Homer and Greek Epic

1
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Iliad, Books 10-22
• The Mythological History of Troy
• The Homeric Simile
• The Iliad, Books 10-22 Overview and Analysis
• Grammar 3 Pronouns, Prepositions and Conjunctions

2
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Mythological History of Troy
• the early history of the Trojans is unclear in
  Greek myth
• we hear of some early but obscure founding
  fathers, e.g. Tros, Dardanus
• the story comes into focus only in Priams
  lifetime (the Trojan War)

3
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Mythological History of Troy
• Priam is married to Hecuba with whom he has 19(!)
  children
• plus 81 other children by concubines
• Priams 100 sons and daughters is proverbial in
  Greek myth
• among his children by Hecuba is Paris who is also
  called Alexander

4
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Mythological History of Troy
• Paris as a baby was abandoned because an oracle
  predicted he would bring about the fall of Troy
• this sort of population control is called
  exposure, a common practice in antiquity
• without birth control, it was the only option
  available to many who could not keep a child for
  some reason

5
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Mythological History of Troy
• by leaving the child in the wild without killing
  it, its blood was seen not to taint the hands of
  those who exposed it
• after all, the gods could save it if they wished
  to
• and in myth, they often do -- with tragic
  consequences like Priams

6
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Mythological History of Troy
• the rest of the story of Paris early life was
  told by the Greek tragedian Euripides in his play
  Alexander (now lost)
• but a synopsis of the tragedy has recently been
  found
• see

Chapter 4.III.A
7
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Mythological History of Troy
• another child of Priam and Hecuba is Cassandra,
  the mad prophetess
• Apollo loved her and, in exchange for her favors,
  he promised her the gift of foresight
• she agreed
• but after he had shown her the future, she
  refused him

8
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Mythological History of Troy
• he could not now take away her foresight since
  she had already seen the future
• so Apollo took from Cassandra the ability to be
  persuade others that what she says is really
  going to happen

9
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Mythological History of Troy
• as a result, she pleads with her fellow Trojans
  not to fight the Greeks because she knows Troy
  will lose the Trojan War and be destroyed
• but no one believes her
• thus she goes mad

10
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Homeric Simile
• the simile is one of the hallmarks of Homers
  style
• a simile is an explicit comparison of two things,
  using like or as
• e.g. my teacher drinks like a fish and, because
  of that, he looks like Ramses II, like Ramses II
  does now!

11
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Homeric Simile
• Fallen on one side, as on the stalk
• a poppy falls, weighed down by showering
  spring,
• beneath his helmets weight his head sank down.
  
• Iliad 8.306-8 (the death of Gorgythion)
• the flower and the dying hero bend over in a like
  manner
• both have colorful tops one has a flower and the
  other a crested helmet

12
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Homeric Simile
• Fallen on one side, as on the stalk
• a poppy falls, weighed down by showering
  spring,
• beneath his helmets weight his head sank down.
  
• Iliad 8.306-8 (the death of Gorgythion)
• but the flower and the hero are more different
  than alike
• man vs. plant
• dying in battle vs. growing in the rain
• noisy dirty battlefield vs. serene rainfall

13
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• The Homeric Simile
• this sort of union of opposites is called
  oxymoron
• literally in Greek, sharp-blunt
• e.g. a bittersweet love
• a deafening silence
• a sophomore (smart fool)

14
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Bks 10-15
• Books 10-15 are often called the battle books
• a seemingly endless sequence of death and
  mutilation
• the Greeks are better fighters but Zeus keeps
  supporting the Trojans
• so things go nowhere but to Hades

15
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• in a famous passage from Book 14 known as the
  Dios Apate (the Seduction of Zeus), Hera
  decides to matters in hand
• if she cannot stop her husband from his foolish
  Trojan-loving ways, at least she can distract him
  briefly
• this will allow her supporters and agents to work
  behind Zeus back

16
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• among her supporters is the god Sleep who
  reluctantly agrees to help her turn the tide of
  battle in the Greeks favor
• but to turn Zeus eye from battle will take some
  powerful force of attraction
• and that can only mean one thing sex!
• because, . . . what do men do after sex?

