Reading Notes: Homer's Iliad, Part A

Of How the War With Troy Began:

King of Sparta had a beautiful daughter named Helen
The king told all of his daughter's suiters that regardless of who marries her, they all must help the husband if someone takes Helen away
Helen chose to marry a prince named, Menelaüs
Menelaüs was the brother of Agamemnon who was the chief of all the Kings of Greece
When Helen’s father died, her husband became King of Sparta
One day, a prince named Paris came to Sparta from the King of Troy
The prince took Helen and much of her gold and stones
Menelaüs and his brother Agamemnon went to the other princes and told them to keep their word and help find Helen.
All of the princes and many more came together to help find Helen
For 9 years, the Greeks besieged the city of Troy but they were unable to break through the walls
They soon ran out of clothes and food and supplies so they left some of the armies to watch the city.
The rest of the army went about and spoiled other cities
This created the great quarrel.

The Quarrel:

The Greeks took the city of Chrysé.
They split the spoils amongst themselves.
They gave a girl named Chryseïs to Agamemnon
She was the daughter of the priest of Apollo.
Her father begged for his daughter back in exchange for gold but they refused to give her back
The priest prayed to Apollo for help.
Apollo listened and began killing the dogs, mules, and the men for several days
Agamemnon agreed to give back the girl but refused to return any of the spoils
Achilles and the others were outraged and eventually, Achilles decided he would return home and refused to fight for the King any longer
The king Agamemnon told Achilles to go but first told him that he must give up the girl he was given, Briseïs.
Achilles was very angry and drew his sword to attack the king
Athené stopped Achilles and begged him not to attack so Achilles put down his weapon.
As he was leaving Achilles swore that none would come and take what was his.
Later, Agamemnon sent others to take the girl from Achilles
Achilles allowed them to take the girl and after they left he sat by the sea and wept
His mother, the daughter of the sea, Thetis came to him and asked him why he wept.
He told his mother of what happened and asked her to go to Zeus and ask him to help get revenge
His mother said she would go to Zeus when he returned from his 12-day feast with the other gods

What Thetis Did for Her Son:

Thetis asked Zeus for his help and he agreed, knowing that it would upset his wife Hera
Hera fought with Zeus because she saw that he had been with Thetis and he would not tell her what the matter was about.
Zeus called a Dream and told it to tell Agamemnon that he would be able to take Troy without the help of Achilles.
The king believed that this false dream would come true.

Hector and Andromache:

Hector is the eldest son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba
Paris is his younger brother
Hector is the leader of the Trojan forces and Andromache is his wife
Hector tells his mother to gather the women of Troy to pray to Athené and ask her to protect the city of Troy
The queen prayed but Athené would not listen
Hector then went to his brother and called on him to join the battle as well
Paris agreed to join his brother
Hector went to see his wife after but was told that she was in one of the towers to see the battle
His wife pleaded with him not to go to battle but he refused.
He prayed to Zeus and the gods to take care of his son and make sure he will be a great man for Troy
Hector met up with Paris and together they rode into battle

The Embassy to Achilles:

Agamemnon realized that he could not defeat Troy without Achilles so he sent a Phoenix to try and persuade Achilles to join again
Achilles, Phoenix, and the other Chiefs all feasted together
They presented Achilles with many gifts and asked him to accept them and in return, he must kill Hector
Achilles refused to counsel with Agamemnon ever again
Achilles warns them to all return to their own homes because they will never be able to take Troy
He asks Phoenix to stay with him and depart on the ship with him the next day

The Deeds and Death of Patroclus:

Patroclus begs Achilles to let him go fight in the battles
Achilles allows him to go fight but tells him that he must return and fight no more once he is done
Patroclus put on Achilles’s armor and headed into battle
Achilles called the Myrmidons to battle
They went into battle with Patroclus
Achilles prayed to Zeus for Patroclus to be strong and brave in battle and to return home safe when over.
He only answered part of his prayer
Patroclus was determined to slay Hector in battle and followed after him when he fled.
Sarpēdon the Lycian fought with Patroclus and pleaded for his people to stand and fight
He threw his spear at Patroclus and missed but Patroclus; who also threw him, did not miss and killed Sarpēdon.
His kinsmen Glaucus prayed to Apollo for strength and Apollo heard him and helped him
Patroclus forgot the words of Achilles and believed he would now be able to take the city of Troy
Apollo told him to return and that it was not his place to take Troy
He returned but still raged against the Trojans
Patroclus continued to slay the Trojans until he was struck down by Apollo
Hector began to boast to Patroclus about his inability to take Troy
Patroclus told Hector that his death was coming and before he could hear Hector’s reply he was dead.

Mythology & Folklore