Homer's Iliad (Continued) Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive vocabulary review of key terms, mythological figures, literary terms, and narrative events from Homer's Iliad (Books 9 through 24) and the post-Iliad Trojan War.

Ekphrasis

A literary description of a work of art, such as Homer's extensive description of the Shield of Achilles in Iliad 18.

The Shield of Achilles

New armor forged by Hephaestus and brought to Achilles by Thetis, decorated with scenes depicting earth, sky, sea, celestial bodies, cities at war and peace, agriculture, herdsmen, dancing, and the ocean.

Sarpedon

A mortal son of Zeus beloved above all men, whose fated death at the hands of Patroclus creates a debate between Zeus and Hera over divine intervention versus fate.

Double Determination

The epic narrative concept where human motivation (e.g., shared grief between Priam and Achilles) and divine motivation (e.g., Zeus ordering Hector's body released through Thetis) synchronize.

Niobe

A mythological figure whose twelve children were slain by Apollo and Artemis after she boasted over Leto; Achilles shares her story with Priam to emphasize the necessity of eating despite grief.

Hector's Corpse

The body of Priam's son, dragged and mistreated by Achilles after his death in Iliad 22, whose ransom and restitution in Iliad 24 brings Achilles' rage to an end.

Chiron

The centaur who brought an ash battle pike down from Mount Pelion and gave it to Achilles' father; a spear so massive that only Achilles could handle it in battle.

Scamander River

The river god that fights Achilles in Iliad 21 during Achilles' rampage following Patroclus' death.

Ring Composition

A structural device where events in the final book of the Iliad (Iliad 24) mirror the events of the first book (Iliad 1) in reverse sequence.

Penthesilea

The queen of the mythic warrior society known as the Amazons, who arrived as a Trojan ally after the Iliad and was killed—and beloved—by Achilles.

Memnon

The leader of the Ethiopian allies of Troy who had a divine mother and was almost Achilles' equal before Achilles killed him.

Achilles' Choice

The fundamental dilemma of Achilles' life between a short, glorious existence at Troy or a long, ordinary life at home.

The Trojan Horse

A wooden horse masterminded by Odysseus that tricked the Trojans into admitting Greek warriors behind their city walls, leading to the sacking of Troy.

Andromache

Hector's wife, who foretells that following the fall of Troy, she and the Trojan women will be taken in ships into slavery and her son Astyanax will perform menial labor or be thrown from a tower.

Iliad 10 Raid

A nocturnal raid led by Odysseus and Diomedes on the Trojan camp, resulting in the killing of sleeping Trojans and the stealing of horses.

Patroclus' Funeral

The rituals recounted in Iliad 23 honoring Patroclus, which included cremation, human sacrifice, and funeral games.

Priam and Hermes

The journey in Iliad 24 where Hermes acts as a guide to safely lead King Priam of Troy into the Greek camp to ransom Hector's body from Achilles.

Pederasty

An ancient Greek sexual practice described in the lecture involving an older, higher-status active partner and a boy.

Diomede and Iphis

The two women who lay with Achilles and Patroclus, respectively, in their tent at the end of Iliad 9.