1)
The marriage of Peleus and Thetis--how is it involved in the run-up to the war? Who is their son? - Thetis left Peleus after Peleus interrupted the process of making Achilles immortal. An Oracle predicted that Achilles would fight in the Trojan war and later on, Achilles went on to fight in the war. Peleus and Thetis’s son is Achilles.
2)
The Judgment of Paris: Again, who is/are involved? Why does it happen? What does it have to do with the war and its progress? - Zeus held a formal meal that was basically an ancient America’s Next Top Model amongst goddesses. Although Zeus was expected to judge the three goddesses (since he held the affair) on who is fairest and brightest, as well as, most beautiful, he invited Paris, a Phrygian mortal, to attend and judge these women. Of course Paris consented his invitation. As time ensued and the goddesses attempted to manipulate and dictate Paris into choosing them, his eyes were drawn to “Helen of Sparta” who was the wife of Greek King Menelaus, who was the king of Sparta at that time. Helen was beautiful, but Helen was also a pushover. Helen was sublimely unhappy with Menelaus because he was radically insecure and a bit timid in a fearful sense, which led to physical, mental, and emotional abuse. Helen was scared of Menelaus because he had also made threats on her life and although she loved him, she didn’t want to cross him in fear he would reciprocate. Helen was charming and that was certain, however; because Paris was vulnerable and has fell for women before, he had a different feeling about Helen. After a secretive affair between Helen of Sparta and Paris, he decided to sneak her out of Menelaus’s palace and onto a boat with the Trojans back to Troy. Once Menelaus discovered Helen was gone, he questioned several individuals who were surrounding the territory, later to find out that Helen left with Paris to Troy. Menelaus became enraged with anger and proposed an agenda that would seek revenge. Although Hector was a warrior who fought as the leader for the Trojan’s, he was smart enough to realize what Paris has done. Keep in mind that Paris cannot fight to save his life, let alone handle the situation he created. Hector loved his brother and that was certain, so it was quite finalized that “Helen of Sparta” was now “Helen of Troy” and there really wasn’t anything he could do. After many years of attempting to make peace with Menelaus and his people, Hector knew that a possible war would fuel. Despite Menelaus’s insanity, Sparta had many allies. Menelaus contacted his brother Agamemnon who was even more nuts than his brother Menelaus because he wanted to help his brother more on the glory of destroying Troy rather than doing the ethical thing. He actually persuaded that a war is the only way for him to get Helen back in which Menelaus accepted. He, then, gathered other kingdoms to help the Spartans in the war which included the Argos and the Mycenaes. He also manipulated Achilles into fighting for his side in an effort to win the war, but he and Achilles did not get along. In fact, Achilles knew his agenda and that was the only thing that stopped him from fighting this war. Anyways, as time proceeded, so did the war. There were thousands upon thousands of boats from all over the world that supported the Spartans, without knowledge of the reality of why the war actually existed. It was then that “Helen of Sparta” who later became “Helen of Troy” was known as “The face that launched a thousand ships”.
3)
The abduction/seduction of Helen "of Troy"--the basic story of its connection to Paris's "judgment," who is/are involved, what it has to do with preparation for the war. - When Paris first met Helen, she was “Helen of Sparta”. Helen was married to Menelaus, who was King of Sparta. Menelaus’s family had a history of crime and severe mental illness, which lead to Menelaus acting overly controlling with Helen. Not just this, but he was abusive towards her that sometimes he would lock her up. She was on watch 24/7 by misc. guards because he was paranoid. Paris was invited by Zeus to judge three goddesses and although Paris found these women beautiful, in the eye of his beholder, none of them even compared to Helen. Helen was gorgeous, but she was humble and had an aura that was more sex appeal than beauty, although she was stunning. Kind of like an ancient Angelina Jolie or Monica Bellucci. Anyways, Paris was notorious for being vulnerable and Hector recognized this immediately. When Paris said that he loved Helen, Hector immediately attempted to correct him by saying he was brainwashed and knew absolutely nothing about love. Hector knew immediately that although peace was finally made with the Spartans, that the entire situation would create outmoded anguish among all parties in which a war would definitely have be to fought. It was then that this would later to become certain and a war would actual exist.
4)
The sacrifice of Iphigenia/Iphigenia--who is/are involved? How is it related to the war? - In order to appease Artemis, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Theorists believe that Artemis punished Agamemnon for killing a deer in which Agamemnon would later sacrifice his daughter for this crime. Artemis propelled a divergent wind, which held the Greek flotilla in the bay of Aulis. This was where it had amassed before sailing to Troy. The spiritualist Calchas divined that the daughter of Agamemnon would have to be sacrificed to importune and concur for the encroachment. Agamemnon then mustered Iphigenia from home under the ploy that she was to be married to Achilles, who would later fight in the Trojan war.
.JPG)
