From 3ff21403ec3fa6ba27479e0e075f01d0f93b19a7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Andrew Lorimer Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2019 09:38:25 +1100 Subject: [PATCH 1/1] Women of Troy background info --- english/troy.md | 44 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---- 1 file changed, 40 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) diff --git a/english/troy.md b/english/troy.md index bc36083..d3e4eee 100644 --- a/english/troy.md +++ b/english/troy.md @@ -2,19 +2,55 @@ **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 -**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". +**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 -**Helen** - his wife, Trojan, imprisoned +**Helen** - his wife, Trojan, imprisoned **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) -- 2.43.2