Study Guide for The Iliad

The Mediterrenean

Where are we?

The Greeks are on a beach on the coast

surrounding Troy in Asia Minor, what is now

Turkey. They have camped there for nine years

sacking nearby islands to get food or kidnapping

for a ransom.

Book 1: The Rage of Achilles

This book introduces the problem which will create "the rage of Achilles." Note the power wielded by Agamemnon, Achilles, Apollo, Hera, and Zeus. Although Apollo is appeased, the problem is still unresolved and Achilles refuses to participate in the war until he has his revenge.

Kalliope

In Classical times--when the Muses were assigned specific artistic spheres--Kalliope was named Muse of epic poetry. In this guise she was portrayed holding a tablet and stylus or a scroll.

New Characters Introduced in Book I• Achaeans, Danaans, Argives (Greece) • Achilles • Agamemnon (also called son of Atreus and Atrides) • Briseis• Calchas (a seer) • Chryseis • Chryses (a priest of Apollo) • Hephaestus the Master Craftsman • Hera • Nestor • Odysseus • Pallas Athena • Patroclus • Phoebus Apollo • Thetis • Troy • Zeus

Source of the conflict between Agamemnon and

Achilles

• Chryses, priest of Apollo, begs Agamemnon to return his daughter Chryseis, who had been captured by Agamemnon.

• Agamemon refuses. • Chryses, priest of Apollo, invokes the God for revenge. • Apollo sends disease and death to the Greek camp.• After 9 days, Achilles asks Calchas, the seer, to find

the cause of the anger of Apollo.

• To appease Apollo, Chryseis must be returned to her father.

• At first Agamemnon is furious. Then he agrees but he wants another prize.

• Achilles responds that Agamemnon follows his selfish greed.

• Angry, Agamemnon orders Achilles to give him Briseis, Achilles’ own prize.

• Hera and Athena intervene to calm Achilles’ anger.• Achilles insults and confronts Agamemnon accusing him

of being a cowart.• Nestor, an old war diplomat, tries to give advice pointing

out that a division among the Greeks will empower the Trojans.

• Agamemnon accuses Achilles of insubordination.• Achilles goes back to his camp.

Odysseus Returns Chryseis to her FatherClaude Lorrain (1600-1682) Museum du Louvre, Paris

Achilles kisses Briseis before she is taken to Agamemnon.

Briseis is taken from Achilles and brought to Agamemmon.

Achilles seeks his mother’s help to restore his honor. Thetis asks Zeus to help the Trojans defeat the Greeks so that they will realize they need Achilles.

Thetis in the role of the supplicant asks Zeus that the Trojan win victory after victory as long as her son Achilles does not

fight.

Hera is enraged that Zeus will help the Trojans because she despises them and is on the Greek’s side.

The judgment of Paris: Aphrodite is chosen as the fairest of all and awarded the

golden apple.

Peter Paul Rubens. The Judgment of Paris. c.1639. Oil on canvas. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.

Hera is jealous, but Zeus affirms his power and

authority.

Hephaestus tries to put peace among the gods.

Pleading, springing up with a two-handled cup,

he reached it towards his loving mother’s hands ….

Questions

• What does Agamemnon do to create the problem?

• Why is Achilles so angry at Agamemnon? • What do the Achaeans do to appease Apollo? • What kind of relationship do Thetis and Achilles

have?

• What's Hera's reaction to Zeus' agreement with Thetis?

Summary of The Iliad• Book One - The Rage of Achilles

Book Two -The Great Gathering of Armies Book Three - Helen Reviews the Champions Book Four - The Truce Erupts in War Book Five - Diomedes Fights the Gods Book Six - Hector Returns to Troy Book Seven - Ajax Duels with Hector Book Eight - The Tide of Battle Turns Book Nine - The Embassy to Achilles Book Ten - Marauding Through the Night Book Eleven - Agamemnon's Day of Glory Book Twelve - The Trojans Storm the Rampart Book Thirteen - Battling for the Ships Book Fourteen - Hera outflanks Zeus Book Fifteen -The Achean Armies at Bay Book Sixteen - Patroclus Fights and Dies Book Seventeen - Menelaus' Finest Hour Book Eighteen - The Schield of Achilles Book Nineteen - The Champion Arms for Battle Book Twenty - Olympian Gods in Arms Book Twenty-one - Achilles Fights the River Book Twenty-two - The Death of Hector Book Twenty-three - Funeral Games for Patroclus Book Twenty-four - Achilles and Priam

