The Iliad
How does Paris describe how his brother's word affect him?
"like an axe that goes through wood by a man skillfully
How does Zeus respond to Agamemmon's sacrifices?
"the son of Cronos (Zeus) did not grant him this (implied Victory), but he accepted the sacrifice, and multiplied the unwished hardship" So, Zeus takes the ox and grain, but isn't going to give Aga the glory he seeks because Zeus is instead going to fulfill his pledge to Thetis that Aga will look foolish in order to salvage Achilles reputation"
How many Trojan warriors does Achilles sacrifice on Patroclus's pyre?
12
When was the Iliad composed?
8th century BC
How long has the Trojan War been going by the time The Iliad begins?
9 years
Briseis (Trojan)
A Trojan captive girl, named after her father Briseus, given as a prize to Achilles
Antenor
A Trojan nobleman, advisor to King Priam, and father of many Trojan warriors. Antenor argues that Helen should be returned to Menelaus in order to end the war, but Paris refuses to give her up.
Aeneas
A mythical Greek warrior who was a leader on the Trojan side of the Trojan War.Aeneas says that "therefore no man can do battle with Achilles; always one of the gods stands beside him, who wards off destruction"
Who does Zeus think is the only person who can prevent the destruction of the greek army?
Achilles
Who says this "I will take death at the time when Zeus and the other deathless gods wish.. even mighty Heracles did not escape from death...let me win outstanding glory"
Achilles
Which greek soldiers did the centaur Chiron train?
Achilles and Ajax which is why they are the best
Whose lives does zeus measure on his Golden scales against each other
Achilles and Hector; Hector loses
Describe Achilles as a leader
Achilles is a leader who cares about the fighting men. When Apollo sends the plague against the Achaeans, it is Achilles who takes action. Achilles calls the council to discuss the plague and what to do about it. Achilles lacks tact. We see this in the way that Achilles insults Agamemnon. For one thing, Achilles insults Agamemnon before Agamemnon insults him. Achilles refers to Agamemnon as claiming to be the best of the Achaeans. Achilles is the strongest fighting man the Achaeans can muster. This is a simple fact. Achilles is engaged in a power struggle with Agamemnon. Achilles wants recognition as the strongest Achaean fighting man, but Agamemnon won't give it to him. Achilles can be emotional. Achilles thinks about drawing his sword and killing Agamemnon. Later, he cries because of his anger. Achilles places his own pride before the lives of his fellow fighting men. To get back at Agamemnon, Achilles wants Thetis to make Zeus promise to let the Trojans win for a while. This, of course, means that many Achaeans will die. Achilles protects the weak. When Calchas asks for protection, Achilles gives it to him.
What does Achilles say to the Greeks when he resumes fighting following the death of Patroclus and after Thetis has arrived with his new armor
Achilles summons the Greeks to assemble. He apologizes to Agamemmnon saying "was this then the better way for us both, for all our grief at heart, raged in life-devouring strife, for the sake of a girl...Artemis should have killed her with an arrow the day I took her as a prize...I think the Achaeans will remember for a long time this strife of yours and mine"
Achilles and Odysseus disagreement before battle
Achilles wants to go to war immediately, but Odysseus says that they need to eat before they go to war. The Greeks try to make Achilles eat but he won't "I will remain as I am until the setting of the sun".
