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Homer and the Trojan War

Homer and the Trojan War. Separating Truth from Fiction. The Bronze Age World. Three major cultures were prominent in this area. Major cultures at the time. Mycenaean social structure. New Kingdom Egypt imperial structure. Hittite social structure. Economic & Political Structures.

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Homer and the Trojan War

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  1. Homer and the Trojan War Separating Truth from Fiction

  2. The Bronze Age World

  3. Three major cultures were prominent in this area Major cultures at the time

  4. Mycenaean social structure

  5. New Kingdom Egypt imperial structure

  6. Hittite social structure

  7. Economic & Political Structures

  8. Primary Sources for the Trojan War Written sources Archaeological finds • Homer’s Iliad, written c.800BC (fiction?) • Herodotus, Histories, retelling of stories passed down (5th C BC) • Hittite documents (inconclusive) • Excavations at Hisarlik(9 layers excavated) • Schliemann believed Troy II to be Homer’s Troy (later disproved) • Most likely levels to be Homeric Troy are Troy VI or Troy VIIa • Excavations at Mycenae

  9. Was Wilusa Ilium? Troy was known as Ilium in the Homeric epic. Hittite texts refer to a city called Wilusa. Are they the same city?

  10. Trojan legends Heroes of the Trojan War

  11. The Iliad

  12. The Greek Gods The Greek Gods play a major part in Homer’s Iliad, which represents the Trojans and the Achaeans as pawns in a contest between the Gods.

  13. A ‘who’s who’ of Greek Gods

  14. A ‘who’s who’ of Greek Gods

  15. The Warriors Achilles Hektor • Commander of men from Pelasgian Argos • Quarrels with Agamemnon • Seeks revenge on Hektor • Son of Priam & Hekabe; leader of the Trojans • Proposes formal duel between Paris & Menelaus • Kills Patroklos • Killed by Achilles

  16. The Lovers Paris Helen • Wife of Menelaus • Abducted by Paris • Daughter of Zeus • Duel to decide her ownership • Son of Priam & Hekabe • Also known as Alexandros • Abducts Helen • Afraid of Menelaus & angers Hektor

  17. The Kings Priam Agamemnon/ Menelaus • Agamemnon: • King of Mycenae • Leader of the Achaean army • Menelaus: • King of Lacedaemon • Husband of Helen • Brother of Agamemon • King of Troy; father of Hektor & Paris • A man of honour • Kind to Helen; blames gods

  18. Troy VII and the Historicity of the Trojan War A summary of Jeremy B. Rutter’s: Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean Lesson 27 at: Jeremy B. Rutter's Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean

  19. Troy VIIa: when was it destroyed?

  20. How do the dates compare? Destruction of Troy VIIa (suggested dates) Trojan War (as dated by later Greeks)

  21. Archaeology

  22. Changes from VIh to VIIa What conclusions can be drawn?

  23. Use of space within fortifications • Increased population sought protection within walls • Need for storage space evidence for a siege • Violent destruction of city evidence of failing to withstand siege; city destroyed by human agency • Changed social structure – no longer just monarch & aristocracy inside citadel • Similar changes on Greek mainland • Smaller houses due to change in social structure; need for underground storage

  24. Evidence of Mycenaean pottery • Less imported Mycenaean pottery because Trojans at war with Mycenae • Mycenaean overseas trade in a general slump • Evidence for this – decline in Mycenaean pottery being imported elsewhere as well • Not all “Mycenaean” pottery actually from the Greek mainland

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