THE ILIAD BY HOMER Introduction to the Text

THE ILIAD BY HOMER Introduction to the Text

THE ILIAD: INTRODUCTION v“Iliad” is word that means “a poem about Ilium” (another name for Troy) v. In the fifth century, the Greek historian Herodotus referred to Homer’s work by that name (the Iliad), and it’s been called it ever since v. Really the poem could be called the Achillead, since the primary focus is Achilles and his rage. v. Originally the poem had 15, 693 lines of hexameter verse v. The poet is known as “Homer, ” but little about his life is known

THE ILIAD: INTRODUCTION v First printed edition of Homer was in Florence in 1488; before that Homer’s work existed only in handwritten copies v Greek a difficult language to read; Petrarch tried to learn and gave up v Dante puts Homer in the first circle of Hell as a “Virtuous Heathen, ” but had never read Homer’s work.

ILIAD: INTRODUCTION v Argument about when exactly Homer lived v Herodotus believed he lived in the 9 th century B. C. , v Other reports have him as far back as 12 th century B. C. (about 140 years after Trojan War). v General agreement: Homer was a blind poet v Universally acknowledged as a genius; Iliad and the Odyssey are epics of the finest order

THE TROJAN WAR v. The Iliad takes place in the 10 th and final year of the Trojan War, which was the greatest conflict in Greek mythology v. The war was fought between the Greeks and Trojans (with their allies), upon the city of Troy (Ilium), on Asia Minor (modern Turkey). v. The war lasted for ten years and it has been traditionally dated from 1194 to 1184 BC. v. The Trojan War influenced art, literature, music, and philosophy for generations to come.

BACKGROUND TO THE TROJAN WAR v The Gods Apollo and Poseidon construct the city of Troy for Laomedon. v For many years, Troy is ruled by King Priam (Laomedon’s son) and Queen Hecuba. v Troy famous for its massive walls, which prophecy said could never be breached. v Hecuba dreams while pregnant that she gave birth to a firebrand or flaming torch. v Cassandra, Priam’s daughter who has the gift of prophecy, interprets the dream: the new-born son (Paris), should be killed; otherwise he will lead to the destruction of Troy.

TROJAN WAR BACKGROUND v. Paris is taken away to Mount Ida to be killed, but is rescued by shepherds and lived with them as such for several years. v. One version says that Paris was “suckled by a bear” while living on Mount Ida. v. Similar events take place on Mount Cithaeron involving a prophecy, a shepherd and a foundling take place in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. v

TROJAN WAR BACKGROUND v Parallel Story: the marriage of the mortal Peleus and immortal nymph Thetis (it all connects, trust me) v Peleus marries the sea-nymph Thetis on Mount Ida, and all the Gods attend the ceremony. v Thetis and Peleus are the mother and father of the great Greek warrior, Achilles. v Hera, wife of Zeus, organizes a spectacular wedding, and all the gods and goddesses are invited (well, almost all).

TROJAN WAR: BACKGROUND v. Eris, the goddess of discord and strife, was deliberately left off the invitation list. v. Eris comes anyway, and at the ceremony throws out a golden apple with the inscription “for the fairest, ” among the crowd. v. Three Goddesses Contend for the apple and for the label of the “fairest” v. Hera: Wife of Zeus, queen of the Gods v. Athena: Goddess of wisdom, military strategy v. Aphrodite: Goddess of beauty and of love

TROJAN WAR BACKGROUND: THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS v The three goddesses ask Zeus to choose, but he wisely refuses. v Instead, he enlists the aid of the shepherd boy, Paris, and appoints him the judge. v All three goddesses attempt to win Paris’ favor with gifts v Hera offers him worldly power so that he can be a ruler with unlimited riches. v Athena offers him the ability to be a great hero or general, endowed with wisdom. v Aphrodite offers him the love of the most beautiful women in the world.

THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS v Paris chooses Aphrodite’s offer, and he awards her the Golden Apple. v She in return gives him the love of Helen of Sparta, the wife of the Greek commander Menelaus (Agamemnon’s brother). v Helen is reportedly the most beautiful woman who has ever lived; she is later and better know as Helen of Troy, as Paris’ “wife. ” v Key ** Athena and Hera hate Paris and all of Troy from that moment on. Aphrodite will support the Trojans. v Paris has a wife on Mount Ida, Oenone, but he abandons her to pursue Helen.

HELEN OF SPARTA v. Helen is the daughter Leda and Zeus, who took the form of a swan when he copulated with her. v. Leda’s mortal husband, Tyndareus, became Helen’s legitimate “father. ” v When it was time for Helen to marry, many kings and princes from around the world came to seek her hand or sent emissaries to do so on their behalf. v. Many Greek commanders wanted to marry her, including Ajax, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Odysseus, Diomedes, and Patroclus.

HELEN OF SPARTA v. Tyndareus was afraid of choosing a husband for Helen among all the suitors (fearing bloodshed among the rejected rivals) v. Odysseus proposes a pact: • the suitors must swear an oath to defend the chosen husband against whoever should quarrel with him. v. All agree, and Menelaus is the chosen husband. v. Menelaus becomes king of Sparta and lives for nine years with Helen there. v. They have one daughter, Hermione.

THE SEDUCTION OF HELEN v Paris has by this time returned home to Troy, been recognized, and assumes his rightful place in the royal family. v He prepares for his journey to Sparta to win Helen, but is warned by Cassandra that his trip would cause the ruin of Troy; he goes anyway. v Paris travels to Sparta and is the guest of Menelaus there. v Helen of course falls in love with him, and the two elope while Menelaus is away at his grandfather’s funeral. v Helen leaves Hermione behind to start her new life in Troy as Paris’ “wife. ”

BEGINNING OF THE TROJAN WAR v When he finds Helen gone, an enraged Menelaus calls on the former suitors of Helen to fulfill their oath. v Helen becomes “the face that launched a thousand ships, ” as Christopher Marlowe famously says in the English Renaissance play Dr. Faustus. v The Trojan War becomes a quest for the Greeks to return Helen to Menelaus. v Key Theme**: Objectification of Women. The female as possession, trophy, for the male pursuer. v Agamemnon, the Greek commander, also wants to take Troy and its riches.

ILIAD: KEY THEMES v The politics of war v Epic Conventions v Public vs. Private agendas v Polytheistic Universe v Achilles: v Epic Conventions v --vs. The Trojans v Tragic Hero v --vs. Agamemnon v --vs. his own destiny v Reputation and Shame v Homer’s style v Fate vs. Free will