Iliad Book Time Event

Book One 1 + 9 + 1 days Supplication + Plague + Quarrel

12 days divine absence (inert time)

Books 2-7 Day 1 1st battle (Book 7 night falls)

Book 8 Day 2 2nd battle; Greeks beaten back

Book 9 Night 2 Embassy, Doloneia (Hector warned)

Books 11-18 Day 3 3rd battle; the big one; mist changes tone at end

17 Death of Sarpedon

18 Death of Patroclus

Book 18 Night 3 Thetis and Achilles; shield

Books 19-22 Day 4 19: reconciliation with Agamemnon

20: Theomachia

21: River

22: Death of Hector

Book 23 Night 4 psyche of Patroclus visits Achilles

Book 23 Day 5 Funeral Games

Book 24 Night 5 Achilles sleepless

12 days Hector exposed, Priam visits Achilles at night

9 days mourning for Hector (inert time)

Hector buried

Book VI: Hector returns to Troy

Up to this point, the book has concentrated on

killing. A new theme appears of ransom and spoils.

Two incidents investigate the new theme. The last

part of the book deals with the effects of war on

the families. Hector visits the three women of his

life, his mother Hecuba, his sister-in law Helen,

and his wife Andromache.

Where are we?

New Characters and Names Introduced in Book VI

• Hector• Paris• Andromache • Astyanax • Helenus • Hecuba • Glaucus• Diomedes

Glaucus and Diomedes

Rules of engagement• Introductions: Are

you an man or a mortal?

• Since our grandfathers were friends and exchanged gifts, we will not fight.

• Exchange of armors

Priam and Hecuba

Hector and Andromache Paris and Helen

Astyanax

Paris, Prince of Troy

Deïphobus, of Troy

Menelaus, king of Sparta

Helen

Fragment of a building in Troy

Nine ancient cities, one on top of another

Most scholars believe Troy VI was the city of Priam.

Asyanax scared at the sight of his father’s helmet.

Questions

• What purpose does the encounter between Glaucus and Diomedes serve?

• What view do we have of the religious beliefs of the Trojans?

• What do we learn about the effects of war from the speeches of Andromache and Hector?

• In what way does Andromache bring a sense of humanity to the entire book?

Book VIIIReady to battle, the Trojans camp by watchfires

during the night.

Book 9: The Embassy to Achilles

Agamemnon fears defeat and has to be talked out of leaving.

Diomedes encourages the troops to endure accusing Agamemnon of being a coward.

Nestor advises to protect the rampart while the chiefs gather to feast and to make a decision.

Nestor proposes to offer compensation to Achilles to convince him to return to battle.

The list of gifts presented to Achilles

All this I would extend to him if he will end his anger….

Let him bow down to me! I am the greater king,

I am the elder-born, I claim – the greater man.

Mask found by Schliemann in Mycene, thought to be Agamemnon’s burial mask. However it was from a much earlier time.

Phoenix, Ajax, and Odysseus go to Achilles’ tent with the offerings.

Achilles’s hospitality towards his visitors.

Fearful that the Trojans may burn the ships, the Greeks make the offer to Achilles to convince him to rejoin in the war.

He refuses the gifts and points out the “mortal risks of war…”

“The same honor waits for the coward and the brave. They both go down to Death…”

According to Achilles all is lost and he plans to sail back home with the Myrmidons.

No forgiveness for Agamemnon who did not offer an apology.

“… until he pays me back, pays full measure for all his heartbreaking outrage!”

The fate of Achilles

• Two possible outcomes:

1. Die young in battle with honor

2. Return home, live a long life, without glory and pride

Phoenix, Achilles’ tutor, is invited to stay.

