All about history book of myths and legends. ( PDFDrive )

THE JUDGEMENT OF PARIS

The event that started the war occurred on Mount Ida, where

the Trojan prince, Paris, was visited by three goddesses: Hera,

Athena, and Aphrodite. Eris, goddess of discord, had given

them a golden apple, inscribed, “For the fairest”. Each of the

three claimed the apple. Zeus commanded Hermes to take

them to Paris, who would decide which was the most beautiful.

The goddesses tried to influence his decision by ofering bribes.

Athena pledged to grant him success in war, Hera promised

power, and Aphrodite ofered the hand of the world’s most

beautiful woman, Helen. Paris chose Aphrodite’s ofer – but

Helen was already married to Menelaus of Sparta. When she

eloped with Paris, hostilities between Greece and Troy began.

THE HEROES
The story of the Trojan War is full of heroes who are the epic’s main
characters. They are generally brave in battle, but Homer’s depiction of
their characters is particularly interesting. Many are motivated by honour

• the dispute between Achilles and Agamemnon
  over their concubines, for example, ignites
  because when Agamemnon appropriates
  the woman of Achilles, the latter’s honour
  is afected. Homer shows that intelligence
  is essential in battle too: the hero Odysseus
  is renowned for his cunning.

THE ANCIENT CITY

OF MYCENAE

Although the story of the Iliad is a myth, all its

characters come from real places in ancient Greece.

Mycenae, in the northeastern Peloponnese, was

said to be the home of Agamemnon. The city state

was a strong military power during the Late Bronze

Age. This ancient site was excavated in the 19th

century by the German archaeologist Heinrich

Schliemann. He discovered stunning jewellery and

other artefacts among the ruins, dating back to the

2nd millennium bce. He claimed these objects

belonged to Agamemnon,

though there has never

been any evidence

to support this.

ATHENE AND HERA

THUNDERED,

DOING HONOUR

TO THE KING OF

MYCENAE, RICH

IN GOLD.

Homer, Iliad, Book XI

The three goddesses

After Paris judged Aphrodite

to be the fairest among the three

goddesses, he earned the wrath

of both Athena and Hera.

Helen of Troy

Several reasons have been given for

Helen’s desertion of her husband, such

as wickedness, forced abduction, and

the influence of Aphrodite.

Achilles binding Patroclus’s wound

Friendship was an important motivation in

the war – when Patroclus died, Achilles

returned to the battle with renewed energy.

Agamemnon returning with Cassandra
At the end of the war, Troy was captured and sacked.
Agamemnon carried off Cassandra, the daughter of
King Priam of Troy, as a prize.

Hector fighting Achilles
Achilles and Hector’s fight was a key moment in the
war. With Hector’s death, the Trojans were weakened
by the loss of one of their greatest fighters.

Ajax committing suicide

A great warrior, Ajax survived the war,

but went mad after a dispute with

Odysseus, and killed himself.

Gold mask

Schliemann called

this face of beaten

gold unearthed from

Mycenae “the mask

of Agamemnon”, but

it could have belonged to

any early Mycenaean king.

Menelaus pursuing Helen

Seen here pursuing his wife, Helen,

Menelaus is portrayed in the Iliad as a

noble king who fights bravely for his cause.

THE TROJAN WAR

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