The Iliad - Prelude to War - Greek - Extra Mythology - Part 1
Summary
TLDRIn ancient Greece, two great nations, Achia and Sparta, coexisted until the gods on Mount Olympus intervened. Zeus's love for Thetis led to her marriage with a human king, setting off a chain of events involving a golden apple, a beauty contest among goddesses, and the eventual abduction of Helen by Paris. This act of love sparked a decade-long Trojan War, with heroes like Achilles and kings like Agamemnon caught in a conflict that would define their legacies and bring suffering to many.
Takeaways
- 🌟 Myths are significant cultural tales that may not align with historical records but serve as foundational stories.
- 🏰 Ancient Greece was home to two powerful nations: Achia, known for its seafaring and philosopher kings, and Sparta, renowned for its warriors and craftsmen.
- ⚔️ The gods of Mount Olympus, including Zeus, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, played pivotal roles in the affairs of mortals, often leading to significant consequences.
- 🍎 The 'Judgment of Paris', where Paris had to choose the fairest goddess among Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, led to the start of the Trojan War.
- 💖 Aphrodite's bribe to Paris, promising him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, set off a chain of events that would lead to war.
- 🏹 Achilles, a demigod and one of the greatest warriors, was a key figure in the Trojan War, his actions and decisions having a profound impact on its course.
- 🏰 The abduction of Helen by Paris led to the formation of a massive Greek coalition, bound by oath to defend her marriage, resulting in a long and devastating siege of Troy.
- 🛡️ The Trojan War was marked by a decade-long stalemate, with neither side able to achieve a decisive victory, highlighting the resilience and strategies of both Greeks and Trojans.
- 🏹 Achilles' dispute with Agamemnon over the war prize Briseis and the subsequent plague sent by Apollo due to the kidnapping of Chryseis were turning points in the war.
- 🌐 The script illustrates how divine intervention, human desires, and the complexities of honor and love intertwined to shape the epic narrative of the Trojan War.
Q & A
What is the significance of myths in the context of the script?
-Myths, as mentioned in the script, are not necessarily untrue stories but tales that don't fit neatly into the historical record, serving as a foundation for a culture's beliefs and traditions.
Which two great nations of ancient Greece are mentioned in the script?
-The two great nations of ancient Greece mentioned in the script are Achia, known for its mighty ships and philosopher kings, and Sparta, known for its stoic warriors and finest craftsmen.
Why did Zeus not marry the sea nymph Thetis himself?
-Zeus did not marry Thetis because it was prophesized that he would be overthrown by one of his own sons, and he feared that if he had a child with Thetis, who was a sea nymph, that child could be his downfall.
What was the special gift Eris, the goddess of chaos, brought to the wedding of Thetis and Peleus?
-Eris brought a golden apple inscribed with the phrase 'To the Fairest' as a special gift to the wedding of Thetis and Peleus, which led to a dispute among Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite.
Who was chosen to decide the dispute over the golden apple, and what were the bribes offered by the goddesses?
-Paris, the Prince of Troy, was chosen to decide the dispute over the golden apple. Hera offered political and military power, Athena offered to make him the strongest and wisest warrior, and Aphrodite offered him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.
Who is Achilles and what is his significance in the story?
-Achilles is the son of Thetis and Peleus, born half-mortal and half-divine. He is significant as he grows up to be one of the greatest warriors among the Achaeans in the Trojan War.
Why did Paris go to Sparta and what was the consequence?
-Paris went to Sparta to claim Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, as promised by Aphrodite. The consequence was that he and Helen eloped, leading to the Trojan War as Menelaus and his allies sought to reclaim Helen and avenge the insult.
How did the suitors of Helen prevent King of Sparta from choosing one among them without causing resentment?
-The suitors of Helen, including Menelaus, agreed to defend the marriage of Helen, whoever was chosen, to prevent the king from having to reject any of them and thus avoid resentment. They decided to draw straws to determine who would marry Helen.
What was the stalemate between the Achaeans and Trojans, and how long did it last?
-The stalemate was a prolonged period of inaction and no decisive victory in the Trojan War, where the Achaeans held the beach but were unable to breach the Trojan's walled city. This stalemate lasted nearly a decade.
What event led to Apollo sending a plague to the Achaean camp, and how did Achilles respond?
-Apollo sent a plague to the Achaean camp after Agamemnon took Briseis, a war prize claimed by Achilles, which angered her father, a priest of Apollo. In response, Achilles called for an assembly that would change the course of the war.
