Iliad Review Books 7-12

Book 7

1. Athena & Apollo 7.17-42

2. Hektor challenges the Achaians 7.67

3. Casting Lots (like drawing straws) 7.181

4.Flyting - exchange of words/boasting before hand-to-hand combat. 7.225-243 (Ajax & Hektor)

5. Hektor & Ajax fight until dusk (7.244-282)

6. Poseidon is offended that the Achaians did not sacrifice to him (why?) 7.441-480

Book 8

1. Auguries - bird omens. The eagle represents Zeus (8.245-252)

2. Hera & Athena join the fight 8.350-396

3 Zeus reacts... 8.397-408)

N.B. the following quote from Zeus

"Yet with Hera I am not so angry, neither indignant

since it is ever her way to cross the commands I give her" (8.407-408)

Hektor burns down the Achaian walls 8.495

Book 9: Embassy to Achilles

Who is involved?

Why are they going to see Achilles?

What does each say to him?

What is his response? Why?

Odysseus (9.225-306)

First appeal: 9.252-258

Second appeal: 9.260-298

Phoinix (9.434-605)

First main appeal: 9.477-501

Story of Meleagros: 9.529-599

How is the story of Meleagros parallel to Achilles?

Ajax (Aias) (9.624-642)

Main appeal: 9.632-636

How does Achilles react? (9.645)

Book 10

Remember how I said Homer can be really graphic?

See 10.91-121

--------------------

*Who are the Greeks? Who are the Trojans?

After Persian war (think 300 the movie), we get this idea of a unified "Greek" identity. Those who are not Greek are considered barbaric. BUT that's not how it is in the Iliad. Homer never really tells us who IS and IS NOT Greek in the Iliad. If you recall the map that Solomon gave you, Troy is in Asia Minor, just North of Greek Ionia

*How does Homer characterize the heroes? Especially Achilles, Agamemnon, Menelaos, Hektor, and Paris...

*Race in Homer

a. Genos

b. Ethnos

Not the same as the American idea of "race" as the binary of Black v. White. Ethnos and Genos relate more to tribes, clans, family ties. 

*Status structure in Archaic Greece

Demes - small cities, ruled by kings

Every hero in the Iliad is a King, or Basileus (King in Greek)

*Poseidon as Earth Shaker

 Greeks believed the Earth was a flat disc, with water surrounding all sides. So, when the earth moved (earthquake), it was assumed that the water must be moving the earth. Thus, Poseidon as the god of the Sea is also the "Earth Shaker"

*Greek Words to know:

Τιμη (Timē) - Honor

Μοιρα (Moira) - Fate

a. There are 3 fates (like muses but crazier) who determine each person's destiny (i.e. how and when you die, whether you become famous, etc.)

b. Achilles is lucky because he gets a choice between 2 fates

c. Zeus tries to interfere with the fate of his son, Sarpedon.

*Friends v. Enemies in Ancient Greece:

"Help your friends and harm your enemies"