Unit 3 and 4: The Iliad of Homer Flashcards
Achaeans
Any of the ancient Greek people, identified in Homer, along with the Danaoi and the Argeioi, as the Greeks who besieged Troy. (Mycenaeans)
Achilleus
Hero of the Iliad. His anger against Agamemnon led to the death of many Achaeans. Son of Thetis and Peleus, the King of Phthia. Holds the power of victory for the Achaeans when he finally tells the Myrmidons to join the war.
Agamemnon
King of Mycenae, leader and commander of the Greeks during the Trojan war. Selfish ruler. Causes tensions between him and Achilles by taking his woman, Briseis after being called out by Achilles for his sense of greed and selfishness.
Seems more like a Basileus than a commander with ultimate power such as in the Mycenaan Bronze Age. He holds council and negotiates with other chiefs.
Ajax
Strong and intelligent Achaean warrior. He tells Achilles that his anger has made him too proud, and finally appeals to the respect the other soldiers will have for him if he relents.
Despite being a hero (with the aid of the goddess Athena) during the rescue of Achilles’ body from the Trojans, he eventually turned to treachery in an attempt to obtain Achilles’ armour.
Hektor
The true hero of the Iliad. Trojan prince, the best of the Trojan warriors. The one who has the most admirable qualities as a warrior. Son of Priam and Hecuba, husband of Andromache. Loved by all the Trojans. His life symbolizes Troy’s security.
Helen
She is the wife of Menelaus whom Paris seduced and took to Troy. She is the reason for the Trojan war. After the war she is taken back by Menelaus.
Nestor
Elderly warrior with good advice and motivational speeches for his fellow warriors. Nestor becomes the transmitter of memory, which is critical for the immortality of their heroes. Challenge younger men to live up to heroic ideals that he himself upheld in the past.
Advises Agamemnon to send goodwill ambassadors to Achilles with gifts. He inspires Patroklos to persuade Achilles to return to battle.
Odysseus
His purpose is to show us strong demonstrations of tact, strategic ability, and heroic capability, all of which are qualities that a king should have. Great ability to advise and persuade.
Paris
Self-absorbed, cowardly, handsome and wealthy. Brought Helen to Troy.
Patroklos
Patroklos’ main purpose in the Iliad is to bring Achilles back into the war. He is a great and talented warrior, he is Achilles advisor. Takes Achilles armour and dies at the hands of Hektor while trying to attack the city of Troy (even though he was told not to by Achilles). Apollo contributes to his death by striking him in the back.
Priam
Father of Paris and Hektor. He is a king but no longer a warrior. He knows he must sacrifice his son for the protection of Troy. He feels like a failure when he loses Hektor and begins to mourn for the loss of all his sons and his failure in Paris’ state. Priam is the one who leads Achilles to sympathy
Apollo
Apollo fought on the side of Troy. He is enraged in the beginning of the Iliad for Chryseis, the daughter of one of his priests, has been kidnapped. He sends forth a plague upon the Achaeans.
Athena
Athena helps Achilles to kill Hector by persuading him to not flee from Hector, but to turn and fight him. She then disguises Achilles as someone Hector knows who is an ally to him. Hector approaches his ally only to be cut down by Achilles.
Hera
Sided with the Greeks over the Trojans. She antagonizes Zeus and undermines his attempts to favour the Trojan army. Paris voted Aphrodite as the “fairest one” which drew the anger of Hera.
Homeric Question
When the Iliad originated from. Could have originated in the Mycenean Bronze Age with tales passing down through the Dark Age to the Archaic Age. Written down between 8th and 6th century. Historic elements from the late Bronze Age through to the 8th century. Combination of fighting styles, armour description, bronze weapons. Iron weapons were rare in the Bronze Age. Chariots and throwing weapons come from Dark and Archaic Age traditions.
