Background Guide. The Trojan War

Transcription

1 Background Guide The Trojan War

2 2 Tell Atrides to arm his long-haired Achaeans, To attack at once, full force Now he can take the broad streets of Troy. -Homer, The Illiad Dear Delegates, I would like to begin by welcoming you to GatorMUN XV! My name is Connor Lemcke, and it is with great pleasure that I will be serving as the director for The Trojan War committee. I am a second-year Masters student here at the University of Florida, studying International Relations. It should come as no surprise then, that I am exceedingly excited about Model United Nations, and GatorMUN (which I myself competed in a few short years ago). I have been competing in MUN since my sophomore year of high school, and have since had the opportunity to travel across America pursuing my love of diplomacy in as many cities as would have me. I have also had the tremendous experience of staffing our very own conferences here at the University of Florida, including last year s GatorMUN XIV (Ad-Hoc: Summum Britannia), and FLCS VI (InGen Board of Directors). I am very excited to be directing in what will likely be my last year of MUN, and hope to make this conference the best that any of us have ever been a part of. Although my academic pursuits have always been primarily focused in the fields of Political Science and History, my love of the Classics goes far beyond any professional aspirations of my own. From the reading of Plato, Aristotle, and Thucydides, my interest in the works of the great thinkers of old has expanded into diverging fields. Aristophanes brought wit and humor to the stages of ancient Athens, while Virgil brought the mythology of Greece to Rome, where it blossomed. But, in my mind, none can compare to the tales told within the Epic Cycle, especially the works of Homer. The Iliad, and Odyssey, are two of the greatest pieces of literature ever crafted by man, and serve (along with Virgil s Aeneid), as the primary sources for this committee. Over the course of this conference, you shall assume the mantles of Greece s most famed mortal heroes, and follow the mighty King Agamemnon onto the beaches of Troy, to wrest fair Helen from her captors and lay waste to Ilium. You shall serve as the strategists and leaders of this mighty force, and only together, prevail over King Priam and his sons. Each of you brings your own skills and contributions to this most great and glorious war, whether they be ships, men, prowess in battle, sharp minds, or formidable renown. You will be expected to win the war, retrieve Helen, and pillage Troy for all of its spoils. But beware, for the ambitions of so many great men shall soon clash, and even the mighty divines themselves have taken sides in this fateful conflict. Position papers will be expected from all participants within this committee, and if you have any questions, please feel free to me at info@gatormun.org with any inquiries. Good luck delegates, and may the Fates smile upon you all as you seek to earn great glory for yourselves and your fathers before you. Sincerely, Connor Lemcke Crisis Director

3 Rules of Procedure Quorum A majority of voting members answering to the roll at each session shall constitute a quorum for that session. This means that half plus one of all voting members are physically present. Quorum will be assumed consistent unless questioned through a Point of Order. Delegates may request to be noted as Present or Present and Voting. 3 Motion to Set Speaking Time This motion must accompany any motion for a Moderated Caucus. In a Motion to Set Speaking Time, a delegate may also specify a number of questions or comments to automatically affix to the Speaking Time. These designated questions or comments may also have Speaking Time or Response Time (in the case of a question) limits, but these are not required. The Director may rule any Motion to Set Speaking Time dilatory. This motion requires a simple majority. Any delegate may make this motion between formal speakers in an effort to change the Speaking Time. Motion to Suspend the Rules for the Purpose of a Moderated Caucus This motion must include three specifications a. Length of the Caucus b. Speaking Time, and c. Reason for the Caucus During a moderated caucus, delegates will be called on to speak by the Committee Director. Delegates will raise their placards to be recognized. Delegates must maintain the same degree of decorum throughout a Moderated Caucus as in formal debate. This motion requires a simple majority to pass. Motion to Suspend the Rules for the Purpose of an Unmoderated Caucus This motion must include the length of the Caucus. During an unmoderated caucus, delegates may get up from their seats and talk amongst themselves. This motion requires a simple majority to pass. The length of an unmoderated caucus in a Crisis committee should not exceed fifteen minutes. Motion to Suspend the Meeting This motion is in order if there is a scheduled break in debate to be observed. (ie. Lunch!) This motion requires a simple majority vote. The Committee Director may refuse to entertain this motion at their discretion. Motion to Adjourn the Meeting This motion is in order at the end of the last committee session. It signifies the closing of the committee until next year s conference. Points of Order Points of Order will only be recognized for the following items: a) To recognize errors in voting, tabulation, or procedure, b) To question relevance of debate to the current Topic or

