Week 3 Reading Notes: Homer's Iliad, Part A

Homers Iliad by Alfred J. Church

Of How the War with Troy Began:

    The King of Sparta's daughter, Helen, chose a man to marry whose name was Menelaus who became King of Sparta when Helen's father died. Helen was basically kidnapped by Paris, the son of the King of Troy. So Menelaus called upon those who Helen chose between to help him get her back.

"Helen of Troy" Source

The Quarrel:

    The Greeks took a city and Agamemnon was given the daughter of the priest of Apollo. The father was very upset that they would not return his daughter so he prayed to Apollo to help him. Apollo came down angrily and began killing. Achilles then called a meeting to understand why he was angry and when he heard the reasoning he sided with Apollo and urged Agamemnon to return the girl, but he doesn't. Achilles wished to battle Agamemnon but Athena stopped him.

What Thetis Did for Her Son:

    Achilles' mother, Thetis, plead to Zeus to help Achilles because Agamemnon took away his power. She urged him to help Troy win the battle so that the Greeks understand they cannot win without him. So, Zeus sent a dream in the form of Nestor, whom Agamemnon thought very highly of, to tell Agamemnon that they could not win without Achilles, and he believed it.