17
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• but this cannot be sex with some nymph or mortal
  woman!
• it has to be a legal and legitimate liaison!
• after all, Hera is the goddess of marriage and
  cannot condone fooling around
• her only choice, then, is to seduce her own
  husband!

18
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• this means she needs professional help
• Hera goes to Aphrodite for assistance and advice
• that is, some sort of marital aid
• Aphrodite lets Hera borrow her girdle
• wearing this garment makes any female
  irresistably attractive to males

19
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• Hera puts on Aphrodites girdle and sets out
• she drives her chariot to Mt. Ida near Troy where
  Zeus is sitting on the hillside watching the war
  below
• she parks the chariot out of sight and approaches
  him deferentially
• like a good, obedient wife

20
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• Hera swept on to Gargaron, Idas crest,
• and there Zeus, lord of cloud, saw her arrive.
• He gazed at her, and as he gazed desire
• veiled his mind like mist, as in those days
• when they had first slipped from their parents
  eyes
• to bed, to mingle by the hour in love.

21
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• He stood before her now and said
• What brings you
• down from Olympos to this place?
• The chariot you ride is not in sight.
• The Lady Hera answered him in guile
• I go my way to the bourne of Earth, to see
• Okeanos, from whom the gods arose,

22
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• and Mother Tethys. In their distant hall
• they nourished me and cared for me in childhood.
• Now I must see them and compose their strife.
• They live apart from one anothers bed,
• estranged so long, since anger came between them.
• As for my team, it stands at Idas base
• ready to take me over earth and sea.

23
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• On your account I came to see you first,
• so that you will not rage at me for going
• in secret where Okeanos runs deep.
• The lord of cloud replied
• But you may go there
• later, Hera. Come, lie down. We two
• must give ourselves to love-making.

24
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• Desire
• for girl or goddess in so wild a flood
• never came over me! Not for Ixions bride
• who bore me that peerless man Peirithoos
• or Danae with her delicious legs,
• illustrious Perseus mother or Europa,
• daughter of Phoinix, world-renowned,

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Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• who bore me
• Minos and magnificent Rhadamanthys
• Semele and Alkmene, Theban ladies --
• one bore the rugged hero Herakles,
• the other Dionysus, joy of men --
• or Demeter, the queen, in blond braids
• or splendid Leto or yourself!

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Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• No lust
• as sweet as this for you has ever taken me!
• To this the Lady Hera in her guile
• replied
• Most formidable son of Kronos,
• how impetuous! Would you lie down here
• on Idas crest for all the world to see?

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Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• Suppose one of the gods who never die
• perceived us here asleep and took the story
• to all the rest? I could not bear to walk
• directly from this love-bed to your hall,
• it would be so embarrassing.
• But if you must,

28
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• if this is what you wish, and near your heart,
• there is my own bedchamber. Your dear son,
• Hephaistos, built it, and he fitted well
• the solid door and doorjamb. We should go
• to lie down there, since bed is now your
  pleasure.
• But the lord marshall of stormcloud said
• No fear

29
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• this act will be observed by god or man,
• I shall enshroud us in such golden cloud.
• Not even Helios could glimpse us through it,
• and his hot ray is finest at discerning.
• At this he took his wife in his embrace,
• and under them earth flowered delicate grass
• and clover wet with dew then crocuses . . .

