The Illiad and the Odyssey

1
The Illiad and the Odyssey

• Lack of writing forced the Greeks to learn by
  spoken word
• Homer-
• a great blind story teller
• composed the great epics of The Iliad and the
  Odyssey
• most likely between 750-700 BC

2
The Iliad

• Paris Trojan Prince
• Helen of Troy wife of a Greek Prince
• Kidnapped or ran off together?
• Greeks send a great expedition against Troy
• Meneleus asks for help from Agamemnon
• Achilles helping Sparta
• Trojan Horse
• 10th year of the Trojan War

3
The Odyssey

• Epic romance that recounts one of the Trojan War
  heroes, Odysseus, and his return to home to his
  wife
• Angered gods and condemned to wonder 10 years
  before returning home
• Encounters many obstacles and takes many years
• Lessons in virtue

4
Greek Religion
5
Greek Religion during Homeric Age

• Differed from Egyptians, Persians and Hebrews
• Asked 3 things of their religion
• Explanations for mysteries of the physical world
• Explanation for passions that could make people
  lose their self-control
• Means for gaining such benefits as a long life,
  good fortune, and abundant harvests
• Did not focus on mortality
• Did not expect religion to save them from sin,
  bring them blessings or ensure a life after death
• Spirits went to the underworld
• Ruled by Hades
• Not a place of punishment

6

• Attributed human qualities and personal
  characteristics to all their gods and goddesses.
• Thought of gods and goddesses as having
  weaknesses and wants much like humans
• Olympians overthrew the Titans and banished them
  to Tartarus
• Lived on Mount Olympus
• Zeus King of the gods
• Myths traditional stories about the deeds and
  misdeeds of gods, goddesses and heroes

7
Greek gods and goddesses

• Olympians

• Chthopians

• Aphrodite - goddess of love and beauty Apollo
  - god of the arts (esp. poetry and music),
• archery, and divination
  Ares - god of war Artemis - goddess of the
  hunt and protector of
• children Athena -
  goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts
• patron of Athens,
  Demeter - goddess of agriculture and fertility
  Dionysos - god of fertility, wine, mysteries,
  and
• the theatre
  Hephaistos - god of smiths and metal-workers
  Hera - goddess of marriage wife of Zeus
  Hermes - god of merchants messenger of Zeus
  Poseidon - god of the sea and earthquakes
  Zeus - god of the sky ruler of Olympus

• Hades - god of the Underworld and ruler
• of the dead Hekate -
  goddess of magicPersephone - goddess of the
  Underworld Thanatos - god of death
• Erinyes - also known as Furies, these
• were female spirits who
  exacted
• vengeance against those
  who
• committed specific
  crimes Keres - were female spirits of death and
  
• destruction in ancient
  Greece

8
Religious practices

• Gods spoke through priests or priestesses
• Oracles religious sanctuaries where Greek gods
  were believed to speak about the future
• Oracle of Apollo at Delphi
• Displays of strength and courage pleased the gods

9
Olympic Games

• Only men could compete
• Held at Olympia every 4 years
• Honor Zeus
• Foot races, jumping, javelin and discus throwing,
  boxing wrestling, horse and chariot racing.
• Wreaths of wild olive branches
• Used games as basis for dating events
• First games held in 776 B.C.
• 4 year periods between games called Olympiads