4 4 c) To question a quorum. A Point of Order may interrupt a speaker if necessary and it is to be used sparingly. Points of Inquiry When there is no discussion on the floor, a delegate may direct a question to the Committee Director. Any question directed to another delegate may only be asked immediately after the delegate has finished speaking on a substantive matter. A delegate that declines to respond to a question after a formal speech forfeits any further questioning time. The question must conform to the following format: Delegate from Country A raises placard to be recognized by the Committee Director. Committee Director: To what point do you rise? Country A: Point of Inquiry. Committee Director: State your Point. Country A: Will the delegate from Country B (who must have just concluded a substantive speech) yield to a question? Committee Director: Will the Delegate Yield? Country B: I will or I will not (if not, return to the next business item) Country A asks their question (it must not be a rhetorical question.) Country B may choose to respond or to decline. If the Delegate from Country B does not yield to or chooses not to answer a question from Country A, then he/she yields all remaining questioning time to the Committee Director. Points of Personal Privilege Points of personal privilege are used to request information or clarification and conduct all other business of the body except Motions or Points specifically mentioned in the Rules of Procedure. Please note: The Director may refuse to recognize Points of Order, Points of Inquiry or Points of Personal Privilege if the Committee Director believes the decorum and restraint inherent in the exercise has been violated, or if the point is deemed dilatory in nature. Rights of Reply At the Committee Director s discretion, any member nation or observer may be granted a Right of Reply to answer serious insults directed at the dignity of the delegate present. The Director has the ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY to accept or reject Rights of Reply, and the decision IS NOT SUBJECT TO APPEAL. Delegates who feel they are being treated unfairly may take their complaint to any member of the Secretariat. Directives Directives act as a replacement for Draft Resolutions when in Crisis committees, and are the actions that the body decides to take as a whole. Directives are not required to contain operative or preambulatory clauses. A directive should contain: a. The name(s) of the author(s), b. A title, and c. A number of signatories/sponsors signatures necessary to introduce, determined by the Director A simple majority vote is required to introduce a directive, and multiple directives may be introduced at once. Press releases produced on behalf of the body must also be voted on as Directives.

5 Friendly Amendments Friendly Amendments are any changes to a formally introduced Directive that all Sponsors agree to in writing. The Committee Director must approve the Friendly Amendment and confirm each Sponsor s agreement both verbally and in writing. 5 Unfriendly Amendments Unfriendly Amendments are any substantive changes to a formally introduced Directive that are not agreed to by all of the Sponsors of the Directive. In order to introduce an Unfriendly Amendment, the Unfriendly Amendment must the number equivalent to 1/3 of Quorum confirmed signatories. The Committee Director has the authority to discern between substantive and nonsubstantive Unfriendly amendment proposals. Plagiarism GatorMUN maintains a zero-tolerance policy in regards to plagiarism. Delegates found to have used the ideas of others without properly citing those individuals, organizations, or documents will have their credentials revoked for the duration of the GatorMUN conference. This is a very serious offense. Crisis Notes A crisis note is an action taken by an individual in a Crisis committee. Crisis notes do not need to be introduced or voted on, and should be given to the Crisis Staff by sending the notes to a designated pickup point in each room. A crisis note should both be addressed to crisis and have the delegate s position on both the inside and outside of the note. Motion to Enter Voting Procedure Once this motion passes, and the committee enters Voting Procedure, no occupants of the committee room may exit the Committee Room, and no individual may enter the Committee Room from the outside. A member of the Dias will secure all doors. No talking, passing notes, or communicating of any kind will be tolerated during voting procedures. Each Directive will be read to the body and voted upon in the order which they were introduced. Any Proposed Unfriendly Amendments to each Directive will be read to the body and voted upon before the main body of the Directive as a whole is put to a vote. Delegates who requested to be noted as Present and Voting are unable to abstain during voting procedure. Abstentions will not be counted in the tallying of a majority. For example, 5 yes votes, 4 no votes, and 7 abstentions means that the Directive passes. The Committee will adopt Directives and Unfriendly Amendments to Directives if these documents pass with a simple majority. Specialized committees should refer to their background guides or Committee Directors for information concerning specific voting procedures. Roll Call Voting A counted placard vote will be considered sufficient unless any delegate to the committee motions for a Roll Call Vote. If a Roll Call Vote is requested, the committee must comply. All delegates must vote: For, Against, Abstain, or Pass. During a Roll Call vote, any delegate who answers, Pass, reserves his/her vote until the Committee Director has exhausted the Roll. However, once the Committee Director returns to Passing Delegates, they must vote: For or Against.