30
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Dios Apate (Book 14.263-348)
• note that, when Zeus is trying to say how
  attractive Hera is, he recites a long list of his
  infidelities and illegitimate progeny
• Hera cannot be too pleased to hear that
• in her response, then, she counters by mentioning
  Hephaestus, one of Zeus few legitimate children
• but her list cannot be nearly as long as his

31
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Bks 10-15
• when Zeus wakes up and realizes what Hera has
  done, he goes ballistic
• he is determined to advance the Trojan cause all
  the more
• because of this, the Greeks become more desperate
  than ever

32
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Bks 10-15
• that desperation sparks the next development in
  the story the death of Achilles companion
  Patroclus
• so in the end, the Dios Apate turns out to be an
  important turning point in the epic
• just not in the way that Hera had originally
  envisioned it

33
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Book 16
• the theme of Book 16 is the death of his
  Achilles closest friend Patroclus at the hands
  of Hector
• at the beginning of Book 16, Patroclus begs
  Achilles to return to the fighting
• but Achilles is still angry at Agamemnon and
  absolutely refuses to fight

34
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Book 16
• so Patroclus asks if he can borrow Achilles
  armor and wear it so that it looks like Achilles
  has returned to the battlefield
• the helmet will hide Patroclus face
• by doing this, he hopes to frighten the Trojans
  away from the ships and save the nostos of many
  of the Greek warriors

35
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Book 16
• Achilles agrees to the deception but warns
  Patroclus not to venture too far from the Greek
  camp
• but once he enters the fray, Patroclus does, in
  fact, become carried away with his success
• he pushes the Trojans not only back from the
  Greek ships but all the way to their walls
• it is an act of hubris (excessive behavior)

36
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Book 16
• to defend the city, Apollo knocks Achilles
  helmet off Patroclus head
• when Hector sees that its not Achilles but
  Patroclus, he moves in for the kill
• no match for the Trojan, Patroclus falls and, as
  he dies, predicts Hectors own death at Achilles
  hands (Book 22)
• Hector strips Achilles armor off Patroclus

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Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Analysis of The Iliad, Book 16
• there are several exquisite similes
• Patroclus is like a small girlchild running
  after her mother and crying constantly
• the Myrmidons act like wolves, carnivorous and
  fierce and tireless
• the fighting around Sarpedons corpse looks like
  flies around a milk pail
• try to find the oxymoron in each!

38
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Analysis of The Iliad, Book 16
• note also the story of the death of the Lycian
  hero Sarpedon
• Sarpedon is a great warrior and a favored
  (illegitimate) son of Zeus
• when Zeus ponders briefly saving his son, Hera
  forces him to allow Sarpedon to die
• Hera says that, if he saves Sarpedon, the other
  gods will try to save their favorites too

39
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Analysis of The Iliad, Book 16
• this is her revenge for his listing all his
  illegitimate children in the Dios Apate!
• Zeus agrees but weeps tears of blood!
• Patroclus kills Sarpedon in battle
• Sleep and Death carry off his corpse
• thus, after the Dios Apate, Zeus and Sleep are
  now working together again

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Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Bks 17-21
• the news of Patroclus death shocks Achilles back
  into action
• he makes up with Agamemnon
• but he cannot return to the fighting immediately
• he has no armor

41
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Bks 17-21
• the ever-protective Thetis asks Hephaestus to
  forge new armor for her son
• on the Shield of Achilles, Hephaestus inscribes
  all sorts of different images
• it is a picture of the world as Homer knew it
• it is also another way for Homer to recapitulate
  the story

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Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Bks 17-21
• Achilles returns to the battlefield and kills
  many Trojans
• the river Scamander begins to choke with all the
  corpses clogging it
• it rises up against Achilles who must fight the
  river itself
• the gods break up the fight when Hephaestus
  dries up the river with fire

43
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Overview of The Iliad, Book 22
• Achilles confronts and kills Hector as the Trojan
  heros family in shock and grief watches from the
  walls of the city
• in particular, his wife Andromache who faints
  when she sees her beloved husband die just as she
  had feared (Book 6)
• with Hectors death, the epic comes to its
  climax, but not its conclusion

44
Homer and Greek Epic
INTRODUCTION TO HOMERIC EPIC (CHAPTER 4.III)

• Analysis of The Iliad, Book 22
• Things to watch for in Book 22
• Hectors very human fear of Achilles he is not a
  one-dimensional tough guy
• the simile comparing Achilles chasing Hector to a
  dream (22.199-201)
• Athena disguising herself as Hectors brother
  here she is the goddess of irrationality