An Introduction

Homer (ca. 800 B.C.)

poetthought to be blind, but describes events as a seeing person

Wrote the Illiad and the Odyssey - stories about the war between the Trojans and the Greeks which had happened between 900 and 700 B.C.

•Story of the last year of the Trojan War•War had lasted 10 years.•Troy was defeated when Odysseus and his men were able to get inside the walls of Troy concealed within the body of the Trojan horse.

The Trojan WarZeus proclaimed that Paris, prince of Troy, be

the judge of the most fairest goddess.Hera promised him power, Athena promised

him wealth, and Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman in the world.

Paris chose Aphrodite, and she promised him that Helen, wife of Menelaus, would be his.

Despite being treated like a royal guest by Menelaus, Paris ran away with Helen once Menelaus temporarily left Sparta.

Trojan War Continued…In Troy, Helen and Paris were married. Menelaus, however, was outraged to find that

Paris had taken Helen.Odysseus (a Greek) pretended to be insane

but this trick was uncovered.The first nine years of the war consisted of

both war in Troy and war against the neighboring regions.

The war ended with Odysseus’s clever idea of the Trojan Horse.

The Trojan Horse

The OdysseyEpic Epic Hero

A long narrative poem about important events in the history or folklore of a nation or culture.

The IlliadThe Odyssey

The larger-than-life character in an epic.

He/she demonstrates traits that are valued by the society in which the epic originates.

Odysseus in the Odyssey

The Odyssey Continued…The story of the journey of Odysseus and his

men trying to get home after the Trojan War.Their journey lasts 10 years.An epic about humans on the journey of life

overcoming temptations along the wayWritten most likely between 600 and 750

B.C.

Odysseus, The Classic Greek Hero Odysseus is intelligent, but his intelligence is of the

cunning, sly type….not the book-smart type.

He is, after all, a man of “twists and turns…” The Greek term for this versatility is “polytropos,” or “turning in many directions.”

Odysseus is a man of deceptions and disguises.

The sharpness with which he led his men in the Trojan War is the same devious aptitude he uses to find his way back home after the war.

He uses this same intelligence to outwit monsters and other foes who block his path and threaten his men’s lives.

Physical StrengthWhile Odysseus

demonstrates cunning, farsightedness, adaptability and other aspects of intellectual prowess, he is by no means a physical weakling!

He is not enormous, but he is powerful, and he is both an excellent athlete and a formidable soldier. This combination of intellectual and physical excellence is called “arete” in Greek.

Odysseus vs. DangerIn order to use his cunning and his strength,

Odysseus must be willing to face danger with courage. He does not shrink away from his leadership role in times of great peril.

Fortunately…Odysseus has the help of the

gods at times.

In the beginning of the epic, Athena represents Odysseus favorably to the other gods at council meetings.

Ultimately, Zeus helps Odysseus rule peacefully once he finally arrives home.

Of course, the gods are not always pleased. Poseidon makes Odysseus’s journey a true test of his wit and valor.

Is He Perfect? – What Do You Think?

Yes, like most classic heroes, Odysseus must prove himself again and again, and the perceptions others have of him are of vital importance to his heroic stature, but………..

As with many tragic heroes, Odysseus has faults (a tragic flaw) that lead to disaster. Unlike tragic heroes, Odysseus is able to use his conniving to escape the ultimate price others have to pay for his mistakes.

Greek Gods and GoddessesZeus (King of the Gods)

Ruler of Mount OlympusGod of the Sky,

Weather, Thunder, Law, Order, and Fate.

Married to HeraBrother of Poseidon and

HadesFather of Athena Symbols are thunderbolt

and eagle.

More Greek Gods and Goddesses!Poseidon

God of the Sea, Rivers, Floods, Droughts, Earthquakes, and Horses

Brother of Zeus and Hades

Known as the “Earth Shaker” or “Storm Bringer”

Symbols are trident, horses, and dolphins.

Even More Greek Gods and Goddesses! Athena

Goddess of Wisdom, Warfare, Strategy, Heroic Endeavor, Handicrafts, and Reason

Daughter of ZeusHer symbols are the owl

and the olive tree

Wow. Even More Gods and Goddesses! Aphrodite

Goddess of Love, Lust, Beauty, Seduction, and Pleasure

Symbols are the apple, dove, scallop shell, and myrtle wreath

HeraGoddess of Marriage,

Women, Childbirth, Heirs, Kings, and Empires

Wife of ZeusSymbols are peacock,

cuckoo, and pomegranate

Let’s Set Sail…

Are you ready?