Iliad | Summary
The Background of the Story
The goddess Eris (Discord) was not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis (Achilles’ parents), so in revenge she threw a golden apple inscribed “for the fairest” into the banquet hall, knowing it would cause trouble. All the goddesses present claimed it for themselves, but the choice came down to three—Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera. They asked Zeus to make the final decision, but he wisely refused.
Instead, Zeus sent them to Mount Ida, where the handsome youth Paris was tending his father’s...
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See Also:
- - For teachers, the Iliad Lesson Plan.
- - Read the Iliad text online.
- - Iliad summary and study guide in the eNotes.
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