Homer’s Homer’s The IlliadThe Illiad

Background for Homer’s Background for Homer’s The OdysseyThe Odyssey

The Face That Launched 1,000 Ships

Prince Paris of Troy was the youngest son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba,. After his birth, Priam learned from an Oracle that this son would one day cause the destruction of his kingdom. Knowing the Oracle to be the voice of the gods, Priam panicked. To prevent the ruination of his kingdom, Priam decided to kill his newborn child. He ordered his servants to take the child to Mount Ida, a far distant place, where they were to leave him to die. But fate intervened.

Discovered by shepherds, the child was raised as a commoner. Displaying exceptional qualities as a young man, Paris returned to Troy, where he defeated his father’s best men at the annual athletic competitions. Both father and son recognized the similarities that they share. Upon learning the young man’s background, Priam recognized Paris as his son and welcomed him back home.

Meanwhile….

Eris, the Goddess of Discord, was not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis because they feared that Eris would only cause trouble. Enraged at the snub, Eris came anyway. Hoping to ruin the festivities, Eris wickedly tossed a golden apple into the midst of the wedding party. Inscribed on the apple was this message: “For the fairest."

Almost immediately, the apple was claimed by nearly every female goddess at the wedding, including the bride. After much bickering and fighting, three goddesses stood above the rest: Hera, the Queen of the Gods; Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom; and Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. Each of the three thought herself “the Fairest” and refused to leave without the golden apple.

After MUCH further argument, still nothing had been resolved. The goddesses finally agreed to ask Zeus, the King of the Gods, to declare which of them most deserved the golden apple. Zeus immediately knew that any decision would be the the wrong decision. Rather than incur the hatred and vengeance of two formidable goddesses, he slyly suggested that perhaps a young man named Paris, thought by most to be the most handsome mortal on the face of the Earth, might be the best and most appropriate judge. The goddesses agreed, and Zeus descended to Paris’s home on Mount Ida to secure his participation.

Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy, eagerly agreed, flattered that the immortal and all-powerful gods would ask this favor of him; however, when he finally faced the three immortal goddesses, who were all of exceptional beauty and skills, Paris found that he could not make a decision. Privately, to curry his favor, each of the goddesses offered Paris a bribe.

'The Judgement of Paris' by William Etty. Originally exhibited under the title 'The Choice of Paris' at the 1826 Royal Academy

Hera, the wife of Zeus, the King of the Gods, offered Paris power. If he chose her, she would give him the continent of Asia as his own kingdom, with the authority to govern as he pleased.

Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom & War, offered him great wisdom and great luck in battle. Through her, Paris would become the world’s greatest military strategist. Tempted, Paris found himself torn between the two offers.

Aphrodite visited Paris last. She offered him two things: The first was her body, the ideal of feminine beauty, and the second was the love of the most beautiful mortal woman in the world: Helen, the wife of King Menelaus.

The best choice was now immediately clear to Paris: More than power and more than wisdom, Paris loved women. He jumped at Aphrodite's offer and declared her the fairest of them all. Furious, Hera and Athena vowed vengeance.

Aphrodite was the Goddess of Love and Sexual Desire. Artists have traditionally depicted Aphrodite as the model of feminine beauty.

To claim his prize, Helen, Paris tricked King Menelaus. Taking advantage of the King’s kindness and hospitality during a stately visit, Paris stole away in the middle of the night with both Helen and a vast portion of the king’s wealth. With the assistance of Aphrodite—who fulfilled her promise—Paris headed across the Aegean Sea with his trophies, back to his father’s home.

Paris kidnaps Helen and takes her across the Mediterranean Sea to Troy.

Helen had been—and still was—the most beautiful mortal woman in the world. Prior to her marriage, her suitors had been the most powerful men in Greece. To keep the peace, the suitors had agreed that, once Helen chose a husband, the others would honor her decision and not interfere. In this era, it was not uncommon for a desired woman to be “kidnapped” by a stronger foe. In the case of Helen, the suitors agreed that, if Helen were ever kidnapped in the future, they would all pursue the kidnapper. It was hoped that this agreement would ensure peace among them.

