The Fall of Troy and The Odyssey

A collection of vocabulary flashcards focusing on key themes, characters, and events from the lecture on The Fall of Troy and The Odyssey.

Hector

Trojan prince and warrior, killed by Achilles.

Priam

Father of Hector, who ransoms his son’s body from Achilles.

Penthesilea

Amazon queen killed by Achilles, representing a dual theme of love and violence.

Memnon

Ethiopian warrior leader killed by Achilles, son of Eos.

Nestor

Old advisor who challenges Memnon to a duel.

Achilles’ heel

The only vulnerable part of Achilles, where he was fatally wounded by Paris.

Polyxena

Daughter of Priam, sacrificed at Achilles’ tomb.

Thetis

Achilles’ mother, who awarded his armor.

Odysseus

Hero of the Odyssey; known for his intelligence and cunning.

Ajax

Warrior who competed with Odysseus for Achilles' armor.

Kassandra

Priam’s daughter, who prophesied Troy's fall but was ignored.

Laocoon

Priest who warned against the Trojan Horse and was killed by serpents.

Polyphemus

Cyclops, son of Poseidon, who was blinded by Odysseus.

Xenia

Greek concept of hospitality, exemplified in Polyphemus’ cave.

Aeolus

Keeper of the winds who gave Odysseus a bag of winds.

Circe

Witch who turns Odysseus' men into pigs.

Telemachus

Son of Odysseus who remains in Ithaca.

Telegonus

Son of Odysseus and Circe.

Nostos

Theme of return, central to the Odyssey.

The Wooden Horse

A trap devised by Odysseus to invade Troy.

Epeus

Builder of the Trojan Horse.

Creusa

Wife of Aeneas who dies during the fall of Troy.

Patroclus

Friend and possibly lover of Achilles, whose death spurred Achilles’ actions.

Hecuba

Queen of Troy, mother of Polyxena.

Odysseus’ strategy

Includes deception, as seen with the Trojan Horse and his identity.

Cicones

Neighbors of the Trojans who attacked Odysseus after his men indulged.

Lotus Eaters

A race encountered by Odysseus’ men who offered forgetfulness.

Monsters and gods

Obstacles Odysseus faced on his journey home.

Sack of Troy

Destruction of the city facilitated by the Trojan Horse.

Underworld

The realm where Odysseus consults the prophet Tiresias.

Hermes

Messenger god who aids Odysseus against Circe.

Moly

Herb given to Odysseus by Hermes to protect him from Circe.

Achilles’ armor

Famed armor awarded to Odysseus after a competition.

Odysseus' curse

Polyphemus cursed Odysseus to have great difficulty returning home.

Cave of Polyphemus

Site where Odysseus blinds the Cyclops and escapes.

Journey of Odysseus

Took 10 years filled with adventures before returning to Ithaca.

Penelope

Wife of Odysseus who remains loyal during his absence.

Fate of Priam

Killed at the altar of Zeus by Neoptolemus.

Epic poetry

Literary genre that recounts heroic tales, exemplified by the Iliad and the Odyssey.

The gods' influence

Both help and hinder Odysseus, particularly Athena and Poseidon.

Achilles' compassion

Rarely displayed, notably shown when he ransoms Hector.

The Trojan War

The great conflict between Greeks and Trojans, central to the Iliad.

Aeneas

Trojan hero who escapes and leads to the founding of Rome.