Character Analysis Agamemmnon
Agamemnon is a bully. We see this twice. We see this in the way he treats the old man, the priest of Apollo, who comes to him to ransom his daughter with treasure. We also see it when he threatens to take Briseis away from Achilles. Agamemnon does not respect the old. In this society, old people are supposed to be respected, but Agamemnon does not respect Chryses, the old man (the priest of Apollo), who comes to him to ransom his daughter with treasure. Instead, Agamemnon tells him to go away and not come back. He also threatens him with death if he does not leave immediately. Agamemnon does not respect Apollo. As the priest of Apollo, the old man ought to be shown respect, but Agamemnon does not show him respect. By disrespecting the priest, Agamemnon is disrespecting Apollo. Agamemnon does not respect his wife or Chryseis. Agamemnon says that Chryseis, the priest's daughter, will be taken back to Argos, where she will be forced to share his bed. This means that Agamemnon is a rapist. Agamemnon also says that he prefers Chryseis to his wife, Clytemnestra. Agamemnon does not respect Achilles. Achilles is the Achaeans' greatest warrior and as such should be shown respect. However, Agamemnon treats him poorly and does not respect him. Instead, Agamemnon insults Achilles. Agamemnon does not follow the advice of his men. His warriors want him to take the shining ransom that the priest of Apollo offers so that the priest's daughter may be returned to him, but Agamemnon rejects their advice. Agamemnon does not follow the advice of Nestor. Nestor is an old man and wise advisor. Agamemnon ought to follow his advice, but instead he ignores it.
What mistakes does Agamemmnon make in Book 1?
Agamemnon makes two major mistakes in Book 1 of the Iliad. The war is being fought over Helen, whom Paris stole from Menelaus. Because Agamemnon is leading an army against Troy to get Helen back, he believes in the ethical principle that it is morally right to attempt to get back a woman who has been taken from you. Yet, he will not give back Chryseis to her father, Chryses, and he takes Briseis away from Achilles. This shows hypocrisy on Agamemnon's part. Mistake #2: Agamemnon angers Achilles by taking away Achilles' spear-bride. In Book 1, because of his anger Achilles refuses to fight, although it means that many Achaeans will die. Apparently, Achilles thinks the Achaeans are as guilty as Agamemnon. After all, none of them backed him up in his fight against Agamemnon (except Nestor, who urged the two men not to fight). In Book 9, Achilles wants an explicit apology from Agamemnon. In Book 16, when he sends Patroclus into battle, he apparently still wants the apology, although he does want to save the Achaeans' ships from being burnt. Agamemnon should not anger his most powerful warrior. It is much better for the Achaeans if all the Achaean warriors work together. Achilles, of course, makes a mistake as well. He is tactless when he speaks to Agamemnon. However, a good leader knows when to ignore an insult and when to respond to an insult.
Who tells Achilles that Patroclus is dead
Antilochos (son of Nestor)
Who rescues Paris in the middle of the duel that Menalaus is about to win?
Aphrodite
Which gods are on the Trojan side?
Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, Artemis (Zeus liked them but tryed to stay neutral)
who tells the Trojans that Achilles is not in the battle (remember its Patroclus who stole his armor)
Apollo
Achilles and Apollo battle
Apollo chastises Achilles "You must not yet know that I am divine, you rage after me so furiously". Achilles calls him a "malevolent god" and says that without his intervention, many Trojans would "have bitten the dirt before they arrived back at Ilion..Saving them you have robbed me of great glory"
The theme of the Iliad is the rage (or wrath) of Achilles. In fact, "rage" is the first word that appears in Fagles' translation of the Iliad. The Greek word used is menis, which elsewhere in the Iliad is used only to refer to a god's rage. In Book 1, two gods grow angry: Apollo and Zeus. What is their rage like?
Apollo grows angry because his priest, Chryses, is not shown respect. Chryses asks Agamemnon to release his (Chryses') daughter, Chryseis, who has been captured by the Achaeans. In return for her release, Chryses offers Agamemnon gleaming treasure. Agamemnon ought to respect the priest — his troops want him to — but instead he threatens the priest and makes him leave. The priest then prays to Apollo, who becomes angry because Agamemnon, by not respecting Apollo's priest, has not respected Apollo. Apollo gets revenge in an interesting way. He sends the plague against the Achaeans. The plague kills many Achaeans, but it does not kill Agamemnon. If Apollo were a just god, he would kill Agamemnon — or punish him in some other way. Instead, the people who die are innocent Achaeans — the ones who wanted Agamemnon to respect Apollo's priest and accept the shining ransom. Zeus also becomes angry at his wife, Hera, on Mount Olympus, when she tries to find out what he has promised Thetis. He threatens her, which terrifies her and the other gods because they all know that he will do what he says and throttle her. In this glimpse of Zeus, we see that he has a bad marriage and that he rules through force and intimidation. When Homer uses menis — a word used to describe the rage of a god — to describe the rage of Achilles, this is not meant to be a good thing. When gods get angry, innocent people can die, and when gods get angry, they have the power to wreak enormous slaughter and destruction.
