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Journey with Odysseus as he faces supernatural forces, overcomes trials, and endeavours to return home to his family in this ancient Greek epic by Homer.
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The Odysseyan adventure to behold … Told by Homer around 800 BC
Epic • Epic – a long, narrative poem about the deeds of a hero • Characteristics: • A physically impressive hero of national or historical importance (Odysseus) • A vast setting involving much of the known physical world and sometimes the Underworld • Action such as a quest or journey taken in search of something of value (Odysseus returning to his family) • Evidence of supernatural forces and work (all the gods) • Glorification of the hero at the end • A root in a specific culture and society
The writer himself … Homer • Famous for: • Being a blind, traveling story teller … • The Iliad – the prequel to The Odyssey - about the first ten years of the Greek/Trojan War. Only about the war itself and the characters involved (Hercules, etc… ) • The Odyssey – written around 800 BC – 400 years AFTER the Greek/Trojan War took place (focuses on Odysseus’s trials to get home to his wife and son).
Background Information on The Greek/Trojan War • Occurred around 1200 B.C. • Reasons: 1.) Trade in the Aegean Sea 2.) The abduction of Helen of Sparta!!!!!
Map of Important Places The truth is, just like virtually every other aspect of Homer's life, we know The Gods lived here Paris brought Helen here Agamemnon where Menelaus and Helen lived before the capture
What Started the Trojan War - It all started with a wedding when Zeus had Thetis and Peleus marry (Achilles’ parents)
Eris = Goddess of Strife • Eris = goddess of strife (causes bad things to happen) was not invited to the wedding because people thought she would cause something bad to happen … and she did!! I’ll show them!!! • Eris created a golden apple and on it she inscribed “For the Fairest”. for the fairest
Who is the fairest? • All the women thought they were the fairest, of course, but only three women were in the running to get the apple … and they were all related to Zeus!!
The Three Contestants Are ….. • Hera – wife of Zeus and Queen of the Gods • Athena- daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom • Aphrodite – goddess of love daughter of Zeus
I’ll be the judge!! • Zeus didn’t want to judge between his wife and two daughters so he chose PARIS, a prince of Troy and the most beautiful mortal man to judge who was “the fairest” and who should get The Golden Apple.
I’ll bribe you Paris … if you pick me!!! • Hera offered Paris Asia and riches • Athena offered Paris victory in wars and wisdom • Aphrodite offered Paris love • Who did he pick ……
Then the Conflict Occurred … • Zeus’s daughter (from a mortal), Helen = a demigod, was married to a Spartan king, Menelaus • But … Aphrodite had to keep her promise to Paris to give him the most beautiful wife of his choice … he chose Helen, of course, although she was already married to Menelaus Hottie Helen …
How it worked … • Menelaus threw a party and invited many people, one of those people being Paris • Aphrodite cast her spell on Helen • Helen fell in love with Paris • The couple sailed to TROY (they are here!!)
Menelaus = not happy!! • Menelaus (from Sparta) found out Helen was taken by Paris. • Went to get aid from brother Agamemnon (of Mycenae). • Agamemnon agreed to go to war for his brother to keep Helen as their own. • So … Menelaus and Agamemnon had to gather all the kings of Greece and their armies. • This would include Odysseus and his men from Ithaca, as well as Achilles and the Myrmidons (all Greeks)
Odysseus – king of Ithaca • Odysseus did not want to go to war against Troy • He had a new wife, Penelope and a new baby, Telemachus • He claimed insanity to get out of going to the war … would it work??
Was Odysseus really insane??? • Someone placed Odysseus’s son, Telemachus, in front of a plow. • If Odysseus: • A.) ran over his son he was insane and didn’t have to go to war, • B.) didn’t run over his son, he wasn’t insane and did have to go fight in the Greek/Trojan War. • Which decision did Odysseus make?
TELEMACHUS LIVES!!! the bad news = Odysseus has to go to war
Gathering the Troops • All the Greek kings met at Aulis, Greece • Agamemnon was the supreme leader • Before the armies could sail for Troy, they had to wait for the proper winds, from the wind god, Aeolus. • Agamemnon offended Aeolus, and until he sacrificed his daughter, Aeolus would not allow them the proper winds to sail. • Agamemnon finally sacrificed his daughter and …
1,000 ships set sail for Troy • Helen is said to be, “the face that launched a thousand ships”. • There were 50 men on each ship, • 50,000 Greeks set sail for the Greek/Trojan War.
Who won the war??? • The Greeks actually won the war … and this is how they did it …
The Trojan Horse (Odysseus’s idea) • All the Greeks left Troy except about 50 that were hiding in the wooden, hollow, Trojan Horse. • A lone Greek, Sinon, claimed to be mad that everyone sailed away without him. He told the Trojans the horse would bring them luck and it could be their trophy for winning the war. • The Trojans wheeled the horse into the city gates. • When the Trojans were sleeping, the Greeks climbed out of the horse and attacked the Trojans. • They beat the Trojans in the war with this tactic.
Troy Trojans?? • Destined to be defeated!
The Greeks won the war • The Greeks took and divided the women and plundered Troy • They finally, after ten years of war, set sail for their Greek homelands • It took Odysseus 10 years to get home to Ithaca = “The Odyssey”. • odyssey = “long, adventurous journey”
