Iliad & Odyssey

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Homer

Represents a tradition of oral storytelling, 9th/8th Century, collective effort over generations of storytellers.

The Iliad

A poem about the Trojan War, a mythical conflict between the coalition of Greeks and the inhabitants of Troy, a city in Asia Minor.

Trojan War

A conflict between the city of Troy and the Greek kingdoms, historically inspired by a possible real conflict.

Oral Tradition

The Iliad was composed and transmitted orally before being written down, relying on formulaic phrases and meter (dactylic hexameter) to aid memorization.

Dark Ages of Greece

A period marked by less wealth and lost knowledge, occurring after the Mycenaean civilization ended around 1200 BCE.

Phoenicians

Trading people who invented the alphabet in the 8th century BCE.

Hecatomb

Sacrifice of 100 animals to gods.

Law of Hospitality

The obligation to provide food and shelter to weary travelers.

Milman Parry

A 20th-century scholar from Yugoslavia who studied oral poets and their use of conventional lyrics and repetition.

Kleos

The Greek concept of glory, emphasizing honor, bravery, and fame.

Achilles

The central hero of the Iliad, a warrior of unmatched skill and rage, known for his epithets emphasizing speed and divine lineage.

Agamemnon

The leader of the Greek forces, highlighted by his authority and royal lineage.

Hector

The greatest Trojan warrior, symbolizing duty and honor, known for his skill with horses.

Odysseus

Known for his cunning and intelligence, with epithets emphasizing cleverness and versatility.

Patroclus

Achilles' closest friend, with epithets highlighting his relationship with Achilles and noble lineage.

Priam

The aged king of Troy, known for his wisdom and sorrow, emphasizing his royal status.

Dactylic Hexameter

A form of meter used in the oral tradition of the Iliad to aid memorization and recitation.

Greek Archaic Period

A time of cultural revival following the Greek Dark Ages, marked by the rise of city-states and the reintroduction of writing.

Heinrich Schliemann

An archaeologist who discovered Troy in the 19th century, providing evidence of a historical conflict that may have inspired the Iliad.

Mycenaeans

A civilization that ended around 1200 BCE, leading to the Dark Ages of Greece.

Barbarian

A term derived from 'barbose', referring to one who doesn't speak Greek.

City-states (poleis)

Independent cities that rose during the Greek Archaic Period, contributing to the development of Greek identity.

Menelaus

King of Sparta and husband of Helen.

Son of Atreus

An epithet of Menelaus highlighting his lineage.

Red-haired

An epithet of Menelaus emphasizing his physical appearance.

Warrior-king

An epithet of Menelaus denoting his royal status.

Zeus

King of the gods.

Cloud-gatherer

An epithet of Zeus emphasizing his power over the skies.

Father of gods and men

An epithet of Zeus highlighting his role as the supreme deity.

Thunderer

An epithet of Zeus indicating his control over thunder.

Hera

Zeus's wife and a fierce supporter of the Greeks.

White-armed

An epithet of Hera highlighting her beauty.

Queen of the gods

An epithet of Hera denoting her regal status.

Athena

Goddess of wisdom and warfare.

Grey-eyed

An epithet of Athena emphasizing her wisdom.

Daughter of Zeus

An epithet of Athena indicating her divine lineage.

Tritogeneia

An epithet of Athena associated with her birth.

Apollo

God of prophecy, archery, and plague.

Far-shooter

An epithet of Apollo highlighting his skill with the bow.

Phoebus

An epithet of Apollo indicating his brightness and beauty.

Smintheus

An epithet of Apollo associated with his role as a bringer of plague.

Aphrodite

Goddess of love and beauty.

Laughter-loving

An epithet of Aphrodite emphasizing her charm.

Golden

An epithet of Aphrodite highlighting her beauty.

Poseidon

God of the sea.

Earth-shaker

An epithet of Poseidon indicating his power over the earth.

Lord of the sea

An epithet of Poseidon denoting his dominion over the waters.

Thetis

Achilles' mother, a sea nymph.

Silver-footed

An epithet of Thetis emphasizing her divine beauty.

Sea-nymph

An epithet of Thetis indicating her connection to the sea.

Helen

The cause of the Trojan War, known for her unparalleled beauty.

Fair-haired

An epithet of Helen highlighting her beauty.

Paris (Alexandros)

The Trojan prince who abducted Helen.

Son of Priam

An epithet of Paris indicating his lineage.

Handsome

An epithet of Paris emphasizing his physical appearance.

Diomedes

A brave Greek warrior known for his exploits in battle.

Son of Tydeus

An epithet of Diomedes indicating his lineage.

Mighty

An epithet of Diomedes highlighting his strength.

Achilles

Greatest Greek warrior, central figure of the Iliad.

Agamemnon

Leader of the Greek forces, king of Mycenae.

Odysseus

King of Ithaca, known for his cunning and intelligence.

Key Strategist

A key strategist and diplomat among the Greeks.

Trojan Horse

Later devises the Trojan Horse (post-Iliad).

Patroclus

Achilles' closest companion.

Menoetius

Son of Menoetius, close companion of Achilles.

Hector

Killed by Hector while wearing Achilles' armor.

Achilles' Wrath

His death drives Achilles to re-enter the war.

Diomedes

A brave and skilled warrior.

Tydeus

Son of Tydeus, king of Argos.

Odysseus

Ally of Odysseus.

Aphrodite

Wounds Aphrodite and Ares in battle.

Glaucus

Exchanges armor with Glaucus in a famous scene of guest-friendship.

Nestor

Wise and elderly king of Pylos, advisor to the Greeks.

Neleus

Son of Neleus, father of Antilochus.

Agamemnon

Provides strategic counsel to Agamemnon and Achilles.

Ajax the Greater

A towering warrior, second only to Achilles in strength.

Telamon

Son of Telamon, cousin of Achilles.

Hector's Fight

Fights Hector to a standstill.

Achilles' Armor

Commits suicide after losing Achilles' armor to Odysseus (post-Iliad).

Ajax the Lesser

A lesser-known but skilled warrior.

Oileus

Son of Oileus, leader of the Locrians.

Cassandra

Defiles Cassandra in Athena's temple, leading to his death (post-Iliad).

Briseis

Captive woman awarded to Achilles.

Agamemnon's Conflict

Central to the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon.

Chryseis

Daughter of Chryses, a priest of Apollo.

Apollo's Plague

Captured by Agamemnon, leading to Apollo's plague on the Greeks.

Hector's Death

Killed by Achilles, who drags his body around Troy.

Priam

King of Troy.

Hecuba

Queen of Troy.

Paris

Trojan prince, abductor of Helen.

Helen

Wife of Menelaus, abducted by Paris.

Andromache

Wife of Hector, mother of Astyanax.

Aeneas

Trojan warrior, destined to found Rome.

Maternal Grief

A symbol of maternal grief.

Cassandra

Daughter of Priam, cursed prophetess.

Priam

Father of Cassandra and king of Troy.

Sarpedon

Lycian ally of Troy, son of Zeus and Laodamia.

Patroclus

Killed Sarpedon, leading to a fierce battle over his body.

Glaucus

Lycian ally of Troy, friend of Sarpedon.

Diomedes

Exchanges armor with Glaucus in a famous scene of guest-friendship.