OWN INTERPRETATION OF ILLIAD Odysseus showcase their strengths.

HEHE Divine intervention fuels the conflict.

Athena and Hera aid the Greeks, fueled
by their anger at Paris. Aphrodite,
The Spark: Apollo, and Ares support the Trojans,
each with their own reasons.
It all starts with a wedding snub.
Eris, the goddess of discord, crashes Nine years after the start of the
the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Trojan War, the Greek (“Achaean”) army
tossing a golden apple inscribed "For sacks Chryse, a town allied with Troy.
the Fairest." Hera, Athena, and During the battle, the Achaeans capture
Aphrodite clash for the title. Hera a pair of beautiful maidens, Chryseis
pledged to make him lord of Europe and and Briseis. Agamemnon, the leader of
Asia. Athena offered to grant him great the Achaean forces, takes Chryseis as
military prowess and the freedom to his prize, and Achilles, the Achaeans’
rampage across Greece. Aphrodite greatest warrior, claims Briseis.
tempted Paris with the promise that he Chryseis’s father, Chryses, who serves
would have the most beautiful woman in as a priest of the god Apollo, offers an
the world as his wife—none other than enormous ransom in return for his
Helen of Sparta, who was already daughter, but Agamemnon refuses to
married to Menelaus. Swayed by give Chryseis back. Chryses then prays
Aphrodite's promise of love, he picks to Apollo, who sends a plague upon the
her, angering the other two goddesses Achaean camp.
who vow revenge on Troy. Aphrodite
After many Achaeans die,
fulfills her promise by influencing Paris
Agamemnon consults the prophet
to abduct Helen, the beautiful wife of
Calchas to determine the cause of the
Menelaus, king of Sparta. This throws
plague. When he learns that Chryseis is
Greece into an uproar. Menelaus seeks
the cause, he reluctantly gives her up
help from his brother, Agamemnon, king
but then demands Briseis from Achilles
of Mycenae. They unite Greek kingdoms
as compensation. Furious at this insult,
under the banner of reclaiming Helen
Achilles returns to his tent in the army
and punishing Troy. Legendary figures
camp and refuses to fight in the war any
like Achilles, Ajax, Odysseus, and
longer. He vengefully yearns to see the
Nestor answer the call, each bringing
Achaeans destroyed and asks his
unique skills and motivations.
mother, the sea-nymph Thetis, to enlist
The Greeks land outside Troy, a the services of Zeus, king of the gods,
fortified city. Unable to breach the walls, toward this end. The Trojan and
they settle into a ten-year siege marked Achaean sides have declared a cease-
by raids, skirmishes, and larger battles. fire with each other, but now the Trojans
Achilles, known for his near-invincibility, breach the treaty and Zeus comes to
becomes the Greeks' champion. Hector, their aid.
the noble Trojan prince, leads the
defense. Other heroes like Ajax and
 The Trojans, emboldened by
Achilles' absence, push back, led by
their valiant prince, Hector. Patroclus, OWN INTERPRETATION OF
driven by his loyalty to Achilles and a ODYSSEY
desire to aid the Greek soldiers, begged
for permission to borrow Achilles’ armor
and join the battle against the Trojans. BOOKS 1
Apollo, the god of prophecy and healing,
intervened. He clouded Patroclus’ We meet the suitors, a group of arrogant
judgment, removing his wits and clarity. men who have taken over Odysseus'
Apollo’s intervention palace, feasting and vying for
allowed Euphorbos, a Trojan warrior, to Penelope's hand. Telemachus,
strike Patroclus with a spear. Weakened burdened by the suitors' presence and
and wounded, Patroclus became an
longing for news of his father, is visited
easy target. Hector, the Trojan prince,
by Athena disguised as an old friend.
seized the opportunity. He drove a spear
through Patroclus’ belly, ending his life. Athena encourages Telemachus to
embark on a journey to Pylos and
Consumed by grief and fueled by Sparta to seek information about
vengeance, Achilles rejoins the fight, Odysseus.
seeking revenge for Patroclus. He
unleashes his wrath upon the Trojans,
culminating in a legendary duel with BOOK 2
Hector, whom he slays outside the city
gates. Grief-stricken and vengeful, At a banquet held by the suitors,
Achilles mistreats Hector's body, Penelope cleverly stalls their marriage
dragging it behind his chariot and proposals. Telemachus prepares for his
refusing proper burial rites. The gods, journey with the help of Athena,
disturbed by Achilles' actions, intervene. disguised as Mentor, a trusted friend of
Thetis, Achilles' mother, convinces him Odysseus.
to return Hector's body to King Priam for
ransom. In a heart-wrenching scene,
King Priam ventures into the Greek
BOOK 3
camp, risking his life to plead for
Hector's body. Achilles, touched by In Pylos, Telemachus meets Nestor, a
Priam's grief, relents and returns Hector fellow Greek hero from the Trojan War,
with a 12-day truce for funeral rites. who recounts stories of Odysseus'
bravery and intelligence. Nestor
The Trojans hold a grand funeral
suggests Telemachus travel to Sparta to
for Hector, lamenting his loss and
praising his bravery. Even Helen, whom seek further information from Menelaus.
he protected, mourns his passing.
Witnessing the Trojan grief, Achilles
starts questioning his actions and the BOOK 4
cost of his vengeance. He eventually
reconciles with Patroclus' spirit. In Sparta, Telemachus meets Menelaus
and Helen who narrate tales of
Odysseus' cunning escape from Troy Odysseus, disguised as a shipwrecked
and his encounter with the prophet traveler, is found by Nausicaa, the
Teiresias. Telemachus learns that Phaeacian princess, and receives
Odysseus is alive but trapped on an assistance thanks to Athena's
unknown island. Athena, still disguised intervention. He is brought to the palace
as Mentor, encourages Telemachus to of King Alcinous and Queen Arete,
return to Ithaca to confront the suitors. where he is warmly welcomed and
offered hospitality.