He tries to persuade Achilles to help the Greeks.

He tells the story of his life.

He also tells the story of Meleager, who like

Achilles refused to help his people.

Ajax and Odysseus return to report to Agamemnon the failure of their mission.

Diomedes suggests that they resume the fight with Agamemnon on the front line…

Thought Questions:

• Looking over the riches Agamemnon proposes giving Achilles, what can one say the Achaeans found important?

• Achilles' housing is alternately referred to as a tent and a lodging. From the various descriptions and actions of things that happen there, can you get a picture of how he lives?

• What emotions does Achilles have toward Briseis?

New Characters and Names Introduced

• Diomedes

• Phoenix

• Odysseus

• Ajax

• Patroclus

Book 16: Patroclus Fights and Dies

Patroclus goes back to Achilles and asks for the chance to lead the men into battle. One of the ships is set aflame. Patroclus leads Achilles' army into battle. He is very successful killing Trojans. Sarpedon, Zeus' son, is killed.The book ends with death of Patroclus by Hector. A fight over Patroclus’ body follows.

Chariots

The basic elements of body armor consisted of a shield, helmet, cuirass or breastplate, and separate arm, thigh, lower leg and foot protectors. The word for an individual soldier’s equipment of weapons and armor is panoply. Made from a combination of materials including iron and bronze, it could be very expensive.

The Gods’ intervention• Zeus wants to protect Sarpedon, his own

son, but following hera’ s advice lets fate take its course. When Sarpedon is killed by Patroclus, Zeus protects his body and asks Apollo to carry the body back to Lycia where it can be given proper burial.

• Apollo helps the Trojan first by healing Glaucus’ wound and then by tricking Patroclus.

• Patroclus fights with Achilles’ weapons.

• He goes after the Trojans and kills Cebriones, Hector’s driver.

• Patroclus is stunned by Apollo’s push which knocks his helmet off and disorients him, giving Hector a chance to hit.

• After the battle over Patroclus’ dead body, the Trojans strip Achilles’ weapons from the corpse.

Book 18: Achilles’ Shield

After killing him, Hector takes Patroclus’weapons. Achilles mourns the death of his friend. His cries prompt Thetis to go help him. Achilles is spurred on to save Patroclus' body and proceeds to frighten the Trojans by his war-cry and appearance. Thetis asks Hephaestus to forge new weapons for her son so that he can join the fight and avenge his friend’s death. A detailed description of the art work on the shield closes this book.

Achilles mourns the death of Patroclus.Thetis consoles him.

Iris, sent by Hera, asks Achilles to help recover Patroclus’ body.

Having no weapons,

Achilles shows with his

head in flames by the

rampart. He lets out a

terrible cry which

terrorizes the Trojans.

The body of Patroclus is

recovered by the Greeks.

Hephaestus makes Achilles’ new weapons.

Achilles’ Shield

Thetis brings Achilles the new shield.

Book 22: The Death of Hector

Apollo taunts Achilles. King Priam sees Achilles coming and begs Hector not to fight him. His mother also begs him not to fight. Hector runs from Achilles around the walls of Troy. Apollo tries to help him one last time. The two finally stand and fight. Hector is killed. Achilles then drags his body to the ships.

The Trojan Plain

Book 24: Achilles and Priam

While Achilles grieves, the gods argue about what to do about Hector's body. Thetis is summoned to hear Zeus' decision and conveys it to Achilles. Iris takes a message to Priam. Priam goes to Achilles once he has convinced Hecuba he must go. A god leads him to Achilles and he begs for his son's body. Priam spends part of the night and then returns with Hector's body. The book ends with Hector's funeral.

 

Exam questions:

• Cause of the Trojan war

• Chronology of the Iliad

• Ritual of the sacrifices

• Setting of the war

• Relationship bewteen Paris and Hector

• Analyze the relationships between honor, pride, and anger to show how they affect the events depicted in the Iliad.

• Describe how the gods, although supernatural, also display human behaviors.