Who sends the plague to the Achaean camp near the beginning of The Iliad?
Apollo; does this because Aga took his priest Chryses daughter named Chryseis (so confusing)
Chryseis
Appollo's Priest Chryses' daughter, a priest of Apollo; Agamemnon' prize of honor
Gods for the Trojans
Ares Phoebus (this is another name for Apollo) Artemis Leto Aphrodite the river god Xanthos (men call him Scamander; not to be confused with Achilles horse Xanthus from previous chapter. This one is the personification of the Scamander River in Troy and the surrounding plain where the war is fought is named after the river) "So the blessed gods, goading both sides on, clashed together, and lets grave strife break loose among them"
Which god often helps Menelaus?
Ares - often called "Menelaus beloved by Ares"
Enyalios
Ares; Hector says of him that often he kills the one who kills
Who intervenes when Achaean troops are fleeing?
Athena
Who is standing next to Odysseus invisible to the men as he addresses them?
Athena
Why do the Trojans listen to Hector and not follow the wise advice of Polydamus?
Athena had taken away the wits of the Trojans, so that they all cheer and agree to Hector's "devised disaster", instead of listening to Polydamas's "excellent counsel"
How do the gods stir up trouble after the duel?
Athena invisibly guides the Trojan Archer Pandaros to shoot Menelaus and thereby violated the result of the Sacred Oath to abide by the outcome of the duel which Menelaus won.
What does Patroclus ask Achilles to do in a dream after he is dead
Bury him
Who saves Nestor from being killed by Hector?
Diomedes
Diomedes
Fought and wounded Ares and Aphrodite (with a spear) with the help of Athena
God for the Greeks
Gods who supported Greeks: Hera Athena Poseidon Hermes Hephaestus
What favor does Achilles ask of his mother Thetis?
He asks for Zeus to let the Trojans win for awhile because it is upset and doesnt want to fight for the Greeks under the leadership of Agamamemmon because Aga took his girlfriend Briseis in exchange for giving back Chryseis to her father
When does Achilles die?
He doesn't die in the Iliad
Shield of Achilles
He forges the new armor with 20 bellows. Hephaestus Shield for Achilles contains: -earth, heaven, sea, sun, moon -constellations including Orions, Pleiades, Arctos the Bear whom men name the Wagon -two cities of mortal men, in one city there is a wedding and also a dispute about a murder; in the other city, there is a war between two armies - a fallow field with oxen - a royal estate with laborers - a vineyard - cattle -nine dogs -two lions tearing into a bull -a meadow with sheep, shepherds, and huts - a place for dancing with unwed youths and maidens - the river Ocean along the outermost edge The breastplate was "more resplendent than the light of fire" The helmet was fitted to Achilles temples, with a gold crest on forehead "And when the famed crook-legged god had made all the armor with his toil, lifting it up, he set it before the mother of Achilles, and she like a hawk leapt down from the snowy summit of Olympus, carrying the glittering armor from Hephaestus"
How does Agammenon rally the greek troops to resume fighting now that oath violated by Trojans?
He shames them - wounds their pride. Some men don't want to fight. Aga says "Blusterers, disgraces, are you not ashamed? Why do you stand this way like bewildered fawns ...with no spirit of resistance in your hearts"
How does King Priam try to save Hector?
He tries to get him to not fight Achilles because Achilles will win the fight. He tries to save Hector by yelling out to him and warning him that Achilles is coming for him. He tells him that Achilles has taken too many of his sons away and that Hector shouldn't just stand there and do nothing. He tries to convince Hector to come back inside the walls of Troy because he will lose to Achilles.
Who kills Patroclus and takes Achilles' original armor?
