Causes of the War
A.  Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
- Eris(Discord) not invited. Golden apple made and threw into
wedding party-with note attached ”for the fairest”
B. Judgment of Paris
- Zeus not wanting to decide, sent them to Paris, the shepherd boy
- Athena—offered glory and renown in war; Aphrodite—love of the
most beautiful woman; Hera-power and riches—Paris chose
Aphrodite
C. Marriage of Helen
- Helen who was sought by many suitors chose Menelaus, after
Odysseus had said that they needed to take a pledge to protect her
from any wrongdoing.
D. Elopement of Helen and Paris
- With help of Aphrodite, Paris talks Helen into eloping and they run
off to Troy
Gathering of the Hosts
Menelaus calls on his friends to aid him in getting Helen back
A.  Summoning of the Greek heroes
—Odysseus(wisest), Achilles(best warrior),
Agememnon(leader), Ajax(strongest), Diomede(2nd to
Achilles in heroic qualities), Nestor(oldest)
B. Iphigenia at Aulis
—Agamemnon killed a stag and angered Artemis—only
way to appease was to sacrifice his daughter
C. Important Trojan leaders
—Hector(one of the noblest), Aeneas, Deiphobus, Glaucus,
Sarpedon
War Against Troy
A.  Early years of the war
—first 9 years not much said.; action takes place in 10th year
B. Quarrel of Achilles and Agamemnon
—fight b/c Agamemnon upsets Apollo and takes Achilles’ concubine; Achilles
says he will no longer fight
C. Death of Patroclus
—he begs Achilles but only talks him into letting him use his armor; killed by
hector with help of Apollo
D. Death of Hector
—Achilles after Patroclus dies, is enraged and goes back to battlefield with new
hephaestus armor and kills hector
E. Death of Achilles and Paris
—when a baby, Achilles’ mom had dipped him in River Styx to make him
impervious to injury—held him by ankle, though, and that became his one weak
spot. Paris stabbed him in his heel and he died. Then, Paris was killed.
Capture of Troy
A. Building of the wooden horse
—Odysseus’ idea
B. Death of Laocoon
—Didn’t want to bring it in
—fear of Greeks bearing gifts but then a sea monster came up and ate
him.
---Trojans took it as a warning from Athena to take the horse.
C. Bringing of the horse into Troy
—They drag it in even after Cassandra says not to
D. Taking of the city
—At night, all ships sail back and open gates and take city of Troy
Allusions
•  Ajax…cleaner
•  Apollo…music hall
•  Hermes…delivery
company/design company
•  Odyssey…travel company
•  Poseidon…seafood
company
•  Trident…gum
•  Trojan…condoms, USC
•  Venus…beauty company
•  Penelope…girl on Lost