Ancient History Flashcards
Helen Judgment of Paris
Stars Trojan war, after being taken from the Judgment of Paris by Paris, courteous of Aphrodite.
Quotes about Helen
‘the most beautiful woman in the world/ face that sailed 1000 ships’.
‘An enigmatic woman, shrouded in mystery; for we know what she was like, nor what was special about her.
Alternate Helen Myth
Alternate myth: Euripides’ version, is that Hera, out of jealousy for not being chosen, makes a phantom of Helen which goes to Troy, still causing the war (for Zeus to prevent ‘overcrowding’ on Earth, and so that the Greeks can win glory). The real Helen is kept safeish in Egypt.
Facts about Paris
Prince of Troy, son of Priam. Elopes with/steals Helen from Sparta, sailing with her back to Troy and starting the Trojan War.
Hector
Prince of Troy and its greatest hero. Eldest son of Priam. Killed by Achilles, dragged round the city 3 times attached by his ankles to his (Achilles’) chariot, which was vengeance for Hector having killed Patroclus.
Priam Facts
King of Troy, father of Hector, Paris, 66 other sons and 18 daughters. Welcomes Helen into Troy.
Achilles Facts
Greatest hero of the Greeks. Has a major fall out with Agamemnon in Book 1 of the Iliad, after the King takes his prize (Briseis), after he (Ag.) has to give his own (Chryseis) back to the priest Chryses, after Apollo sends a plague to the Greeks, at Thetis’ request (from Achilles, via Zeus: Achilles–>Thetis–>Zeus–>Apollo- read book 1 for more detail if you’d like!).
Patroclus
Best friend of Achilles (and maybe his lover…). Convinces Achilles to let him borrow his armour (Iliad, Book 16), as the Trojans have almost reached the Greek ships, as Achilles is still sulking (the aftermath of book 1). Achilles agrees, on the condition that P§atroclus does not fight Hector. Patroclus starts enjoying himself too much, so takes on Hector…
Menelaus
Spurned husband of Helen. King of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon.
Agamemnon
King of Kings of the Greeks. Gathers the Greek army from the many city states scattered across mainland Greece and the Peloponnese. Falls out with Achilles in Book 1 of the Iliad over their prizes (women).
Thetis
Married to Peleus, mother of Achilles, dipped him in the Styx at birth. Begs Zeus to make the Greeks fare badly in the Trojan War in book 1 (using their past relationship to convince him).
Odysseus
Greek hero in Trojan War, famously the man ‘of many stratagems’ (the clever one!). Spends 10 years trying to get back to Ithaca to be reunited with his wife, Penelope. Strings the bow, throws off his disguise, kills the suitors.
Aphrodite, Hera and Athena
The three main goddesses. Vie for the Golden Apple, upon which was written ‘for the Fairest’. Zeus delegates to Paris (the foolish but good-looking mortal) to choose. Doesn’t go for being King of Europe and Asia (Hera), or having unmatchable wisdom and skill in war (Athena), but instead opts for the love of the most beautiful woman in the world= Helen (Aphrodite).
Iphigeneia
Sacrificed by Agamemnon at Aulis, to appease Artemis (for having killed her sacred deer/hare, or because he dared to claim he was as good an archer as her) and give the fleet winds to sail to Troy. Effectively ends his relationship with his wife Clytemnaestra for choosing to sacrifice their daughter, who plots to kill him whenever he finally returns from Troy…
Laocoon
Trojan priest who counsels against accepting the Wooden Horse. Is eaten, along with his sons, by sea-serpents which, in a completely normal turn of events, run/slide out of the sea, eat them, then run back into the sea.
Heinrich Schliemann birth and death dates
1822 - 1890
Quotes about Heinrich Schliemann
Talent means energy and persistance and nothing more.
Troy VI
Evidence for: - destroyed around 1250BC. Rich and large city (could have housed 10,000), with high walls and large towers. Evidence against: destroyed by an earthquake, not a fire.
Troy VIIa
Evidence for: Large towers, but single-storey housing, which could suggest wartime living. Storage jars found in the ground (due to a siege?) and 3 (!!!!) bronze arrowheads, as well as some human remains… but, is destroyed by fire! Evidence against: not large or rich, the city also only existed for 30-40 years (doesn’t sound like the grand Troy of Priam); also, the sunken jars don’t necessarily evidence much.
Cylopean Masonry
Cyclopean masonry is a type of stonework found in Mycenaean architecture, built with massive limestone boulders, roughly fitted together with minimal clearance between adjacent stones and with clay mortar or no use of mortar. The term comes from the belief of classical Greeks that only the mythical Cyclopes had the strength to move the enormous boulders that made up the walls of Mycenae and Tiryns.
How to we know about Mycenea
Linear B! The script that has been found which, having been deciphered in the 20th century (there’s lots of clay tablets with Linear B at Pylos), is used mainly for writing lists of taxes and money/property owed to palaces…
Corbel Arch
A corbel arch is constructed by offsetting successive courses of stone so that they project towards an arch’s centre-point, forming a bridge.
Peleus
King of Phthia, father of Achilles
Menoetius
Father of Patroclus
Son of Actor, King of Opus