Hector
Who says this? "Accursed Paris, outstanding only in beauty, woman crazed, seducer, would that you were never born and died unwed...it would have been far better than to be as now an outrage and something sneered at by others...the long haired Achaeans howl in laughter thinking you our first champion because your appearance is beautiful - but there is no strength in your heart, nor any courage...you will not stand to face Menelaus, beloved by Areas? You would learn what kind of man was he whose luscious wife you hold"
Hector
Why does Zeus not bother to intervene and save Hector?
Hectors death is destined ; Zeus thinks about saving Hector "it is a dear man whom my eyes see pursued around the wall" and thinks of the good burnt ox thigh sacrifices Hector has given in the past. Athena warns Zeus that he will anger many of the other gods if he saves Hector. Zeus brings out his golden scales and measures the two portions of death, Hector's and Achilles'. "He lifted them holding by the middle, and the measured day of Hector sank, headed to Hades; Apollo abandoned him"
From whom is Helen descended?
Helen is the daughter of Zeus and Leda from when Zeus turned into a swan and seduced Leda.
What is Paris offered by the goddess to try to get him to pick her as the most beautiful and get the golden apple?
Hera offers power, Athena offers success in battle, and Aphrodite offers the most beautiful woman in the world—Paris chooses Aphrodite.
By granting Thetis's request to help the Trojans, who does Zeus risk angering?
Hera who is on the side of the greeks
Which gods are on Greek side?
Hera, Athena, Poseidon
Does Homer regard human beings as the playthings of the gods?
Homer seems to regard human beings as the playthings of the gods. Humans try to do the best they can do, but the gods sometimes arbitrarily send them misfortunes.
Who tells Achilles to get Patroclus body back?
Iris the rainbow goddess, who is there with a message from Hera and Athena (secretly so other gods including Zeus dont know) Iris tells him that he must reclaim Patroclus body before Hector beheads it and it "becomes a plaything for Trojan dogs". She tells Achilles it will be his "dishonor if he (Patroclus) comes mutiliated to the dead."
Agammemnon
King and leader of Greek forces; takes Chryseis as his prize of honor; husband of Clytemnestra. Brother of Menelaus.
Priam
King of Troy, father of Hector and Paris
Who is declared winner of the duel?
Menelaus the victor, and tells the Trojans to surrender Helen. Everyone is confused about where Paris could be because Aphrodite whisked him away unseen to his room and they dont think he could be there.
Thetis
Mother of Achilles; described "of the silver feet"
Who says this: I will take my station and command the horseman with advice and counsel for this is the privilege of age; younger men throw the spear, men later born that me and who put their trust in strength
Nestor
What does Nestor want Achilles and Agammenon to do?
Nestor is a wise advisor who wants Agamemnon and Achilles to get along. He wants them to compromise and to keep fighting together. Nestor wants Agamemnon NOT to take away Briseis, Achilles' spear-bride, from Achilles. Nestor wants Achilles to recognize Agamemnon as the supreme leader of the Greek forces against Troy. This is Nestor's advice to Agamemnon and to Achilles: "Atrides, seize not on the beauteous slave; That prize the Greeks by common suffrage gave: Nor thou, Achilles, treat our prince with pride; Let kings be just, and
Character analysis of Nestor
Nestor is old, and he is a wise leader who gives good advice. Nestor urges compromise between Agamemnon and Achilles. Nestor realizes that Agamemnon is acting badly, and he urges Agamemnon not to take Briseis away from Achilles. Nestor realizes that Achilles is acting without tact, and he urges him to show more respect to Agamemnon. Nestor makes the persuasive point that King Priam and the Trojans would be very happy if they knew that Agamemnon and Achilles were quarreling.
Does Priam blame Helen for stirring up trouble with his son and plunging his country into war?
No Priam tells Helen it isn't her fault and invites her to sit next to him when Menelaus and Paris are about to duel . He says its the gods always stirring up trouble. He then inquires as to who is the strapping Achaean warrior in the front. Helen says that is is Agamemnon and he is her ex brother in law, calling herself as she explains this "dog faced as I am"
What tactical mistake does Hector make?
