Introduction to the Ancient World: Greece

Lecture 3

Troy and Homer: myths and archaeology

I. The Mycenaeans (see Lecture 2)

II. Troy: myth and archaeology 

A.        The story: Judgment of Paris (Hera/Juno; Athena/Minerva; Aphrodite/Venus);  Menelaos and Helen of Sparta.
 
            More: Achilles, Thetis, River Styx, Achilles at Skyros, another snag: Iphigenia at Aulis; Agamemnon
            and Clytemnestra.
            The sack: Laocoon; the Trojan Horse

B.       The archaeology of Troy;

                   The excavations at Hissarlik: Heinrich Schliemann (1870's and 80's); W. Doerpfeld, Carl Blegen (U. of Cincinnati,                          1930's); resumed in 1990's.
 
                   The layers (stratigraphy): Troy I (3,000-2,600 B.C.), Troy II (2,600-2,300 B.C.), Troy VI (1,900-1,300),
                   Troy VIIa (1,300-1,250 B.C.); Troy IX (350 B.C.-A.D. 400); all dates approximate.
 
                   Main ancient date for the Trojan War: 1183 B.C. 
 
                   TV series (documentary): In Search of the Trojan War, and book by Michael Wood (1985).

             excellent web resource: http://www.cerhas.uc.edu/troy/explore.html

   
III.     Homer

       Not a contemporary: Iliad and Odyssey from approx. 750-700 B.C.;
       ongoing changes till 5th cent.  B.C.; oral poetry

       The story of the Iliad (note spelling: one "l" only; from Ilion = Troy)
       not fall of Troy, but anger (management) of Achilles; others: Patroklos, Ajax, Hektor,
       Andromache, Priam
       Cf. Troy (2004) and its cast of characters
       Achilles' choice and values      

Please bring Odyssey texts to class next time. In addition to the selections listed in the syllabus, please read the following: the story of Ares and Aphrodite (Book 8.266-366 [Fitzgerald, pp. 132-136]; the Sirens: Book 12.165-200 [Fitz. 214-216]; Odysseus' name and the recognition by the nurse: Book 19.386-604 [Fitz. 365-372]). 

Lecture 3 images
Syllabus