The Iliad Background

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The Iliad Background

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• or
• The Tragedy of Achilles

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Who was Achilles?
Achilles was the son of the mortal Peleus and the
goddess Thetis (the sea goddess). He was the
mightiest of the Achaeans (a Greek clan) who
fought in the Trojan War. Achilles was very brave
and undefeatable in battle almost immortal, in
fact.
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Achilles Childhood

• Because Calchas prophesied that Achilles would
  be stronger than his father, Peleus gives
  Achilles to be raised by the centaur Chiron.
  However, before being sent away, Thetis made
  Achilles immune to death. There are two stories
  that explain how

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Achilles Story 1

• Thetis, Achilles goddess-mother, wanted to burn
  away the human part of her son so she placed him
  upon a fiery altar. Peleus, Achilles father,
  intervened just in time, but an angry Thetis
  abandoned her son and husband.

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Achilles Story 2

• Thetis held Achilles by the heel and dipped him
  into the River Styx to make him immortal. Thus,
  the only vulnerable (weak) spot on Achilles body
  was his tendon where his mother held him as she
  dipped him into the waters of death.

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Achilles Childhood

• In addition, to being sent away by his father,
  Achilles was later hidden by his mother.
• There was a prophecy given about Achilles
  destiny while he was still a boy. A prophet
  named Calchas prophesied that the city of Troy
  would not be conquered by any other Greek state
  without Achilles help.
• Thetis knew that if her son went to Troy,
  Achilles would die an early death. So she sent
  him to the court of Lycomedes where he was hidden
  and disguised as a young girl. Achilles' disguise
  was finally discovered by Odysseus who took him
  to war.

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Achilles Character

• Despite having the strength of someone who is
  part god, Achilles central weakness is his anger
  / rage, which often gets him into trouble with
  other leaders.

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Achilles Rage (as theme)

• Achilles anger issues are a central theme in The
  Iliad, as is his ability to act with honor.
• The first two lines of the Iliad read
• µ???? ?e?de ?e? ??????de? ???????
• ????µ????, ? µ???' ??a???? ???e' ????e?,
• Sing, Goddess, of the rage, of Peleus' son
  Achilles
• the accursed rage, which brought pain to
  thousands of the Achaeans.

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Trojan War Background

• The Trojan War began as a result of events that
  took place at the wedding of King Peleus and
  Thetis (Achilles parents) many years earlier

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Judgement of Paris

• The wedding took place in Troy in the presence of
  King Priam and his sons Hector and Paris. While
  Hector was the best warrior in Troy, Paris was
  known as the handsomest man in all the known
  world.

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Judgement of Paris

• This pretty boy was asked by Zeus to judge a
  divine beauty contest of sorts. A golden apple
  would be given to the most beautiful goddess
  present Hera, Athena, or Aphrodite.

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Judgement of Paris

• Hera offered Paris ultimate power if he picked
  her Athena promised to make him the wealthiest
  man alive, and Aphrodite promised to give Paris
  Helen the most beautiful woman alive.
  Nevermind that she was already married to King
  Menelaus of Sparta
• Paris, of course, picked Aphrodite, and she
  helped him to steal Helen from her husbands home
  and whisk her away to Troy, his boyhood home.

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A War Begins

• This decision had many dire consequences.
  First, it turned the goddesses Athena and Hera
  against the Trojans. Second, it caused King
  Menelaus to enlists the help of his brother
  Agamemnon (King of Mycenae) and declare war
  against Troy.

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• The Greek state of Mycenae and their allies
  already had control of almost all the city-states
  in the Aegean Sea except Troy. So Agamemnon
  saw it as a perfect opportunity to expand his
  empire and for his brother to avenge his loss.

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A War Begins

• Menelaus, and Agamemnon also enlist the help
  of two other Greek kings Odysseus and Achilles.
  Achilles was somewhat reluctant to join in the
  fight. He had no interest in politics, but he
  was interested in making a name for himself as a
  great warrior.

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Achilles and Agamemnon

• While at war, Achilles became very angry at
  Agamemnon. Achilles refused to fight, and
  returned home in a pout. The Greeks needed his
  strength to win battles, but all of the rewards
  they had to offer could not entice him to return.
  However, he allowed his best friend Patroclus
  to fight in his place.

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Achilles and AgamemnonThe Greeks
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Hector and Paris The Trojans
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Hollywoods Iliad
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Greek Culture see notes!

• Be sure to review your notes on Greek culture
  before reading!!