Not listening to Polydamus- Hector is annoyed by this. He doesnt want to take Polydamas's advice and "cower down in the city" He tells his men to get ready to fight, to give their belongings to the community if they are worried (better to other trojans than to greeks as spoils of war). He says that in the morning they will awake to "cutting war" and that he will not flee from Achilles "but I will strongly face him - we shall see whether he will win great glory, or I"
Nereids
Nymphs of the sea; Thetis is one of them
What does Odysseus say to convince the men to keep fighting?
O tells them of Calchus's propecy rooted in a vision of a sparrows nest and a snake which ate the 8 eggs and the mama sparrow, making 9, as the number of years they would fight until they took the City of Troy (Also called City of Priam). O rallies men to not give up until they achieve their goal.
What happens in duel between Paris and Menelaus
Paris strikes Menelaus first. Menelaus attacks back, praying to Zeus for strength. Menelaus strikes Paris helmet, shattering his own sword into 4 pieces. Menelaus feels Zeus has forsaken him by breaking his weapons. Since Menelaus has nothing to fight with, he drags Paris by his helmet, choking him. Aphrodite sees this and snaps the strap (made from "the leather of a slaughtered ox") so that Paris can escape. Menelaus almost kills Paris with a spear, but Aphrodite "snatches Alexandros (they mean Paris) away, easily, goddess that she was, enfolded in dense mist, and set him down in his incense perfurmed bedroom"
Why does Paris want to duel Menelaus?
Paris wants both armies to lay their armor aside on the "nourishing earth" and "in the space between Paris and Menelaus alone will fight for Helen". It will establish peace since one of them will win her and spare the lives of soldiers.
What is Thetis prophecy and was is proof of it coming true
Patroclus death is proof in the truth of his mother's prophecy that "the best of the Myrmidons would die while Achilles lived".
Why do the Myrmidons resume fighting?
Patroclus dressed up in Achilles armor, which tricked the Myrmidons into resuming the fight against the Trojans as they thought they were following Achilles not Patroclus.
Gods who fight each other during the battle
Poseidon v Apollo Ares v Athena Hera v Artemis Hermes v Leto Hephaestus v Xanthos (Scamander)
Who saves Aeneas in his battle with Achilles
Poseidon; Achilles charges at Aeneas with his ash-spear (the one only he can wield that belonged to his dad). Poseidon takes pity on Aeneas for having put his trust in Apollo and saves him. Hera warns him that she will never stop until the Trojans are destroyed. Poseidon "poured down mist over" over the eyes of Aeneas and Achilles, Achilles cannot see his spear and hurling Aeneas to the back lines of the battle. Poseidon berates Aeneas "which of the gods bade you in this crazed manner go into battle against Achilles who is both stronger than you and very dear to the immortals?" He tells him dont be an idiot, dont fight him or else you will end up in the House of Hades. He says wait until Achilles meets his fate and then summon your courage and do battle! The mist clears from Achilles, and he sees his spear and no Aeneas "O Shame..the spear lies upon the earth and I do not see him at all at whom I let fly...so after all Aeneas is beloved by the immortals"
Hecuba (Trojan)
Queen of Troy, wife of Priam, and mother of Hector and Paris.
How does Helen react to Aphrodite saving Paris?
She says she can never go back to Paris: "As for me I will not go there - it would be shameful - to share the bed of that man. The Trojan women will all blame me afterward; the sufferings I have in my heart are without end." She tells Aphrodite that Paris is her problem now and she doesnt appreciate how Aphrodite used her. But Helen takes Paris back and they have a great time while everyone else is fighting
Odyssesus
Son of Laertes, descended from Zeus
Polydamas (Trojan)
Son of Panthous; Trojan warrior and councilor to Hector. says that they should retreat back into the city. He says "as long as that man (achilles) harbored wrath at noble Agamemmnon,so long were the Achaeans easier to fight". (IE when the greeks were divided between loyalty to Aga or Achilles, they were more vulnerable to the trojans) says that they should retreat back into the city. He says "as long as that man (achilles) harbored wrath at noble Agamemmnon,so long were the Achaeans easier to fight". (IE when the greeks were divided between loyalty to Aga or Achilles, they were more vulnerable to the trojans)
Achilles
Son of Peleus and Thetis; leader of Myrmidons, greatest greek warriorGreatest Greek warrior, loved Briseis whom Agamemnon steals, only vulnerable place is his heel, prophecy that he would die in the Trojan war, which he does at the hand of Paris
What does Helen tell Priam about Odysseus?
