The Origins of the Trojan War

Greek Mythology

Foundations

• Several mythic founders• Ilus most accepted story

– Ilium• Ilus given cow and told

found city where it lay• Additional sign – legless

wooden statue called Palladium

• Should be carefully guarded – brought empire

• Statue of Athene?

Mythical reasons for Trojan War

• Zeus wanted to thin out human race

• Zeus wanted to make whole world aware of daughter Helen

• OR give her immortal fame as cause of war

• OR give second generation of heroes chance to achieve fame – no monsters

• Fate decided survivors of Troy should found Rome

King Priam and his children• King Priam and his wife

Hecabe• Hector – the greatest

warrior of Troy – slain by Achilles – married to Andromache

• Deiphobus and Helenus. Deiphobus awarded Helen as wife after Paris dies

• Troilus and Polyxena young and beautiful – killed by Achilles

• Cassandra given the gift of prophecy by Apollo

• Creusa married Aeneas

Paris• Son of Priam and Hecabe• Hecabe dreamed she gave birth

to a branch alive with fiery snakes which set Troy ablaze

• Aesacus the prophet interpreted – Priam should destroy Hecabe’s

child or lead to Troy’s destruction• Cilla’s baby killed – Priam did not

think it necessary to kill Hecabe’s as well

• Baby abandoned at Mt Ida.• Herdsmen returned and found

child alive (suckled by She-Bear)• Took baby and bought him up as

his own• Paris grew up as a cowherd• Handsome, intelligent, atheletic,

charming, but not courageous• Adept with bow and arrow• Became lover of nymph Oenone

The Judgement of Paris• Zeus to marry Thetis• Changed mind when heard that she

was destined to bear a son greater than the father

• Zeus married her to a mortal – Peleus

• Wedding of Thetis and Peleus attended by most immortals

• Eris, goddess of Discord threw golden apple inscribed ‘for the fairest’

• Zeus selected Paris to be judge of beauty contest

• Hera, Athene, Aphrodite• Hera promised great and wealthy

king• Athene offered wisdom and military

glory• Aphrodite offered Aphrodite’s half

sister – Helen• Aphrodite won• Angered Hera and Athene

Return and AbductionReturn• Paris competed in games at

Troy• Attracted attention• Priam’s sons attack out of

jealousy• Herdsman told Priam that he

was the son believed dead• Priam warned but still

welcomed him back

Abduction• Paris embarked on voyage to

Greece• Reached Sparta and welcomed

by Menelaus• Menelaus sailed to Crete• Paris and Helen took off• Trojans would not give her back

The Greeks Sail to Troy• King Menelaus of Sparta• Brother – Agamemnon, King

of Mycenae Commander in Chief

• Great force of heroes and followers gathered

• Sacrifice of Agamenon’s daughter Iphigenia secured required west wind

Greek Heroes - Achilles• Son of Peleus and Thetis• Strongest, most ruthless and most

successful• Dysfunctional family• Thetis made him invulnerable by

dipping him in the river Styx (underworld)

• Fingers prevented her water from reaching two tiny places on ankle (Achilles heel)

• Educated by Chiron (centaur)• Had been one of Helen’s suitors• Two versions of reasons for

involvement– Thetis knew he would die at Troy– Disguised him as a women– Discovered by Odysseues who blew

horn and Achilles took up arms– Now obliged to go– Other version says prophet told

Achilles that he might have a short and glorious life or a long life in total obscurity

– Chose the latter

Greek Heroes - Ajax

• Second most powerful warrior

• Cousin of Achilles• Enormous man with

great strength, courage and fighting skill

• Not bright• Lacked guile and

persuasive tongue• Put him at a

disadvantage when dealing with chief rival - Odysseus

Odysseus• Best known for his cunning• King of Ithaca• Not happy about Troy

summons• Had heard a prophecy that

if he went he would not return for twenty years, alone and destitute beggar

• Pretended to be insane – ploughed seashore

• Palamedes put down Telemachus in front of plow

• Odysseus stopped – proved he wasn’t insane

• Meant he had to go