Iliad

• The Iliad is the story in Greek Mythology told by Homer which describes the last few weeks in the Fall of Troy, which took place at the end of the Trojan War.
• The Ancient Romans and Greeks were all familiar with the Iliad and its sequel, the Odyssey. The Iliad is written in Dactylic Hexameter.

Brief Synopsis

• The Iliad was written by the Ancient Greek Epic Poet, Homer, in Dactylic Hexameter.
• It was considered to be a Myth until Heinrich Schliemann excavated the Ruins of Troy in May 1873 and discovered the treasures of the ancient city buried under subsequent layers.
• Helen of Troy was the wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta. She eloped with Prince Paris of Troy, causing the Trojan War when the Greeks embarked on a ten year siege of Troy.
• The Iliad covers the final few weeks of the ten year Siege of Troy.
• Homer not only describes the Greek and Trojan heroes, but also the important role that the Gods play throughout the whole story.

Dactylic Hexameter

• Dactylic Hexameter was considered by the Ancient Greeks and Romans to be the foremost method of recounting classical Epic Poetry.
• In Dactylic Hexameter each foot contains three syllables, with six feet altogether, giving a total of eighteen syllables per line.

Menin: 'Rage'

• Menin is the word for Rage in Greek.
• Rage is the driving force in the Iliad by Homer.
• At the beginning of the Iliad, Achilles experienced ‘Menin’, complete rage, and this persistent behaviour affected the whole outcome of the Trojan War.

The Odyssey

• Homer followed the Iliad with a sequel called the Odyssey.
• It describes the ten year Journey of Odysseus (Ulysses, in Roman mythology) to return to his home at Ithaca after the fall of Troy.

The Characters in the Iliad

The Achaeans: The Hellenes, The Danaans, The Argives

• • Agamemnon – King of Mycenae
  • Achilles – leader of the Myrmidons
  • Odysseus – King of Ithaca
  • Ajax the Greater – Son of Telamon
  • Menelaus – King of Sparta, married to Helen, and Agamemnon’s Brother
  • Diomedes – King of Argos
  • Ajax the Lesser
  • Patroclus
  • Nestor – King of Pylos

The Trojans

• The Trojan Men
  • Hector – King Priam’s Son
  • Aeneas – Anchises’ and aphrodite’s Son
  • Deiphobus – Hector’ and Paris’ Brother
  • Paris – Helen’s abductor
  • Priam – King of Troy
  • Polydamas – Commander
  • Agenor – Trojan warrior who contests Achilles
  • Sarpedon, Son of Zeus
  • Glauchus, Son of Hippolochus
  • Euphorbus – wounds Patroclus
  • Dolon – a spy
  • Antenor – Adviser who reommends returning Helen
  • Polydorus – Priam’s Son
  • Pandarus – Lycaon’s Son

• The Trojan Women
  • Hecuba – King Priam’s Wife
  • Helen – Zeus’ Daughter. The Trojan War starts when Paris abducts her.
  • Andromache – Hector’s Wife
  • Cassandra – Priam’s Daughter
  • Brisels – A Trojan Woman captured by Achilles.

Ruins of Troy VII, Canakkale