Trojan War and Achilles

Trojan War and Achilles

What is the Trojan War?

What is the Trojan War?

The Trojan War is one of the greatest battles in mythology.

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The Greeks lay siege to a city, Troy, in order to reclaim a stolen Spartan queen, Helen.

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The ​Trojans defended their city for ten years until they are ultimately tricked.

How did the Trojan War start?

Once there was a wedding on Mt. Olympus.

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All the gods were invited except for Eris, goddess of Discord.

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Angry she could not attend, she threw a golden apple into the wedding. On it were the words: "For the Fairest."​

How did the Trojan War start?

Three goddesses begin to fight over the golden apple. Each claimed to be the "fairest," or prettiest.

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Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena all argued until Zeus sent them to a mortal named Paris.

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Paris would judge who is the prettiest.​

How did the Trojan War start?

Multiple Choice

Which goddess was not invited to the wedding on Mt. Olympus?

• Eris, goddess of Discord

• Hecate, goddess of magic

• Aphrodite, goddess of love

• Echidna, mother of all monsters

Multiple Choice

What did the three goddesses fight over?

• A golden apple that said "To the Fairest"

• A golden plum that said "To the Smartest"

• A bouquet of golden flowers

• A beautiful silver ring that was lost at the wedding

The Judgement of Paris

Paris was a young shepherd.

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As a child, he had been abandoned by his father, King Priam of Troy.

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Why?

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A prophecy said he would bring about the destruction of the city...​

The Judgement of Paris

Found by shepherds, he escaped death and lived peacefully until one day three goddesses came before him: Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena.

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They asked him to judge which goddess was the prettiest.

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Each tried to bribe him...​

The Judgement of Paris

​Hera, queen of the gods, promised him great power.

Hera

Aphrodite, goddess of love, promised him the most beautiful woman in the world.

Aphrodite

Athena, goddess of wisdom, promised him wealth and incredible knowledge.

Athena

Paris chooses Aphrodite as the fairest.

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The other two goddesses swear their revenge...​

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And so, Aphrodite sends Paris off to find Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world.​

The Judgement of Paris

Multiple Choice

Which three goddesses fight over the golden apple and approach Paris?

• Hera, Aphrodite, Athena

• Hera, Artemis, Persephone

• Athena, Hestia, Eris

• Eris, Hecate, Persephone

Multiple Choice

Which goddess does Paris pick?

• Aphrodite

• Hera

• Athena

• None of them

The Start of the War

But there's one catch:

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Helen is already married to Agamemnon, King of Sparta.

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However, with the help of Aphrodite, Paris seduces Helen and they run off to his city of Troy.​

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The Start of the War

Agamemnon, enraged that Paris stole his wife Helen, calls on all the soldiers and heroes of Greece.

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Thousands of ships set sail to Troy, ready to do battle to bring Helen back....​

The Start of the War

The city of Troy, however, was protected by massive walls built by Poseidon and Apollo long ago.

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The Greeks, arriving on Trojan shores, lay siege to the city.

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For ten long years the conflict would rage...​

The Start of the War

Multiple Choice

What is the problem with Helen?

• She is already married to Agamemnon, king of Sparta

• She doesn't love Paris and won't go

• The gods can't find her

• She is actually not the most beautiful woman in the world

Multiple Choice

What is protecting the city of Troy?

• Massive walls built by Poseidon and Apollo

• Superior technology and weapons

• A magical spell cast by a sorceress

• A huge moat circling the city

Achilles, Hero of Troy

One name in particular stands out in the Trojan War:

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The hero Achilles.

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Dipped into the river Styx as a child, Achilles is invulnerable everywhere except his heel...​

Achilles, Hero of Troy

The poet Homer writes about Achilles in the epic poem The Iliad.

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The Iliad begins with Menelaus, general of the Greeks, stealing a girl that Achilles captured in war.​

Achilles, Hero of Troy

Achilles, enraged by Menelaus, decides to stay in his tent in protest.

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Sitting out the war, the Trojans begin to win against the Greeks.

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In desperation, the Greeks turn to Patroclus, best friend of Achilles.​

Achilles, Hero of Troy

Patroclus, wearing Achilles' armor, inspires the Greeks who begin to push back against the Trojans.

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But Patroclus is no Achilles. He is struck down in combat by Hector, prince of Troy and a great warrior.​

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Achilles, Hero of Troy

Enraged, Achilles rejoins the war after the death of his best friend.

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After slaying many Greeks, Achilles duels Hector and kills him.​

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Achilles, Hero of Troy

Multiple Choice

Achilles is invulnerable everywhere except his...

• heel

• head

• thighs

• back

Multiple Choice

Who is Menelaus? He stole a girl from Achilles.

• General of Greeks

• Prince of Troy and a great warrior

• Best friend of Achilles

Multiple Choice

Who is Hector? He duels Achilles.

• General of Greeks

• Prince of Troy and a great warrior

• Best friend of Achilles

Multiple Choice

Who is Patroclus? He wears the armor of Achilles.

• General of Greeks

• Prince of Troy and a great warrior

• Best friend of Achilles

The Trojan Horse

After ten long years, the siege against Troy seems endless.

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Both Achilles and Paris end up dying in the war...

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But the clever Odysseus has a plan to get into the city...​

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The Trojan Horse

The Greeks build a giant wooden horse. Many soldiers hide inside the horse.

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The Greeks hide, leaving only the horse and a message.

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The message says that the horse is a gift to the gods.​

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The Trojan Horse

The Trojans bring the wooden horse inside the gate.

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The Trojans celebrate their victory well into the evening.

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That night, the Greek soldiers sneak out of the wooden horse and begin their attack on the city...​

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The Trojan Horse

The city burns, and the Greeks have won.

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One Trojan, named Aeneas, manages to escape after his mother, the goddess Venus, implores him to leave the city.

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He sets sail to find a new home for his people...​

The Trojan Horse

Multiple Choice

Who comes up with the idea for the wooden horse?

• Odysseus

• Patroclus

• Hector

• Aeneas

Multiple Choice

Who is Aeneas?

• Trojan who leaves the city to find a new home for his people

• The Greek who came up with the idea for the wooden horse

• The hero who completed 12 Labors

• He would design the Labyrinth for King Minos

You are finished.

Thank you!​