Classical Studies 2200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Epic Cycle, Cypria, Atreus

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 2200
• Professor: Aara Suksi

Document Summary

Lost greek epic poems (e. g. cypria, the little illiad, the fall of troy, etc. ) These are preserved in fragments, quotations, and summaries. Later literature based on early myths i. e. athenian tragedy, pindar (classical period) As daughter of zeus and most beautiful woman in the world, helen had many suitors. Tyndareus" problem: how to decide on a husband without making many enemies. Odysseus" advice: make suitors take an oath to defend her marriage, and let helen choose to avoid blame. Helen chooses her own husband, menelaus, son of atreus. One of the argonauts who sailed with jason. Nereids (including thetis) swim up out of the sea to admire the first ship. Peleus sees her and wants to marry her. She arrives with her "apple of discord" and inscribed it with the words "for the fairest" which causes trouble. Hera, athena, and aphrodite all claim the apple. Zeus" problem: how to decide without making enemies.