6 6 Accepting by Acclamation This motion may be stated when the Committee Director asks for points or motions. If a Roll Call Vote is requested, the motion to Accept by Acclamation is voided. If a delegate believes a Directive will pass without opposition, he or she may move to accept the Directive by acclamation. The motion passes unless a single delegate shows opposition. An abstention is not considered opposition. Should the motion fail, the committee will move directly into a Roll Call Vote.

7 Background Information 7 The Judgement of Paris: During the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, at which many of the Olympian gods were present, Eris, the goddess of discord, introduced a golden apple, engraved upon with the words: to the fairest. This golden apple was simultaneously claimed by the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Unable to choose between the three, the Olympians reached an impasse, remedied only via mortal intervention. Hermes was dispatched with the three divine claimants to the mountains of Asia, where Paris, son of Priam the King of Troy, resided. It fell to Paris to choose which of the goddesses indeed deserved the golden apple and the title of fairest. Each goddess offered Paris her own rewards, in exchange for his choice. Athena, the goddess of wisdom and strategy, offered him great skill and ability as a warrior. Hera, wife of Zeus and the goddess of women and marriage, offered Paris control over all of Asia as its ruler. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, offered him the affection of the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen of Sparta. It was to Aphrodite that Paris awarded the golden apple, earning him the wrath of Hera and Athena, and consequently setting in motion a conflict which would last for a decade, involve heroes from across the Earth, divide Olympus, and be remembered in song and legend for millennia. The Elopement of Paris and Helen: As the most beautiful woman in all of the world, Helen, daughter of Tyndareus the King of Sparta, had many and more suitors for her hand. Amongst these suitors were great kings and princes of Greece, including Agamemnon (on behalf of his brother Menelaus), Odysseus, Diomedes, both Ajantes, Antilochus, Ascalaphus, Idomeneus, Philoctetes, Teucer, Patroclus, Machaon, Meges, Menestheus, Nireus, Elephenor and many others. So great was the threat of violence between Helen s many powerful suitors, that Odysseus, in exchange for withdrawing his pursuit and marrying Penelope, worked with Tyndareus to get all of the suitors to make an oath, swearing their support to the man who would eventually wed Helen, and claim the throne of Sparta upon Tyndareus passing. Tyndareus oath was solemnly sworn by Helen s myriad suitors, and Menelaus was chosen to be her husband. Years later, Paris, prince of Troy, arrived at Sparta, which was now under the rule of King Menelaus. True to her promise, the goddess Aphrodite made it so that Helen fell in love with Paris upon first seeing him enter the palace. Thereafter, Paris and Helen eloped back to Troy, not thinking that the Greeks would dare attempt to retrieve her from that mighty city. The Gathering of the Achaeans: Upon hearing that Paris of Troy had absconded with his wife, Menelaus first appealed to his brother Agamemnon, inciting the Oath of Tyndareus, that he should help him retrieve Helen. Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and most powerful of all the Greek princes, assented to help defend the honor of his brother and sister-in-law. Agamemnon called all of Greece to combine their strength and wage war upon Troy. Those who were honor-bound by the Oath of Tyndareus answered the call to arms, uniting under Agamemnon s banner. Other great heroes joined as well, including the peerless Achilles, said to be nigh invincible in combat; King Nestor, whose son Antilochus also answered the oath; Calchas, the great auger and prophet of the Achaeans; as well as Arcesilaus and Demophon, princes who sought honor and glory through battle with Troy. 1,000 ships, carrying 50,000 Greek warriors gathered under Agamemnon s command, are now sailing towards Troy as quickly as the winds will carry them, so that the great city might be laid low, and Helen, fairest of all the women on Earth, be retrieved and her suitors honor restored. Important People Agamemnon: The King of Mycenae has threefold reasons to make war upon Troy. First and foremost, he is honor-bound by the Oath of Tyndareus to defend Helen s husband against those who would rival him. Second, Menelaus is Agamemnon s own brother, and the Atrides have endured much together over their

