Comments on: A Primer on Greek Mythology: Part III — The Trojan War

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:06:38 +0000

My main take-away from reading the Illiad is that after a time of fighting, the warriors are sick of it and want to just quit and go home, but then basically some god gets mad at another for some reason, and stirs things up again.

By: Derek

Derek — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 04:26:13 +0000

Amanda, depending on which source you read, Patroclus was the son of Achilles’ half-sister. It’s never stated outright in the Illiad, but it was a popular ‘ship for later Hellenic writers, with just as much contention then and modern ‘shippers encounter.

By: Shawn F. Gray

Shawn F. Gray — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 02:43:24 +0000

I have to say this one of the best story.That I have read on this subject, I really don’t get to read true History like other than what I saw in the movie starring Brad Pitt.

I truly would love to hear from you and read more on this subject. Shawn

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 03:29:12 +0000

Hi, I’ve loved this series of articles. However, I’ve always been under the impression that Patroclus was Achilles’ lover, not his cousin.

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:46:41 +0000

If anyone is now getting ready to read the Illiad, be prepared. While it does fill in the holes this very glossy overview gives, there are a few sections that are a catalog of combatants.

They are full of “Man X, son of Man Y who is famous for Z reason :fights: Man A who is famous for B reason and is son of Man C.”

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:39:14 +0000

@Settecase, you are wrong in your belief that nobody worships the Greek gods these days.

@Jeb, I think that is a male being grasped in the center. It’s a bit too muscular to be a woman.

By: Jeb Raitt

Jeb Raitt — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:19:06 +0000

I admire your treatment of this very important part of Greek mythology, but the illustration at the top is pretty surely not a depiction of a battle of the Trojan War. I note the Roman style SIGNUM on the right side of the picture, and the nude woman being grasped by the warrior at the center, and surmise that the event it depicts is very probably the rape (abduction) of the Sabine Women.

By: David Isenhower

David Isenhower — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:26:53 +0000

@Luis Torres

Yes! By all means let’s have some Norse mythology, too. Just whenever you have the time, Mr. Valdes… ;)

By: Michael B.

Michael B. — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 08:05:25 +0000

There are plays, freely available thanks to Google books that intertwine and follow; Ajax, which follows his madness and suicide, The Trojan Women, which describes the fate of – well, the women of Troy – after the fall of Troy, and a tetrology beginning with Agamemnon, describing the fate of the Greek king upon his return home. All short reads, all worth while. One thing in them all that is interesting is involvement of the Gods. It is high in some, and non-existent in others. Another good read is Lysistrata, which tells the story of the women of Athens and Sparta staging a nookie strike until the men cease war. Fun stuff.

By: Settecase

Settecase — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 02:50:48 +0000

I am absolutely loving the series on ancient Greece. As a philosopher-in-training, it’s great to see how they did it back in the day.

Ever wonder why people don’t believe in Greek religion anymore? I was taught in school we “moved past” polytheism as a human race. But if that’s true, then how to account for Hinduism etc.?

I wrote an article on how Christians should think about other religions, based on philosopher Harold Netland’s book, Encountering Religious Pluralism.

If you are a Christian with non-Christian friends, this is a must-read. bit.ly/W0paiO