Outlines
🌊 Ancient Greek Mythology and the Origins of the Trojan War
This paragraph delves into the mythological background of ancient Greece, highlighting the coexistence of the nations of Achia and Sparta. It sets the stage for the Trojan War by introducing the gods on Mount Olympus and their influence on human affairs. The narrative focuses on the prophecy of Zeus's downfall and the divine intervention in the marriage of Thetis to a mortal king, which leads to the birth of Achilles. The paragraph culminates in the tale of the golden apple of discord, presented by the goddess Eris, which incites a rivalry among Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. The judgment of Paris, who awards the apple to Aphrodite in exchange for the love of Helen, sets off a chain of events that lead to the war.
🚢 The Trojan War: A Stalemate and Divine Intervention
The second paragraph describes the outbreak of the Trojan War, with a thousand ships from Greece sailing to Troy. It details the initial battle on the Trojan shores, where the Achaeans, led by warriors like Achilles, force the Trojans to retreat. The paragraph then shifts to the prolonged stalemate, with neither side able to claim victory despite nearly a decade of conflict. The Achaeans adapt to their new lives away from home, while the Trojans live under siege. The narrative introduces a critical turning point when Achilles, in a dispute over war prizes, offends Apollo, leading to a plague in the Achaean camp. This event catalyzes a pivotal assembly that will change the course of the war, influenced by the pride of Agamemnon, the vanity of Aphrodite, the lust of Paris, and the rage of Achilles.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Myths
💡Ancient Greece
💡Mount Olympus
💡Zeus
💡Golden Apple
💡Paris
💡Achilles
💡Trojan War
💡Agamemnon
💡Apollo
Highlights
Myths are not untrue stories but tales that form a cultural foundation.
Ancient Greece was home to two great nations: Achia and Sparta.
Zeus, king of the gods, came into power by killing his father Cronos.
A prophecy foretold Zeus would be overthrown by one of his sons.
Zeus's love for the nymph Thetis led to a strategic marriage to a human king.
The wedding of Thetis and the human king was attended by all the gods.
Eris, goddess of chaos, presented a golden apple inscribed 'the fairest', sparking a dispute.
Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite fought over the golden apple, leading to a divine intervention.
Paris, Prince of Troy, was chosen to decide the winner of the apple.
Aphrodite won the apple by promising Paris the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.
Thetis bore a son, Achilles, who was half mortal and half divine.
Achilles grew up to be the greatest of all Achaean warriors.
Paris sought the love of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, causing a conflict.
Helen had many suitors, leading to an agreement to defend her marriage no matter the chosen one.
Menelaus, brother of King Agamemnon, was chosen to marry Helen.
Paris and Helen eloped, leading to a call to arms from Menelaus.
A thousand ships from Greece set sail for Troy, initiating the Trojan War.
A decade-long stalemate between the Achaeans and Trojans ensued.
Achilles led a raid, kidnapping two women, which would have dire consequences.
Apollo, angered by the kidnapping of his priest's daughter, sent a plague upon the Achaean camp.
Achilles called an assembly that would change the course of the Trojan War.
Transcripts
myths are not stories that are untrue
rather they are tales that don't fit
neatly into the historical record which
serve as a foundation to a culture long
ago in ancient Greece there were two
great nations
akia where mighty ships cut across the
wine-dark sea and philosopher Kings
reign and Sparta land of stoic warriors
and the finest craftsmen the world has
ever known for countless years both
nations existed in harmony though
tragedy awaited them for high above on
Mount Olympus the gods were making their
own plans Zeus king of the gods had come
into power by killing his father Cronos
and if you remember our previous episode
it was also prophesized that Zeus would
then be overthrown by one of his own
sons
thus when he fell in love with the seen
emptiness though he desperately wanted
to marry her and have children Heba
grudgingly arranged to have her marry
Ilyas human king of the mermaid Anse
instead of him the wedding ceremony was
a wonder to behold as all of the
marvellous gods attended in their
resplendent glory Hermes Herald of the
gods Hara Zeus his wife and goddess of
marriage Apollo god of the Sun Athena
grey-eyed goddess of war and wisdom and
beautiful Aphrodite goddess of erotic
love these and many more came to
celebrate the happy day but when Eris
goddess of chaos arrived she bore a
special gift a golden apple inscribed
with the phrase - the fairest Hera
Athena and Aphrodite all claimed that
they deserved the Apple and began
fighting bitterly over who deserved it
most
all the while nobody at the wedding was
willing to favor one of them for fear of
angering the others to settle the matter
Zeus ordered all of them to appear
before Paris Prince of Troy and let him
decide who the goddesses descended from
Mount Olympus and presented themselves
