Greeks
The greeks were fascinating ye BRISEIS Captive girl originally awarded to
Achilleus but taken by Agamemnon, precipitating the wrath of Achilleus. CATALOG
OF SHIPS Long descriptive passage in Book II outlining all the battle
contingents at Troy. CHRYSEIS Captive girl taken by Agamemnon. Apollo forces him
to return her by sending a plague on the Greek forces. CHRYSES Father of
Chryseis, priest of Apollo. DACTYLIC HEXAMETER The metrical form used by Homer
in his epic poems, consisting of six feet of variable quantity. DANAANS One of
three interchangeable terms for the Greeks (also Argives, Achaians). DARDANIANS
Trojan contingent headed by Aineias. DECEPTION OF ZEUS Passage in Book XIV in
which Hera seduces Zeus. DEIPHOBOS Brother of Hektor. DIOMEDES Great Greek
warrior, son of Tydeus (sometimes referred to as Tydeides). Book V is often
called the Diomedeia because of his powerful exploits. DOLON Trojan spy caught
by Diomedes and Odysseus in Book X, which is called the Doloneia after him. EPIC
CYCLE Group of poems by various authors that make up the entire story of the
Trojan War. EPITHET Short descriptive term used by Homer to describe a
character, frequently repeated throughout the poem. ERIS Goddess of strife. EROS
Love-power governed by Aphrodite. EUPHORBOS Trojan warrior, killed by Menelaos.
His death in Book XVII is described in a famous simile. EURYPYLOS Greek warrior,
wounded in battle. GLAUKOS Trojan warrior, ancestral friend of Diomedes, who
spares his life. HADES Ruler of the underworld, brother of Zeus and Poseidon.
HEKABE Wife of Priam, mother of Hektor. HEKTOR Greatest and most beloved Trojan
warrior, arch enemy of Achilleus, son of Priam and Hekabe, husband of Andromache.
HELEN Beautiful woman; wife of Menelaos but mistress of Paris. The Trojan War is
fought on her behalf. HELENOS Trojan warrior, brother of Hektor. HEPHAISTOS Lame
god of the blacksmith's art, creator of divine armor for Achilleus. HERA
Ever-scheming and powerful goddess; wife of Zeus, major defender of the Greek
cause.
HERMES Also called Argeiphontes, god who protects Priam. HOMERIC HYMNS
Group of narrative poems sometimes attributed to Homer. ICHOR Divine substance
that runs through the immortals' veins instead of blood. IDA Large mountain near
Troy. IDAIOS A herald of Priam. IDOMENEUS Kretan commander, a great Greek
fighter. ILION Another name for Troy, from which the Iliad gets its name. IRIS
Messenger of Zeus. KALCHAS Soothsayer for the Greeks. KEBRIONES Trojan warrior
killed by Patroklos, sparking a fierce battle over his body. KRETE Largest of
the Greek islands, whose forces are led by Idomeneus. KRONOS One of the ancient
Greek gods, overthrown by Zeus, his son. LEDA Mother of Helen, perhaps by mating
with Zeus in the form of a swan.
LYKAON Trojan warrior, killed by Achilleus.
MACHAON Physician for the Greeks. MEDUSA The Gorgon: snake-haired creature whose
severed head stared from the aegis. MEGARON Large Greek room. MELEAGROS
Legendary hero whose story is used by Phoinix to persuade Achilleus to fight.
MENELAOS Ruler of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, cuckolded husband of Helen.
MENOITIOS Father of Patroklos. MERIONES Greek fighter, companion of Idomeneus.
MUSE One of the nine goddesses who inspire the various arts, invoked by Homer to
begin the Iliad. MYKENAI Powerful Greek city, ruled by Agamemnon. MYRMIDONS
Greek contingent led by Achilleus. NEREIDS Sea nymphs, companions of Thetis,
daughters of Nereus. NESTOR Elder statesman of the Greeks, a great talker.
ODYSSEUS Brilliant Greek warrior and counselor. His travels home from the war
are the subject of Homer's epic, the Odyssey. OILEUS Father of one of the
fighters called Aias. OKEANOS Primal waters surrounding the world, depicted on
the divine shield of Achilleus. OLYMPOS Mountainous abode of the immortals.
PANDAROS Trojan warrior who breaks the truce in Book IV. PARIS Another name for
Alexandros, Trojan prince. PATROKLOS Greek commander, comrade of Achilleus,
whose death causes Achilleus to reenter the war.
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