THE ILIAD BY HOMER

Introduction to the Text

 THE ILIAD:
INTRODUCTION

“Iliad” is word that means “a poem about

Ilium” (another name for Troy)
In the fifth century, the Greek historian
Herodotus referred to Homer’s work by that
name (the Iliad), and it’s been called it ever since
Really the poem could be called the Achillead,
since the primary focus is Achilles and his rage.
Originally the poem had 15,693 lines of
hexameter verse
The poet is known as “Homer,” but little
about his life is known
 THE ILIAD:
INTRODUCTION

 First printed edition of Homer was in Florence in 1488;

before that Homer’s work existed only in handwritten
copies
 Greek a difficult language to read; Petrarch tried to learn
and gave up
 Dante puts Homer in the first circle of Hell as a
“Virtuous Heathen,” but had never read Homer’s work.
 ILIAD: INTRODUCTION

 Argument about when exactly Homer lived

 Herodotus believed he lived in the 9th century B.C.,
 Other reports have him as far back as 12th century B.C. (about 140
years after Trojan War).
 General agreement: Homer was a blind poet
 Universally acknowledged as a genius; Iliad and the Odyssey are
epics of the finest order
 THE TROJAN WAR
The Iliad takes place in the 10th and final year
of the Trojan War, which was the greatest
conflict in Greek mythology
The war was fought between the Greeks and
Trojans (with their allies), upon the city of Troy
(Ilium), on Asia Minor (modern Turkey).
The war lasted for ten years and it has been
traditionally dated from 1194 to 1184 BC.
The Trojan War influenced art, literature,
music, and philosophy for generations to come.
 BACKGROUND TO THE
TROJAN WAR

 The Gods Apollo and Poseidon construct the city of Troy

for Laomedon.
 For many years, Troy is ruled by King Priam (Laomedon’s
son) and Queen Hecuba.
 Troy famous for its massive walls, which prophecy said
could never be breached.
 Hecuba dreams while pregnant that she gave birth to a
firebrand or flaming torch.
 Cassandra, Priam’s daughter who has the gift of prophecy,
interprets the dream: the new-born son (Paris), should be
killed; otherwise he will lead to the destruction of Troy.
TROJAN WAR BACKGROUND
Paris is taken away to Mount Ida to be killed, but
is rescued by shepherds and lived with them as such
for several years.
One version says that Paris was “suckled by a
bear” while living on Mount Ida.
Similar events take place on Mount Cithaeron
involving a prophecy, a shepherd and a foundling
take place in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King.

TROJAN WAR BACKGROUND

 Parallel Story: the marriage of the mortal Peleus and

immortal nymph Thetis (it all connects, trust me)
 Peleus marries the sea-nymph Thetis on Mount Ida, and all
the Gods attend the ceremony.
 Thetis and Peleus are the mother and father of the great
Greek warrior, Achilles.
 Hera, wife of Zeus, organizes a spectacular wedding, and
all the gods and goddesses are invited (well, almost all).
 TROJAN WAR:
BACKGROUND

Eris, the goddess of discord and strife, was

deliberately left off the invitation list.
Eris comes anyway, and at the ceremony throws
out a golden apple with the inscription “for the
fairest,” among the crowd.
Three Goddesses Contend for the apple and for
the label of the “fairest”
Hera: Wife of Zeus, queen of the Gods
Athena: Goddess of wisdom, military strategy
Aphrodite: Goddess of beauty and of love
 TROJAN WAR
BACKGROUND: THE
JUDGMENT OF PARIS
 The three goddesses ask Zeus to choose, but he wisely
refuses.
 Instead, he enlists the aid of the shepherd boy, Paris, and
appoints him the judge.
 All three goddesses attempt to win Paris’ favor with gifts
 Hera offers him worldly power so that he can be a ruler
with unlimited riches.
 Athena offers him the ability to be a great hero or general,
endowed with wisdom.
 Aphrodite offers him the love of the most beautiful women
in the world.
 THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS

 Paris chooses Aphrodite’s offer, and he awards her the

Golden Apple.
 She in return gives him the love of Helen of Sparta, the
wife of the Greek commander Menelaus (Agamemnon’s
brother).
 Helen is reportedly the most beautiful woman who has ever
lived; she is later and better know as Helen of Troy, as Paris’
“wife.”
 Key ** Athena and Hera hate Paris and all of Troy from
that moment on. Aphrodite will support the Trojans.
 Paris has a wife on Mount Ida, Oenone, but he abandons
her to pursue Helen.
 HELEN OF SPARTA
Helen is the daughter Leda and Zeus, who took
the form of a swan when he copulated with her.
Leda’s mortal husband, Tyndareus, became
Helen’s legitimate “father.”
 When it was time for Helen to marry, many kings
and princes from around the world came to seek her
hand or sent emissaries to do so on their behalf.
Many Greek commanders wanted to marry her,
including Ajax, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Odysseus,
Diomedes, and Patroclus.
 HELEN OF SPARTA
Tyndareus was afraid of choosing a husband for
Helen among all the suitors (fearing bloodshed
among the rejected rivals)
Odysseus proposes a pact:
• the suitors must swear an oath to defend the
chosen husband against whoever should quarrel
with him.
All agree, and Menelaus is the chosen husband.
Menelaus becomes king of Sparta and lives for
nine years with Helen there.
They have one daughter, Hermione.
 THE SEDUCTION OF
HELEN

 Paris has by this time returned home to Troy, been

recognized, and assumes his rightful place in the royal family.
 He prepares for his journey to Sparta to win Helen, but is
warned by Cassandra that his trip would cause the ruin of
Troy; he goes anyway.
 Paris travels to Sparta and is the guest of Menelaus there.
 Helen of course falls in love with him, and the two elope
while Menelaus is away at his grandfather’s funeral.
 Helen leaves Hermione behind to start her new life in Troy
as Paris’ “wife.”
 BEGINNING OF THE
TROJAN WAR

When he finds Helen gone, an enraged Menelaus calls

on the former suitors of Helen to fulfill their oath.
Helen becomes “the face that launched a thousand
ships,” as Christopher Marlowe famously says in the
English Renaissance play Dr. Faustus.
The Trojan War becomes a quest for the Greeks to
return Helen to Menelaus.
Key Theme**: Objectification of Women. The female
as possession, trophy, for the male pursuer.
Agamemnon, the Greek commander, also wants to
take Troy and its riches.
 ILIAD: KEY THEMES

 The politics of war  Epic Conventions

 Public vs. Private agendas  Polytheistic Universe

 Achilles:  Epic Conventions

 --vs. The Trojans  Tragic Hero

 Reputation and Shame
 --vs. Agamemnon
 Homer’s style
 --vs. his own destiny
 Fate vs. Free will