8 8 many adventures. Thirdly, as the mightiest of all the Greek kings and heroes, Agamemnon sees this as his opportunity to place all Achaea under his command (where he thinks it belongs), and grow his own wealth and glory by despoiling one of the world s greatest cities. This combination of pride and greed makes Agamemnon fiercely committed to the war effort, but his ego does not allow him to suffer any rivals for the command. He could potentially be the Greeks greatest strength in the war, or their greatest weakness. Priam: The King of Troy is an old, wizened man by the time the Achaeans arrive on the beaches of his city, with his fighting days having long passed. His son Hector now leads Troy s armies, but Priam remains the mighty political actor. For the great love that he bore his son Paris and the great beauty of Helen, he could not bring himself to expel Helen from the city, despite the suffering he knows their union will bring. Any peace would have to made with the knowledge and consent of Priam before all other Trojans, and his person is almost invulnerable, protected within the walls of Troy. Hector: The first son of Troy and her mightiest hero, Hector is the son of Priam, and the brother of Paris. He is the mightiest single warrior that Troy and all of her allies can produce. It is said that he fears no man, and is preparing the armies of Asia to meet the Achaeans in the open field, rather than hiding behind the walls of the city. His every action and effort will be to further the defense of his home, and if the legends can be believed, he will prove to be Greece s most puissant foe. Sources (utilized herein and in committee): The Iliad by Homer, translated by Robert Fagles The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Robert Fagles The Aeneid by Virgil, translated by Robert Fagles The Pantheon and Relevant Gods and Deities Zeus: The god-king of Olympus and lord of the skies has declared neutrality in this great proving ground of Greeks and Trojans. His son Sarpedon fights alongside Hector in defense of might Ilium, but Zeus wife Hera sides with the Greeks. Hera: Spurned by Paris son of Priam, who chose to give Eris apple to Aphrodite, Hera supports the Greeks wholeheartedly, and will bend her will to crushing Troy, and maintaining Zeus neutrality. Athena: Like her divine step-mother, Hera, Athena was spurned by Paris when the apple was given to the beautiful Aphrodite. As the goddess of wisdom and battle strategy, Athena is a mighty ally to the Achaeans, and to Odysseus and Diomedes in particular. These two champions of hers could truly turn the tide of the war, as long as they stay in her good graces. Apollo: Zeus son, and god of healing, archery and the sun, Apollo is to the Trojans what Athena is to the Greeks. His capacity to lend strength to any one warrior could be problematic for the Achaeans, let alone is mastery of Earth s many diseases and ailments. Artemis: Zeus daughter, and twin to Apollo, Artemis is the goddess of the moon, archery, and the hunt. She has sided with her brother, ever since King Agamemnon killed a deer in one of her sacred groves. She can be every bit as deadly as her brother, but tends to keep the company of her virgin huntress worshippers. Ares: The insatiable god of war, Ares has sided with the Trojans as a favor to his lover Aphrodite. His bloodlust will often pit him against the calculated strategy of Athena. He has selected Prince Hector to be his mortal champion.

