The Shadow of Greek Myth Homer and The Iliad

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The Shadow of Greek MythHomer and The Iliad
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The Dark Ages of Greece

• 1200 900 BCE
• Greek cities destroyed
• (e.g. Sparta, Athens, Pylos, Mycenae)
• Hittites, Egyptians, Sumerians
• Massive population decline
• Return to cattle raising/small-scale agriculture
• Palace-complex disappears
• Loss of Linear B no scribes

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Oral Bardic Tradition

• What are bards?

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Accuracy of The Iliad

• Things he got right
• Long description of Greek cities that no longer
  existed
• Description of Troy
• Description of armor
• Reference to chariots difficulties with use

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Accuracy of The Iliad

• Things he got wrong
• Iron weapons
• Other weaponry (Trojan horse)
• Cremation
• Political system

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Helen
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Paris
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Judgment of Paris

• Earns Paris and Troy the wrath of Hera and Athena

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Agamemnon
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Achilles
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Hector
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Priam
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Themes in The Iliad