For her husband, Helen chose King Menelaus of Sparta. After Menelaus realized that Paris had kidnapped his wife, he sent word to the former suitors and kings of the Greek people, calling on them for assistance. They answered the call. One thousands ships set sail for Troy, captained by the finest and greatest warriors of the ancient world. This began the Trojan War.

Among those who answeredMenelaus’s call were the following:

1. The sly King of Ithaca, Odysseus.2. Agamemnon, the powerful King

of Sparta and brother to King Menelaus

3. Old King Nestor, who in is his younger years was a great warrior.

These three men play significant rolesin Homer’s The Odyssey.

King Menelaus

Meanwhile, at Troy, the Trojan people built high, thick walls to withstand the Greek battering rams.

During the first year of the war, the Greeks made all-out attacks, but they could not penetrate the high city walls. Finding this approach futile, the Greeks raided surrounding villages, hoping to lure the Trojans out—but this strategy failed as well. 

For nine years the Greeks tried various attacks and strategies, but nothing worked. Time dragged on. The men had not seen their wives, their families, or their homelands for a decade.

Wearied from years of fighting, longing to return home to his beloved wife Penelope and homeland of Ithaca, the crafty Odysseus ordered his men to construct a large wooden horse as a peace offering to the Trojan army. He then directed the men to board the Greek ships and sail away.

With the Greek armies in retreat, the Trojans began to celebrate. Ten years of fighting had finally ended! Just before the final ship set sail, the Greeks rolled the immense wooden gift to the city walls. After the Greek armies had dispersed and sailed away, the jubilant Trojans opened the gate and wheeled the monstrous wooden horse into their city. The people danced in the streets, celebrating the triumph of the Trojan army.

And away they go!

But beware Greeks bearing gifts!

That night, while the Trojans were more than a little comatose from too much celebratory drinking, several Greeks—including Menelaus and Odysseus—slipped quietly from the wooden horse through a secret trap door, which the crafty Odysseus had designed. They surprised and killed the groggy guards at the gate. As previously ordered, the Greek army had sailed a few miles down shore, offloaded, and waited until the cover of darkness before returning to the Trojan battlefield. Odysseus opened the gate, and the Greek army stormed into the city. The slaughter began. Within hours, Troy was a burning. The jubilant Greeks pillaged the city, taking whatever they pleased. Odysseus had engineered the greatest military victory in Greek history.

The Greeks won the war, and Helen was returned to King Menelaus.

However, all was not good.

Throughout the conflict, the gods had intervened on behalf of both parties. The war had pitted some gods against one another. Several gods, who had aided the Trojans, were angry at the outcome. The Greek armies’ excessive pillaging, murdering, and raping only added to the their fury.

Furthermore, in their haste to return home, some of the Greek armies failed to pay proper tribute to the gods for their assistance in delivering victory.

The Gods were angry.

Some made it home.Some did not.

Back on the island of Ithaca, Penelope waited for her husband Odysseus.

And waited.

And waited.

One year passed since Troy fell. Then two. Three.

She had not seen him in thirteen years. Then fourteen….

Was he dead?

Had he perished in a storm at sea?

Had pirates ransacked his ship?

Was he shipwrecked on an island?

Was there still hope?

Odysseus is—was?—the king of Ithaca. He had immense wealth. Surely he must be dead—why otherwise would he not have returned home 18 years after he left—and 8 years since the Trojan War ended? Other men on the island began to eye Odysseus’s wealth—but the only way to get it would be to marry his widow.

And thus begins Homer’s The Odyssey.

We are on the island of Ithaca, in the hall of King Odysseus. Scores of men sit in the hall, eating the King’s beef, drinking the King’s wine, and flirting with the King’s wife—because none expect the King to return at all, for surely he must be dead.

Penelope has no power over these men—her husband’s most loyal soldiers departed with him for Troy eighteen years ago. Penelope has remained faithful to her husband. She does not want to marry again—but Ithaca does need a king, and she feels the pressure.

Odysseus’ and Penelope’s son, Telemachus, is now a young man. Telemachus abhors his mother’s suitors, but they only laugh and mock him—for he is a boy and shows neither his father’s strength nor wit.

But Telemachus has had it with the disrespect.

He’s ready to be a man.

And so the story begins….