Brief History of the Trojan War

.:.Prompt.:.

Brief History of the Trojan War (Course Pack). This is very important reading and will provide the necessary foundation for the Iliad and the Oresteia. The Trojan War was part of the Ancient World’s cultural heritage, what Jung would call their collective unconscious. Everyone knew the story and the legends surrounding it.
BLOG: Who started the Trojan war? (Helen is not really the culprit).  In what ways do the gods/goddesses behave like humans in this story? Think about how Ancient people may have dealt with the idea that their deities were immortal but sometimes behaved unethically and treacherously – both to each other and to humans. How would feel about such gods? Include images of Helen of Troy. In the movie Troy Brad Pitt plays Achilles. What actor (or other character) could you visualize playing a better Achilles? Why? Include his/her picture.

.:.Blog.:.

          The "who started the Trojan War" does not put just one person at blame but a series of events. The Trojan War can point fingers at a series of people, from gods and goddesses to humans. In truth, it was a single fight between goddesses to see who was the best looking that started it all. The goddesses responsible were: Athena, Hera, Aphrodite, and Eris, the fourth being the goddess of discord or strife and whom gave the golden apple to the "fairest." Zeus is also responsible by his involvement by having the goddesses be judged by a human -- Paris. Paris is also involved in the blame by taking Helen from Menelaus, Helen's husband, and thus causing the Trojan war by his insult to Agamemnon, Menelaus's brother. Aphrodite could easily be seen as the main goddess responsible for her giving the fairest mortal to Paris after he chose the goddess.





          In my opinion, despite the fact that the gods and goddesses act a lot like humans, it gives ground on which humans can look and model themselves off of something that is more like them than a "fantasy" belief. Something that is more down-to-earth could be seen as more believable rather than some unrealistic ideal. Yes, the goddesses can act like childish females and the gods acting more like selfish and war-like males, but it gives ground to the way humans act. The readers to the plays, especially the Illiad and other such stories where the gods and goddesses act very selfish, would see how it leads to more disaster than anything else. Especially while seeing that if you get something that you want, the way you get it truly makes a big mess if done improperly and like a child. In truth, beauty is only skin deep, and the goddesses are so wrapped up in things that don't matter that they are forgetting to do the things that are supposed to actually be doing, such as ruling the mortals in a respectable manner. The only thing that separates them from humans is the fact that they are immortal and they have certain powers that humans could not possess. Other than that, they are just like us.

          In the movie Troy Brad Pitt plays Achilles and to be completely honest, I enjoy watching him play.  Brad Pitt possesses the confidence, structure, build and character for the role of Achilles. However, if I had to choose a different actor for his role, I would have to choose the actor Gerard Butler thanks to his role in 300. Gerard Butler has all of the material it takes to be in that part and would honestly be a competitor to Pitt in how they are both similar in their roles as leaders. Not only would he have been a competitor in acting but also in looks. Both are truly handsome actors.