9 Hephaestus: As a sign of devotion to his mother Hera, and vengeance against his promiscuous wife Aphrodite, the smith-god has decided to lend his considerable talents to the Achaean cause. If he can be persuaded to fire the mighty forges of Olympus, and set the cyclops artisans to work, weapons of armor bearing his mark could lend great ability to the hero of his choosing. 9 Aphrodite: The goddess of love and fertility, Aphrodite is determined to side with Paris of Troy, the mortal who declared her the fairest. She can control the loves and lusts of men and women, as proven by her continued influence over Helen. She is also fiercely protective of her son Aeneas, one of the Trojans mightiest warriors. Hades: The brother of Zeus and Poseidon, and lord-god of the Underworld, Hades has declared his neutrality in this great war of the mortals. It would take a truly mighty show of devotion, or a true imbalance of divine intervention, to force the fell Dread-Prince from his ebon throne. Poseidon: The brother of Zeus and Hades, Poseidon rules the mighty seas. As one of the Greek pantheon s Big 3, Zeus the god-king is ordering both his brothers to maintain their neutrality in this great martial undertaking. Nevertheless, Poseidon sides with the Achaeans in his heart, and could be convinced to defy the Skylord if the offerings are to his satisfaction. The Oenotropae: The three daughters of Anius, Spermo, Oeno, and Elais are the minor-goddesses of grain, wine, and oil respectively. Their great-grandfather, Dionysus, was the divine who bestowed their abilities to them. Their capacity for agricultural production stocked the Greek fleet upon its assembly, and their ability to do so again could make them invaluable in the case of a lengthy campaign. Sacrifices Now, oh mighty heroes, how is it that you will communicate your ardent wishes, your deepest desires, and your heartfelt petitions to the mighty divines above? You know that they will make their wills known through great signs and glorious displays of power; or via the gentle messages of dream, but those are oneway routes. Praying is always a good start: invoking the favor of the divines with raised voice; but it might not always be enough. Sacrifice is a tested and true method of displaying one s devotion. Myriad options exist, from the burning of plants and animals, to the ceremonial killing of animals and human, to the ceremonial killing and burning of plants, animals, or humans. Such sacrifices please the gods, making them more likely to reward these acts of devotion, than they are to simply heed appeal. And every divine has their own special sacrificial object which represents the ultimate display of devotion to her/him. In this matter, all should turn to the wisdom of the holy men amongst your number. They are the ones who should be consulted for wisdom regarding the Olympians, and they are the ones for whom communication with the gods will be the clearest, and sacrifice most effective. But be warned hearty Achaeans, for the mighty gods are like a sword with no handle: deadly to all, even the wielder. Invoke their intervention and you may reap great rewards in the war to come, but spurn them, and they may sow hellfire through the ranks of Hellas. Important Points The following (2) procedural irregularities will be adhered to within the committee, and are both based in our thematic understanding of the Epic Cycle. The inclusion of these processes is meant to deepen the immersive experience, create informal guidelines for the committee to operate within, and open opportunities for crisis staff and delegates to communicate and exchange information without adulterating the fiction of the narrative.

