Iliad Primer

     The Iliad depicts a war between the Greeks (Achaeans) and the Trojans, the people of Ilium (other name for Troy). The Iliad starts very late in the 10 year war.
     The given reason for the war is to rescue Helen, who was taken by Paris, Hector's younger brother. Menelaos, Agamemnon’s brother, is Helen’s husband.
     When Helen was taken, Menelaos, Agamemnon, and their friends launched all their ships of war, which is why Helen is "the face that launched a thousand ships."

Battle Lines
     The forces in The Iliad are like two sports teams with an all-star line-up. There are many heroes, but (for our purposes) three heroes play a vital role in this epic.

Trojans	Greeks
Hector, Troy's Champion	Achilles, son of Thetis
Sarpedon, King of Lykia	Patroklus, Achilles's BFF
Aeneas, son of Aphrodite	Diomedes, King of Argos

The Gods
     Generally, the gods use powers and tricks to help out their respected side, such as Apollo stunning Patroklus, or rescuing a hero in danger. But there are times when they literally take to the field and battle mortals.

Trojans	Greeks
Aphrodite, love	Hera, fertility
Ares, war	Athena, Wisdom and War
Apollo, sun, poetry, prophecy