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Homer's The Iliad. The story of the gods, friendship, duty, war, fate and how Achilles dealt with these issues…. Historical Context. Setting: Trojan War, a conflict between Greeks and Trojans at the ancient city of Troy in Asia Minor Occurred approximately 1200 B.C.
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Homer's The Iliad The story of the gods, friendship, duty, war, fate and how Achilles dealt with these issues…
Historical Context • Setting: Trojan War, a conflict between Greeks and Trojans at the ancient city of Troy in Asia Minor • Occurred approximately 1200 B.C. • Historians believe that the Trojan War resulted when Paris, a prince of Troy, kidnapped Helen, the world’s most beautiful woman from her Greek home. • King Menelaus, a Greek ruler, gathered an army, including Achilles, and set out to invade Troy and bring Helen home.
King Menelaus, under the leadership of his brother Agamemnon, laid siege to the walled city of Troy for ten years before finally achieving victory. Agamemnon and Menelaus
The Nature of Achilles as a Hero • Before the actual exploration of the Trojan War, it is necessary to understand Achilles’ place in Greek culture. The Greeks considered him a hero, who was born of a mortal father and a goddess mother, Thetis. It was his mother who imbued Achilles with his heroic powers. Thetis dipped Achilles into the Styx River, holding him tightly by the heel.
Achilles’ Youth • Achilles was presented to the Centaur, Chiron, by his father, Peleus. Chiron was to teach Achilles the necessary skills he would need for battle. Corinthian Bowl Painting, Sixth-Century B.C.
Achilles receiving his god-like armor and The Immortal Shield from his mother. Corinthian Bowl Painting, Sixth-Century B.C.
The Greek Concept of a Hero • In the Homeric epics, heroes give the reader (or listener) the impression that, in order to be the best, to achieve arête, an individual must have sacrificed for the society. Greek heroes often had superhuman powers, though all Greek heroes and gods had a classic flaw. For Achilles, his flaw was his heel, the only portion not covered when his mother dipped him into the river Styx. In TheIliad, Homer used Achilles as a central figure to illustrate the power of the gods, the role of fate in one’s life, and the ways man was to deal with the travails of life in a way that continued tradition and protected the values of the culture.
The Greeks Invade Troy • The Greeks, under the leadership of Agamemnon and with the disdain of Achilles, laid siege to the walled city of Troy for ten years.
Achilles’ Friendship and Loyalty to Patroclus • Patroclus, Achilles’ closest friend, could basically be considered the hero’s understudy. Achilles worked to teach the young Patroclus lessons and helped train him for battle.
Achilles’ Role in the Trojan Wars • Achilles was the most important warrior in the Greek ranks. His argument with King Agamemnon led to his brooding and isolation from the war. His friend, Patroclus, disguised in Achilles’ armor, bravely lead the Greeks into battle. Hector bravely fought who he thought to be Achilles and killed the youth. Achilles, in rage, re-entered the battle after the funeral of Patroclus.
Hector saying goodbye to his wife, as he must follow duty and fight Achilles.
The Role of the Gods • Apollo – The Protector of the Trojans • Pallas Athena – A Greek Goddess who watches over Achilles. She also manipulates Hector into fighting Achilles.
After chasing Hector around the city walls three times, the two men finally faced one another in battle.
Achilles’ Revenge • Achilles kept grieving for his friend:Then he'd yoke his racing team to the chariot-harness, lash the corpse of Hector behind the car for dragging and haul him three times ‘round the dead Patroclus' tomb, and then he'd rest again in his tents and leave the body sprawled facedown in the dust. But Apollo pitied Hector -dead man though he was - and warded all corruption off from Hector's corpse and round him, head to foot, the great god wrapped the golden shield of storm so his skin would never rip as Achilles dragged him on.
Priam, a miserable father and King of Troy, begged Achilles for the return of Hector’s body to the city.
