Conventions of Epic Poetry An epic poem has

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Conventions of Epic PoetryAn epic poem has

• a hero who embodies national, cultural, or
  religious ideals
• a hero upon whose actions depends the fate of
  his people
• a course of action in which the hero performs
  great and difficult deeds
• a recognition of -- or intercession by -- divine
  or supernatural powers
• a concern with eternal human problems
• a dignified and elaborate poetic style

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Important Primary Epics

• Iliad (Greek) / Aeneid (Latin)
• Odyssey (Greek) / Ulysses (Latin)
• Gilgamesh (Babylonian)
• Exodus (Hebrew)
• Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon)

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What do these primary epics have in common?

• Each began as part of a cultures oral tradition
• ORAL TRADITION socio-/cultural values
  transferred generation-to-generation by
  traveling poets/bards who sang songs about
  cultural heroes and values
• POETRY because rhyme/meter is easier to memorize
  and more stable as passed-on

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The Iliad

• written by Homer around (c.) 720 B.C.
• Homer did not invent the story, but transcribed
  it into its longest-lasting form
• All versions we read are translated from ancient
  Greek language Translations can vary greatly
• Called Iliad because Ilium was the Greek name
  for Troy where the war took place. Iliad
  about Ilium

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The Trojan War (c. 1250 B.C.)Causes

• Nuclear weapons?
• No!
• Treaty violations?
• No!
• Imperial aggression?
• No!
• Trade dispute?
• No!

A WOMAN!
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Helen of TroyThe face that launched a thousand
ships

• Legend says that the Trojan War began when
  Paris Prince of Troy and son to the Trojan King
  Priam stole the wife of Menelaus, King of
  Sparta.

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Why would Paris do something that stupid?

• Legend says that Paris a desirable man
  because of his attractiveness, wealth and power
  was approached by the goddess Eris. Eris asked
  Paris to give The Golden Apple, inscribed To
  the Fairest to Athena, Hera, or Aphrodite.

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Why would Paris do something that stupid?

• The three goddesses were arguing over who was
  the most beautiful and powerful.
• Eris chose Paris to settle their dispute.
• Eris, in Greek, means Chaos.

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Tough Choice.

• Hera, wife of Zeus

Aphrodite/goddess of love, beauty and sexuality,
daughter of Poseidon
Athena/goddess of wisdom, daughter of Zeus
Hera/Wife of Zeus
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Which would you choose?

• Paris, of course, selects Aphrodite.

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• Menelaus promptly launches a thousand ships in
  an effort to reclaim Helen and punish Paris.
• As King of Sparta, Menelaus has many allies.

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Troy (aka Ilium)
Trojan War c. 1250-1200 BC
Sparta
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A less sexy reason for the real Trojan War?
Black Sea
Bosporus
Trojan War c. 1250-1200 BC
Aegean Sea
Dardanelles
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Line-ups The Achaeans (aka Spartans, aka Greeks)

• Menelaus, the King
• Agamemnon, brother to Menelaus battlefield
  leader of the Achaeans
• Ajax
• Odysseus
• Patroclus, cousin to Achilles

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Line-ups The Achaeans (aka Spartans, aka Greeks)

• ACHILLES
• the central character the hero of The Iliad.
• a phenomenal warrior leader of a special
  detachment fighting with Menelaus and the
  Spartans the Myrmydons.

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Achilles mother, Thetis

• Thetis was a Nereid, a minor goddess who gave
  birth to Achilles, a mortal.
• Because of her connection with Olympus as a
  Nereid, Thetis was permitted access to the
  magical river, Styx, which separated the Earth
  from Hades.
• Thetis dipped her newborn son into the Styx,
  ensuring his protection against all mortal
  weapons, except

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Line-ups The Trojans

• Priam, King of Troy
• Hecuba, his wife
• Hector, his son prince of Troy and the Trojans
  most valiant warrior
• Paris, younger brother of Hector