10 10 Funeral Games: The death of a great hero on either side of the conflict was almost always followed by an auspicious funeral ceremony for the deceased. After the valiant dead have been sent on their way to Hades, it is up to the living to celebrate their life, as it was, via the staging of competitive athletic games. The grandeur of someone s funeral games corresponds directly to their status when they still drew breath. Through the games, the valuables of the fallen were distributed amongst the victors of the events, and the remaining heroes were able to jockey in the prestige hierarchy of their respective camps, through either victory or defeat. It falls to the mighty princes of this committee to organize the funeral games celebrating a fallen comrade s life, should one of their number be dispatched to the afterlife. The splendor of the games should be reflective of what the dead hero s stature had been in life. However, mighty Achaeans, while properly honoring your fallen brothers, do not forget that there remains a war to fight, and that the enemy will always try to capitalize upon the grief of your ranks. This is why the meticulous planning of funeral games is an absolute necessity, in the event that one of Achaea s sons fall in glorious battle. Every funeral should be composed of the following aspects: 1. An organized ceasefire. The Trojans, being civilized folk, should agree to allow the traditional three days of mourning, if a great warrior is to fail; as long as the Greeks are always steadfast in word and deed. 2. A selection of games in which Greece s princes will compete. These can include any of the traditional contests of strength and speed, like wrestling, foot racing, chariot racing, and duels to first blood; or new inventive ones, due to titillate every prince s desire to compete. 3. A decision from every hero as to which events they will be participating in, and any last-minute specifications as to the desired nature of their performance. Dreams: The mighty divines move in ways which are often mysterious to even the most powerful of mortal men, however, the doom which rests upon this mighty conflict is too important to be left to the blind fumblings of man alone. As such, the gods and Fates frequently try to reveal their will or wisdom to influential and impactful heroes, that the best path forward can be divined. Alas though for this mortal shade, which muddles and confuses the messages the elder-kind might have us hear. Such is why the dreams of men are so hard to interpret, but weigh so heavily on the soul. Seeing that the fate of the world balances upon the knife-edge of this storied war, and that the princes of this committee each hold much power, dreams will be revealed to them by the divines in the night-hours before each session, to be translated in the light of day. These visions could prove daunting, but they represent a direct channel of communication between these mighty Achaean heroes, and the divines who shaped the world and instigate its many crises. Conclusion Oh mighty Achaeans, you stand at the foot of the mighty mountain that is war. Should you traverse it well, you will one day reach its peak, and partake in the renown known only to great heroes of battle and fire. All that you should know (at least that which the mighty divines have yet seen fit to reveal to you) has been laid out, and all that remains is for you to act. Despite the trials of your ocean voyage, and especially the mishaps of great Philoctetes who still suffers on the island of Lemnos, the white-sand beaches of Troy are now before you. Heed the gods-given prophecy of wise Calchas; and then go forth! Who shall it be mighty Achaeans? Who shall be the first over the side to splash in the wine-dark sea and storm Ilium? Who will establish the Greek beachhead? Who among you will gain the kleos and time of mighty heroes when the dust settles and this great doom has been fulfilled? Go forth now, and take no rest until Troy is ash!