That he is the son of Laertes, from Ithaca, and that he "knows every kind of stratagem and shrewd plan
Homer's concept of free will
The ancient Greeks don't seem to have had the concept of free will. However, we believe in free will — but free will can do only so much. For example, every athlete in the most recent Olympics used his or her free will to attempt to win a gold medal, but of course, not every athlete did win a gold medal. Homer would say, first, an athlete attempted to win, then the gods decided whether the athlete would win or lose. (like when US women lost to Japan - or shiffrin not winning sl at olympics - the gods aided the other side) Another example: Mark can use his free will to attempt to become the quarterback for the Patriots, but will never become Tom Brady .
Who saves Achilles from the river god
The other gods
Who does Helen tell Priam is the "the bulwark of the Achaeans"?
The warrior Ajax
Who does Odysseus beat with the scepter?
Thersites
Ilion
Troy
Chapter 1 summary
Upgrade to remove ads Only $1/month Chapter 1 CLICK THE CARD TO FLIP IT The book begins. Achilles and Agamemnon are having a fight. Apollo is plaguing the Greek camp and keep willing until his priest, Chryses, gets his daughter back, Chryseis. Calchas, the Greek priest tells Agamemnon about this. Agamemnon gives his girl, Chryseis back to Chryses, but then wants Achilles' girl. Achilles loses his mind and tries to kill Agamemnon but Athena stops him. Achilles' girl, Bryseis, is given to two men of Agamemnon willingly. Achilles is very upset afterward. Achilles goes to his mother, Thetis the sea nymph, and tells her to go to Zeus and wish harm on the Greeks. She goes to Zeus. Hera, Zeus' wife and Greek advocate, overhears the conversation and gets upset because he thinks that Zeus is cheating on her. Hephaestus, her son, reassures her. The chapter ends peacefully
Andromache (Trojan)
Wife of Hector, mother of Astyanax
Charis
Wife of Hephaestus; greets Thetis when she arrives to ask H to make new armor for Achilles
Which god does Achilles fight?
Xanthus (river god)
Example of gods working against each other
Zeus grants Thetis request to help Achilles by not letting the greeks be successful without him; Hera figures this out and sends Athena to intervene; So she tells Athena to find Aga and and tell him he is not worthy of the scepter he carries. Hera says " Shame...they would leave as a trophy for Priam and the Trojans Helen of Argos on whose account so many Achaeans have died" Athena shoots down from Olympus and finds Odysseus to make sure he stops them men from fleeing and that they attack Troy.
Character analysis Zeus
Zeus is the King of gods and of men, although he favors gods over men. Zeus owes Thetis a favor, which he pays back by promising her that the Trojans will be triumphant for a while. Zeus cannot alter fate. That is, he cannot alter the endpoint of fate. Troy is fated to fall, and it will fall. However, Zeus is powerful enough that he can let the Trojans win for a while. Zeus rules by might. He threatens his wife to make her obey him. Zeus is powerful. What he says, goes.
