs Achilles to give him camp and begs Achilles to give him Hector’s body so that his son may Hector’s body so that his son may have proper funeral rites.have proper funeral rites.

Achilles allows Priam to take the Achilles allows Priam to take the body.body.

After Hector’s death, Achilles does After Hector’s death, Achilles does not have long to live.not have long to live.

The Death of AchillesThe Death of Achilles

Achilles was unconquerable by Achilles was unconquerable by mortal men, but Apollo stepped in.mortal men, but Apollo stepped in.

Apollo guided Paris’s arrow into the Apollo guided Paris’s arrow into the only weak spot Achilles had: his only weak spot Achilles had: his heel.heel.

Achilles dies from the wound.Achilles dies from the wound. The remaining Greeks decide his The remaining Greeks decide his

divine armor should go to the divine armor should go to the bravest remaining warrior.bravest remaining warrior.

Odysseus WinsOdysseus Wins

Odysseus makes a speech Odysseus makes a speech explaining why he deserves it, and explaining why he deserves it, and he is awarded the armor of he is awarded the armor of Achilles.Achilles.

He then devises the final plan to He then devises the final plan to end the Trojan War.end the Trojan War.

The Trojan HorseThe Trojan Horse

The Greeks The Greeks pretend to pretend to retreat, leaving retreat, leaving behind a large behind a large wooden horse.wooden horse.

The Trojans, in The Trojans, in celebration, celebration, drag the horse drag the horse inside their city inside their city as a war prize.as a war prize.

The Trojan HorseThe Trojan Horse

Odysseus and many other Greek Odysseus and many other Greek warriors are hiding inside the horse.warriors are hiding inside the horse.

The Fall of TroyThe Fall of Troy

They wait until the Trojans are They wait until the Trojans are asleep, and then they come out and asleep, and then they come out and slaughter them.slaughter them.

The Trojan War is ended.The Trojan War is ended. The Greeks won.The Greeks won. The Trojans lost.The Trojans lost. Odysseus is the greatest hero Odysseus is the greatest hero

remaining alive…but now he has to remaining alive…but now he has to get home…get home…

The Odyssey Begins…The Odyssey Begins…

The story of The story of The OdysseyThe Odyssey is about is about Odysseus’ journey home (to Odysseus’ journey home (to Ithaca) after the Trojan War.Ithaca) after the Trojan War.

It’s quite a journey!It’s quite a journey!

SourcesSources

Graphics in this presentation were taken from Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites:the following web sites:– http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.htmlhttp://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html– http://www.pantheon.org/http://www.pantheon.org/– http://www.messagenet.com/myths/http://www.messagenet.com/myths/– http://mythman.com/http://mythman.com/– http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.htmlhttp://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html– http://www.paleothea.com/http://www.paleothea.com/– http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.htmlhttp://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html

This presentation is for educational purposes This presentation is for educational purposes only; it has not been and should not be sold only; it has not been and should not be sold or used as a vehicle to make money.or used as a vehicle to make money.

*<%^)