11 Purpose Hopefully, if you are in this committee, it s because you have a serious obsession/love/interest in Greek mythology, and the tradition of the poetic epic, just like I do. If you don t know anything about either of those things, but are excited to learn, this is the committee for you too! And even if you are only here to run red the sands with the blood of heroes in glorious, fantastical, and potentially ludicrous suspension of reality for 3 days, then we are more than excited to have you. But what exactly do we want you to take away from this committee? Well first and foremost a good time, and a nice shiny award to impress your delegation with; but also an appreciation for art, and the classics in a way that was more viscerally experienced than simply reading words off of a page. We also want everyone to walk away with the satisfaction of knowing that their actions had/have consequences, both for their own stories, and the larger narratives going on around them. Lastly (but certainly not least, the purpose of this committee is to foster an environment of cooperation and diplomatic development. Model United Nations began as a way for students to take part in important world events, and interact with like-minded peers. And while MUN has exploded over the past decades into exciting new areas, with overwhelmingly positive results, it can be easy to lose the core of what originally made it great. This will be a committee where all of you will have personal goals besides the larger war, and we as a conference cannot wait to see them unfold; but when every delegate is working together, with diplomacy and compromise, to tackle an issue that is greater than any one participant, that is when everyone wins. No one is more excited to see how this age-old tale will unfold in this new telling than I am as your director, and I hope that by doing everything I can to foster a sense of community between Greece s mightiest heroes, we will all be able to sail back into the west, satisfied with a job well done, and a war wellwon. Good luck, and always remember, to never forget, that MUN is fun! Positions 11 Achilles The fiercest and most handsome of the Achaeans, Achilles is indomitable in battle, able to defeat any opponent in single combat. His mother is Thetis, a sea nymph, able to intercede on Achilles behalf to Olympus. As the son of Peleus, the King of the Myrmidons, Achilles leads 50 ships to Troy, and 2,500 soldiers. Diomedes Also known as Tydides, Diomedes is a great hero of the Achaeans, known even before arriving at Troy. As King of Argos, he brings 80 ships and 4,000 troops to the war, as well as his own martial ability. He and Ajax the greater are equals in battle, and seconds only to Achilles. Despite his relative youth, he is the most experienced Achaean battle commander, and wears a cuirass made by the god Hephaestus, which offers him extra protection. He is also the favorite warrior of the goddess Athena. Ajax The Greater Sometimes known as Telamonian Ajax, Ajax the Greater is the king of Telamon, bringing 40 ships and 2,000 soldiers to the war. He contends with Diomedes as the Achaeans greatest warrior besides Achilles. Primarily a defensive fighter, Ajax wields a mighty shield which no other man is even capable of lifting, and his mighty strength is admired from afar by the god Poseidon. His half-brother is the famous archer Teucer. Ajax The Lesser: Sometimes known as Locrian Ajax, Ajax Prince of Locris leads 40 ships carrying 2,000 soldiers to Troy. A gifted warrior with the sling and throwing spear, Ajax can contend with Achilles in speed afoot. These attributes make him the Achaeans best scout.

12 12 Odysseus The most cunning of all the Greeks, Odysseus, King of Ithaca, is a favorite of the goddess Athena. He is one of Agamemnon s most trusted councilors, and is thoroughly committed to the justice of the Greek cause. His skills as a well-rounded leader and diplomat are supplemented by a force of 12 ships and 600 troops. Menelaus Brother of Agamemnon and King of Sparta, Menelaus leads 60 ships and 3,000 troops to Troy, and his rage against the Trojan royal family is inexorable. The recovery of Menelaus wife Helen from Paris of Troy is (at least nominally) the ultimate goal of the Achaean army. Nestor A storied hero and Argonaut, The Gerenian Horseman is too old to fight, but is first in respect amongst all the Achaeans. Agamemnon heeds Nestor above all other councilors. As King of Pylos, Nestor brings 90 ships and 4,500 troops to bear against Ilium. He still leads his men from the front, riding in a chariot with a shield of solid gold. Antilochus The son of Nestor, Antilochus is a mighty warrior who can contend with the upper echelon of the Achaean fighters. Given his father s advanced age, it is Antilochus who fights with the 4,500 Pylian troops. An infamous oracle prophesied that Antilochus should beware an Ethiopian. Patroclus Likely the 4th greatest warrior of the mighty Achaeans, Patroclus is also the closest friend and advisor of Achilles. He is the only man that the Myrmidons will follow besides their own leader. Calchas Calchas is no great king or prince, nor does he command any ships or soldiers, but as an auger, he is without equal in the Greek camp. Much loved by Apollo, he can interpret the flight of birds, and read prophecies from the entrails of enemies in the midst of battle. He is frequently beset by visions that, if interpreted correctly, can be of great help to the Achaeans against Troy. Idomeneus Idomeneus, son of Deucalion, is a Cretan commander, traveling with Meriones, his charioteer. He leads 80 ships carrying 4000 mighty Cretan warriors. As a former suitor of Helen, Idomeneus was oathbound to join the war effort in Troy. He is one of the greatest Greek leaders in this assembly, and is one of Agamemnon s most trusted advisors. Teucer The Half-brother of Ajax the Greater, Teucer frequently works in concert with him much to the harm of the Trojan soldiers. The most skilled of all the Achaean archers, he can content with mighty warriors like Hector with arrows alone. He is the nephew of King Priam of Troy, and cousin to Hector and Paris. Arcesilaus The powerful son of Lycus and Theobule, he leads the might of the Boeotians into battle against the battalions of Troy. He personally brought 10 ships carrying 500 hearty soldiers, and his brother, Prothoenor, has brought an additional force of 8 ships, which carry 400 fighters. Since Arcesilaus controls both contingents, he musters a combined contingent of 900 soldiers traveling in 18 mighty ships.