before the prince but each was so
beautiful in her own way that Paris
could not decide either so bribery
it was Hara offered him political and
military
Athena offered to make him the strongest
and wisest warrior alive and Aphrodite
offered him the love of the most
beautiful woman in the world
Paris chose Aphrodite's offer she
gleefully claimed the Golden Apple as
her own and the deities returned to
Olympus though Hera and Athena were
furious and began planning their revenge
straightaway but that would not come for
several years and in the meantime all
seemed well in both the mortal and
divine realms and Thetis bore a son
naming the child Achilles half mortal
and half divine Achilles grew up healthy
and strong and though he was still young
he quickly took his place among the
greatest of all warriors not half brad
also the time had come for Paris to
collect the favor
Aphrodite owed him he yearned for the
love of the most beautiful woman in the
world
Helen daughter of the king of Sparta but
it was not a simple matter of
matchmaking because you see Helen was so
intelligent lovely kind and talented
that she had dozens and dozens of
suitors from every household in the land
and the king was afraid to choose any
one of them out of fear that the others
would retaliate in anger one of the
suitors intelligent Odysseus proposed
the solution since none of them would
get to marry Helen as long as the king
feared them then they should all agree
to defend the marriage of Helen no
matter who was chosen and then simply
draw straws that way the king would not
have to insult anyone by rejecting them
and the lucky man was Menelaus brother
to the great King Agamemnon of my seniya
he was not just set to marry Helen but
also to one day inherit the throne of
Sparta but don't forget the gods had
made their own plans after the wedding
while Menelaus was celebrating his life
as a newly Wed Paris made his way to
Sparta to claim what Aphrodite had
promised him when he approached the
palace and Helen laid eyes on him
Aphrodite struck them both with such a
powerful longing for each other that
they eloped together to Troy that very
instant but this of course was not
happily ever after hundreds of men had
sworn to defend Helens marriage and
Menelaus was not going to wave goodbye
to love power and glory so he went out
to the great walled city of Troy and
tried in vain
reason with Paris but alas love looks
not with the eyes but with the mind when
no amount of diplomacy or bribery could
convince the lovers to part Menelaus had
no choice but to call on all of the
suitors to honor their oath and defend
his marriage his brother Agamemnon sent
messengers to all of the kings and
princes of akia and the message said one
simple thing
prepare your ships and ready for battle
for there was not a noble household that
hadn't sent a suitor to vie for Helens
hand and thus all bound by the pact the
entire nation was going to war so a
thousand ships set sail from every
corner of Greece forming the greatest
fleet the world had ever seen and they
all made for Troy after a week at sea
the achaeans finally set foot on trojan
shores Paris's army awaits them in force
with eager young warriors like Achilles
standing alongside veterans all united
by their foul spears fly shield shatter
the battle on the beach is short and the
Achaeans forced the Trojans to retreat
into their walled city and there they
wait and wait and wait
the Achaeans hold the beach but the
Trojans are untouchable in their high
walled city week's turned to months
months turned to years and after nearly
a decade of stalemate neither side can
claim victory all the while the Achaeans
built new lives far from home in their
camp on the beach their ships an
ever-present specter on the Trojan
horizon and the Trojans for their part
adjust to life under siege
while Paris and Helen remain deeply in
love despite the hardship growing more
Restless every day in their stalemate VI
qian's bide their time by raiding nearby
towns for supplies and war trophies on
one such day Achilles who had grown up
to be the strongest of the Achaean
warriors led a raid and kidnapped two
women as war prizes crisis and Briseis
Agamemnon commander of the army claimed
crisis as his price and Achilles as
leader of the raid claimed brisëis as
his own but this was a huge mistake you
know beyond the reasons you would
imagine it is for crisis father was a
priest of the god Apollo and when he
learned that his daughter had been taken
he
turn to the gods and begged them for
help Apollo sympathetic to the prayers
of his devoted follower being the god of
both the Sun and of sickness struck via
Qian camp with a horrible plague in
retribution
every day more Achaeans died on that
foreign soil until achilles had had
enough and he called an assembly that
would alter the course of history and
thus the pride of Agamemnon the vanity
of Aphrodite the lust of Paris and the
rage of Achilles would bring untold
suffering into the world
thanks so much to Ahmed Zayat Turk
Alesia bramble Casey Mutua Dominic
Valenciana Gunnar Clovis Kyle Murgatroyd
mulege gallery and Oreos won for being
legendary patrons
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you
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