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The Trojan War and The Iliad
The Trojan War and The Iliad
and
The Iliad
• The gods Apollo and Poseidon built the
city of Troy.
• Priam, the King of Troy had a son named
Paris.
• A prophet foretold that Paris would destroy
the city.
• Paris was taken out to be killed, but was
rescued by shepherds and grew up away
from the city. As a young man he returned
to Troy to compete in the athletic games,
was recognized, and returned to the royal
family.
• Meanwhile, Thetis (a sea
goddess), and a mortal decided
to marry. All the gods were
invited to the celebration,
except, Eris, the goddess of
strife. She came anyway and
brought a golden apple, upon
which was written "For the
Fairest."
• Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena all fought for
the apple, and came to Zeus for judgment.
He refused to judge a beauty contest
between his wife and two of his daughters,
and the task of choosing fell to Paris.
They each bribed him: Hera offered
power, Athena offered military glory and
wisdom, and Aphrodite offered him the
most beautiful woman in the world. In the
end, he gave the apple to Aphrodite.
• Helen, whose beauty was
famous throughout the world,
was that woman. The Greek
leaders made a promise that
they would collectively
avenge any insult to her.
When the leaders made such
an oath, Helen then married
Menelaus, King of Sparta.
Agamemnon, brother of
Menelaus was the most
powerful leader in Greece.
• Paris made a journey to Sparta as a
Trojan ambassador at a time when
Menelaus was away. Aphrodite made
Helen fall in love with Paris and they left
Sparta together, returning to Troy where
they were protected by Priam (the King)
and Hector (oldest son and best warrior).
The Greeks assembled an army to invade
Troy.