Greek Heroes and Heroines + The Iliad Flashcards
Who is Heracles?
The son of Zeus, who was disguised as his mother’s husband at the time; Hera attempted to kill him out of jealousy, but he strangled the serpents she sent
He’s a fairly brutal and primitive hero
What does Heracles do that leads to him serving Eurytheus?
He kills his wife, Megara, and their 3 kids in a fit of madness
What are some of the deeds that he accomplished in the 12 labors? What do the last ones represent?
Slays various beasts such as the Hydra
Captures other beings like flesh-eating mares and the Cretan Bull
Kills Hippolyta
The last 3: takes the cattle of Geryon, steals Hera’s golden apples, and fetches Cerberus from the underworld
These represent conquests of death
How does Heracles die? What happens to him after?
He is married to Deianira but in love with Iole
In jealousy, she dips a robe in the blood of the centaur Nessus (which Heracles slayed with a poison arrow when he tried to kidnap her)
The poisoned robe clings to his body and burns him; he then becomes immortal and marries Hera’s daughter Hebe as reconciliation with the Goddess
Who is Perseus? What great task does he accomplish?
The son of Zeus (by golden rain)
Given the impossible task of bringing Polydectes the head of a Gorgon, which he accomplished by looking at them only in the reflection of his shield, cutting off Medusa’s head, storing it in a magic kibisis (bag), and escaping using a cap of invisibility and winged sandals
Where does Perseus get the materials needed to accomplish his task?
From nymphs, whom he found with directions from the Graeae, sisters of the Gorgons, who share one eye and one tooth
What happens after Medusa’s head is cut off?
Pegasus and Chrysaor spring from her beheaded body
The head is given to Athena, which she puts on her shield
How does Perseus win Andromeda?
He slays a sea monster, whom she was meant to be a sacrifice for by being chained to a rock
Who is Agamemnon? What did he do to piss off Achilles at the start of the Iliad? Do they make amends?
King of Mycenae; commander of the Achaeans (Greeks) during the Trojan War
He refused to return the daughter of Chryses, a priest, even after Apollo sent a plague upon the city
He also takes Achilles’ prize, Briseis, which is hubris
They makes amends later in the epic after Patroclus has died and Achilles is going to fight
Who is Menelaus?
Brother of Agamemnon, leader of the Spartan army
His wife, Helen, was abducted by the Trojan Prince Paris, so he begins the war for her honor
He is a much better fighter than Paris, who cowards before him in a one-on-one battle
Who is Hector?
A Trojan prince, brother of Paris, and the greatest fighter in the Trojan army
Once he dies at the hands of Achilles, Troy is doomed to fall
His wife, Andromache, is doomed to be sold into bondage and his infant son is eventually killed
His body is dragged behind the chariot of Achilles, but is eventually given back to his father, Priam, for proper burial
Who is Achilles?
The son of the sea Goddess Thetis and Peleus, King of Phthia
A great hero whose only weakness was his heel
He has a propensity to intense anger, which he knows about himself
Feels guilty for the death of his best friend, Patroclus; killed Hector in vengeance and dragged him body from the back of his chariot
Who is Patroclus?
The best friend of Achilles
Dies at the hands of Apollo, followed by Hector, during the war while wearing the armor of Achilles (a plan meant to scare the Trojans)
Achilles refuses to give up his body for burial
Who is Diomedes?
The son of Tydeus, a favored Greek hero by Athena
He is granted the ability to see the Gods apart from mortals in battle, so he stabs Aphrodite in the hand and Ares in the stomach
Has a familial connection to the Trojan hero Glaucus
He also owns the man-eating mares of Thrace, which Heracles tames as part of his 12 labors
Who is Andromache?
The wife of Hector
She is considered a heroine because of her facing the inevitable doom of her parting with Hector
Her virtue is trying to protect those she loves
Who is Odysseus?
King of Ithaca, another great warrior in the Trojan war
He left behind his wife Penelope and infant son Telemachus
His return home is severely delayed (the Odyssey), but he deals with the situation with great cunning and deception of others
His wife, in the meantime, is overrun by suitors who want to marry her; he slays them on returning home
Who is Penelope?
The virtuous wife of Odysseus, she keeps the suitors at bay while her husband is gone
Her heroic attributes are loyalty and endurance
She is also unusually intelligent and crafty (tests Odysseus to make sure it’s really him and keeps the wooers at bay by saying she’ll marry when she finishes the shroud - which she undoes every night)
Who is Paris?
Son of Priam, a prince of Troy
Kidnapped Helen for her beauty
He is very cowardly and not heroic at all
Who is Helen?
Daughter of Zeus
Wife of Menelaus, kidnapped by Paris, leading to the Trojan War
She is considered a problematic heroine because, despite her apparent desire to go home to her husband, she is still unfaithful and sleeps with Paris after the influence of Aphrodite
Who is Nestor?
King of Pylos and another great Trojan hero
He is old and known for being wise (he gives the others advice)
Who is Sarpedon?
A Trojan hero and son of Zeus
Zeus considers taking him out of battle, but he’s fated to die
Killed by Patroclus
Who is Glaucus?
A Trojan hero, connected to Diomedes through family
They exchange armor and he gives up his gold for bronze
What is the River Xanthus (Scamander)?
Achilles drives the Trojans there and slays them
The river is angered and fights Achilles, nearly killing him
Hephaestus intervenes with his fire
What Gods support each side of the Trojan War?
Greeks: Hera, Athena, Poseidon, and Thetis
Trojans: Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, and Artemis
Zeus usually remains neutral, letting the scales of fate tip where they may
What is the most important thing to an Iliadic Hero?
Glory, fame, and reputation
Motivated by shame or embarrassment
However, they are still well-spoken
How do Iliadic heroes differ from Odysseus in the Odyssey?
Iliad: motivated by a desire for glory and fame, even if it means dying
Odyssey: motivated by a desire to survive and return home