BOOK 5
BOOK 7
The gods convene on Mount Olympus,
with Zeus acknowledging Odysseus' During a banquet, Alcinous requests
suffering and Athena advocating for his Odysseus to reveal his identity and
release. Zeus instructs Hermes, the stories.
messenger god, to deliver a message to
Calypso, the beautiful nymph holding
Odysseus captive on her island, BOOK 8
ordering her to release him. Hermes
travels to Ogygia and convinces Odysseus begins his narrative,
Calypso, despite her protests and claims recounting his escape from Troy using
of unfair treatment towards goddesses, the cunning Trojan Horse strategy.
to let Odysseus go. Using his skills and
ingenuity, Odysseus builds a sturdy raft
and sets sail, fueled by hope and BOOK 9
longing for home. However, Poseidon, The focus shifts to Odysseus' encounter
still harboring resentment towards with the Lotus-Eaters, creatures whose
Odysseus for blinding his son sweet food induces forgetfulness. He
Polyphemus the Cyclops, stirs a violent then describes his perilous adventure
storm and wrecks Odysseus' raft. with the Cyclops Polyphemus, whom he
Odysseus is on the verge of drowning outsmarts by blinding him and escaping
when the sea nymph Ino, moved by his his cave.
plight, intervenes and provides him with
magical assistance. Guided by Ino's veil
and Athena's watchful eye, Odysseus BOOK 10
manages to swim ashore on the island
of Scheria, home to the Phaeacians. Odysseus recounts his encounter with
Exhausted and battered, he collapses Aeolus, the wind god, who briefly aids
on the beach, unsure of his next step his journey before his crew's greed
but clinging to the hope of finding help. unleashes destructive winds. He then
narrates his encounters with the
Laestrygonians, monstrous cannibals,
BOOK 6 and the seductive witch Circe, who
initially imprisons his men before falling encounters Eumaeus, his faithful
in love with him. swineherd who remains loyal despite his
long absence. Through their
conversation, Odysseus learns about
BOOK 11 the current situation in Ithaca, with the
suitors still occupying his palace and
Odysseus describes his daring descent vying for Penelope's hand. Eumaeus
into the underworld guided by the welcomes Odysseus with hospitality,
prophet Tiresias, who reveals important unaware of his true identity.
information about his future and the Telemachus, having completed his
challenges he must overcome. He also journey, also arrives in Ithaca, guided by
encounters the spirits of various Athena. He reunites with Eumaeus and
deceased heroes, including his mother. learns about the mysterious "beggar"
(Odysseus in disguise). Athena appears
to Telemachus in her true form,
BOOK 12 revealing Odysseus' identity and
Returning from the underworld, outlining a plan to reclaim their home.
Odysseus navigates the perilous straits The plan involves Odysseus,
guarded by the monstrous Scylla and Telemachus, and a few loyal servants
Charybdis. He then recounts his escape working together to defeat the suitors.
from the seductive Sirens whose
enchanting song lures sailors to their
deaths. BOOK 14

BOOK 13
Having captivated the Phaeacians with
his stories, Odysseus is ready to return
to Ithaca. King Alcinous loads him with
gifts and provisions for his journey. With
Athena's guidance, the Phaeacians
transport Odysseus in a magical ship
while he sleeps, ensuring his safe arrival
in Ithaca. Upon reaching Ithaca, Athena
intervenes with another pivotal
transformation. She disguises Odysseus
as an old beggar, making him
unrecognizable to everyone except her.
This disguise serves as a protective
measure and allows Odysseus to gather
information and formulate a plan before
revealing his true identity. Odysseus first