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Article: The Iliad: at the gates of Troy.(READ ABOUT IT!)(Short story)
- Article from:
- Calliope
- Article date:
- May 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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For nine years, the Greeks laid siege to the great city of Troy. Each side had won its share of battles. Thousands had died, but the end was no nearer. One reason was the intervention of the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus.
In one of their raids on the surrounding countryside, the Greeks had captured Chryseis, the daughter of the priest of the sun god Apollo, and given her to the Greek leader Agamemnon. When Chryseis realized that Agamemnon would not accept her father's offer of ransom, she sought Apollo's aid. The god responded quickly by causing a plague to spread throughout the Greek camp.
At a hastily called assembly, Agamemnon agreed to return ...