13 Ascalaphus The son of the epic war god Ares, born when the deity seduced his mother Astyoche. Now the mighty king of Orchomenus, Ascalaphus was once a legendary Argonaut under Jason. He was also one of the flawless Helen s many suitors, and currently leads the Orchomenian contingent into battle along with his brother, Ialmenos. Their battalion consists of 30 ships carrying 1500 of the bravest men of Orchomenus. 13 Machaon Machaon is the talented son of Asclepius, the world-renowned healer, and a man of medicine himself, possessing great healing ability. However, make no mistake: Machaon is no stranger to the bloody rigors of the battlefield. Further, Machaon has brought 30 ships to Ilium, carrying 1500 of the bravest men of Greece. Additionally, Machaon is in possession of a sack of herbs handed down from his father (originally a gift from the centaur Chiron) which can heal even the gravest of wounds however, only enough herbs remain for a single use. Demophon A renowned king of Athens, Demophon is the child of the legendary Theseus and Phaedra. He commands a massive Athenian force consisting of 50 warships, carrying 2500 warriors into the bloody wastes of Troy. For Demophon, the war has an additional personal angle, as his grandmother Aethra, has been captured by Castor and Pollux and forced to serve Helen as a handmaiden. Meges Son of Phyleus, son of Augeas of Elis (whose cattle Haracles infamously and laboriously once encountered), Meges leads the Epeans and the Dulichians against Troy. Having once been one of Helen s suitors, he now comes to her rescue, leading 40 ships with 2000 brave men aboard. Meges wears a powerful protective corselet, a gift from Euphetes of Ephyra, which has saved his life on many occasions. Menestheus A king of Athens, placed upon the throne by Castor and Pollux during Theseus travels to the underworld. On Thesus return, Menestheus banished him from the land. This boldness cemented Menestheus place as one of the Greek s master strategists at war in Troy, while gathering much ill will from Demophon, son of Theseus. However, Menestheus is lacking in bravery, and fears the danger of the front lines. He leads 50 ships into battle, carrying 2500 men. Nireus Nireus, son of King Charopus and Aglaea, is king of the island of Syme. While not particularly physically strong, Nireus is the second most beautiful Greek at Troy, only falling to Achilles in this hypothetical beauty contest. Nireus has brought 3 ships, carrying 150 men, to Ilium. Philoctetes The son of King Poeas of Meliboea, Philoctetes was a famed archer, favored by Haracles and gifted his bow and poisoned arrows. On the journey to Troy to fight with the rest of the Greeks, Hera sent a serpent which bit Philoctetes, infecting him with poison. In response, the Greeks, at Odysseus s urgings, utterly abandoned Philoctetes on the island of Lemnos where he was bitten. Stranded, his ships and men taken from him, Philoctetes persists while the rest of the Greeks fight at Ilium. Should Philoctetes be rescued from his maritime predicament, he will regain control of what is left of the troops which Medon took from him upon his abandonment, originally consisting of 7 ships and 350 men.

14 14 Elephenor The rightful heir to Euboea, Elephenor was banished for accidentally killing his own grandfather. Despite this transgression, his people s love for him allowed him to gather 40 ships and 2,000 men for the expedition to Troy, despite having to recruit them from an island off the coast of Greece. A fierce warrior, Elephenor s spear-armed warriors are especially deadly compared to their average compatriot.

15 Works Cited 15 Homer. The Iliad, translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics (New York), 1990, 683 pgs. Homer. The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics (New York), 1996, 541 pgs. Virgil. The Aeneid, translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics (New York), 2007, 484 pgs.