Zeus's reaction to the duel
Zeus says ok ladies - meaning Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite- this is a mess that you guys created. He says clearly Menelaus -supported by Hera and Athena is the winner- but that Aphrodite has spared Paris from death and they have a situation to resolve. He says while Menelaus has won, "let us consider how this matter will be; whether we again rouse evil war and dread battle, or cast friendship between the two sides". Zeus says that he wants to spare the City of Lord Priam from destruction and give Helen back to Menelaus. This infuriates Hera
Zeus and the evil dream speech
Zeus wants the lying dream to go to Agamemnon and tell him that Troy is ready to fall. "Evil Dream, fly quickly to Achaea's men, by their swift ships. Go to Agamemnon's hut, Atreus' son. Report my words precisely. Bid him quickly arm long‐haired Achaean troops, for now they'll capture Troy, city of wide streets. Immortal gods who dwell on Mount Olympus no longer disagree about all this. Hera's entreaties have persuaded them. Trojans can expect more sorrows, more disasters."
Zeus and Hera's positions in the Trojan War
Zeus wants to be neutral, but Hera favors the Greeks
Judgment of Paris
a contest between the three most beautiful goddesses of Olympus--Aphrodite, Hera and Athena--for the prize of a golden apple addressed to "the fairest". , Paris has to decide on the most beautiful goddess and chose Aphrodite because she promised him Helen; this occurs at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis because Eris, the goddess of discord, was not invited and decided to cause mischief
Thersites (Greek)
an ugly deformed soldier of no standing, stands up and criticizes Aga, much like Achilles did, Thersites is "repellent" "hunch backed" and "lame in one leg". He resents Aga "it is indecent of you to march the sons of Achaeans into evil". He criticizes Aga for dishonoring Achilles Odysseus upbraids him forcefully, takes the scepter and beats Thersites "a bloody welt started up between his shoulders under the gold-studded scepter and he sat down, terrified"
Alexander
another name for Paris
Hector (Iliad)
best Trojan warrior; husband to Andromache; killed by Achilles; good example of Greek values like proper burial rites and respect for the gods; good example of humanity; recognizes his own pride; rational; pays attention to the future; we get to see his backstory so we have sympathy for him; cowardly; Patroklus warns him that he will be killed by Achilles (right after he kills him); son of Priam and Hecuba; brother to Paris; third and final killer of Patroklus; flees Ajax which is another example of his cowardice; realizes in battle that the gods have abandoned him but fights Achilles anyway
How does Aga make amends to Achilles
gamemmnon makes amends, but says that the gods made him crazy - that it was not his fault but that "Zeus cast savage delusion in my mind on the day when I took away Achilles' prize". He gives Achilles many gifts -20 gleaming cauldrons -12 horses -7 women skilled in tapestry work -Briseis -10 talents of gold measured out by Odysseus
What does Achilles do with Hector's body?
he strips the body of its armor and drags it from behind his chariot
what is the history of the scepter Agamemmnon holds when he addresses the Achaean troops?
made by Hephaestus with all his strength for Zeus. The scepter passed from Zeus to Hermes to Pelops (the horse god) who in turn gave it to Atreus. When Atreus (Aga's and Menalaus dad) died he gave the staff to his brother Thyestes, who in turn gave it to his nephew Aga. Whomever holds the scepter is considered to have unquestioned authority
Ajax (Iliad)
second greatest Greek warrior; battles Hector but they give up because it's getting late; one of the people who constitutes the envoy to Achilles
Antilochus
son of Nestor; leading fighter of the men of Pylos; friend of Achilles
Aecides
the name Homer calls Achilles when he lets out the Athena- enhanced clarion call that terrifies the Trojans. "Three times across the ditch godlike Achilles cried his great cry, and three times the Trojans and their illustrious allies were thrown in panic"
Xanthos and Balios
two immortal horses given by Zeus to Peleus; Achilles took them into the war. Hera speaks to Achilles through Xanthos: The horse answered him through the voice of Hera, saying " We will save you for now, mighty Achilles, but your day of destruction is near, it is not we who are to blame, but a mighty god...he whom Leto bore" who killed Patroclus and gave "glory to Hector". (Apollo is the son of Leto, twin with Artemis) Hera continues to speak through Xanthos the horse telling Achilles that it is his fate "to be slain by the might of god and man". Achilles is irritated by this and asks Xanthos why he is prophesying his death, when he already knows he is fated to die in this battle. He then spurs the horses toward Troy and his target, Hector.
