Women of Troy background info

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 **Euripides (Athens, c. 450 BC)**
 
 
 **Euripides (Athens, c. 450 BC)**
 

+## Background
+
+- Set in 415 BC, after Trojan War
+- Inspired by Homer's Iliad - mythical poem by Homer (Greek poet). Final weeks of war.
+- 416 BC - Greeks invade Melos (Peloponnesian War). Melians neutral (relationship to Sparta)
+- Athenians believed they were most civilised society
+
+### Trojan War
+
+- Eris, goddess of discord, gives golden apple to Hera, Athena, Aphrodite
+- Zeus sends Eris to decide who has apple
+- Paris/Alexander steals Helen from her husband Menelaus with help of Aphrodite
+- King Menelaus gathers army
+- Helen of Sparta becomes Helen of Troy
+- war lasted 10 years
+- Achilles & Hector killed
+- gods take sides & end war
+- Trojan horse - invented by Athena, executed by Odysseus & Athenians
+- Trojans had banquet at end of war when Trojan horse arrived
+
+### Euripides
+
+- Athenian, 450 BC
+- Golden Age - political/artistic/intellectual reneissance
+- progressive representation of female characters, graphic/uncouth plays
+- critical of society
+- Athens attacked by Sparta >5 times
+
+
+
+

 ## Characters
 
 ## Characters
 

-**Poseidon** - god of the sea  
-**Athene** - goddess of wisdom  
+**Poseidon** - (careless) god of the sea, built Troy w/ Apollo  
+**Apollo** - god, affair w/ Cassandra in exchange for persistent foresight  
+**Athene** - goddess of wisdom - supported Greeks in Battle of Troy  

 **Hecuba** - widow of Priam, King of Troy. Old & "grey-haired".  
 **Hecuba** - widow of Priam, King of Troy. Old & "grey-haired".  

+**Priam** - husband of Hecuba. 50 kids.  
+**Alexander** - aka Paris. Son of Priam & Hecuba. Kidnaps Helen from Sparta (most beautiful)  

 **Cassandra** - their daughter, a prophetess. Manic.  
 **Andromache** - their daughter-in-law, widow of Hector  
 **Talthybius** - Greek officer - assigns women  
 **Menelaus** - King of Sparta  
 **Cassandra** - their daughter, a prophetess. Manic.  
 **Andromache** - their daughter-in-law, widow of Hector  
 **Talthybius** - Greek officer - assigns women  
 **Menelaus** - King of Sparta  

-**Helen** - his wife, Trojan, imprisoned 
+**Helen** - his wife, Trojan, imprisoned  

 **Chorus** of Trojan women, captured  
 **Astryanax** - small boy, Hector and Andromache's son  
 **Chorus** of Trojan women, captured  
 **Astryanax** - small boy, Hector and Andromache's son  

-**Greek soldiers**
+**Greek soldiers**  
+
+

 
 - *trojan* - native of Troy
 - Epeios (Greek) built Trojan horse to defeat King Priam of Troy (city)
 
 - *trojan* - native of Troy
 - Epeios (Greek) built Trojan horse to defeat King Priam of Troy (city)