overwhelmed and confused:The Tale of Troy, Trojan Wars, The Iliad

[Lizzytra]

I am going through the recommended books in The Well Trained Mind and making an Amazon purchase list. I never read many classics, but I am endeavoring to do better by my children! As I scroll through the recommended books for the Ancient Times, they seem like they might cover the same "story"? Am I correct? 

 

The Tale of Troy 

The Trojan Wars

The Children's Homer

Black Ships before Troy

[Lori D.]

Welcome to the WTM boards! :)

 

Yes, they are all the same story -- adaptations of the classic ancient Greek epic poem The Iliad by Homer. I believe The Well-Trained Mind lists several versions so you can choose ONE, whichever you think will best fit style-wise with your family. Enjoy!  :)

 

And, to help clarify any additional possible confusion; there are 3  ancient classics that are somewhat connected or overlap a bit with the event of the Trojan War and some of the characters in the Trojan War. Also, many of the same Greek gods and goddesses show up in all three works.

 

The Iliad (by Homer, a Greek)

Recounts the major events in the final weeks of the 10-year Trojan War in which the Greeks have sieged Troy, because Paris (a Trojan), stole Helen (the wife of Greek king Menelaus). Famous characters include the Trojan Hector, and Greeks Achilles and Odysseus.

 

The Odyssey (by Homer, a Greek)

After the Trojan War ends, Odysseus spends 10 years trying to get home to his faithful wife Penelope, and his odyssey (journey) is filled with adventures such as the encounter with the Cyclops. Odysseus also tells the story of his idea of the Trojan Horse, which was the event that ended the Trojan War by allowing the Greeks to invade Troy by trickery.

 

The Aeneid (by Virgil, a Roman)

Starts with the fall of Troy and then follows Aeneid, a Trojan, who escapes the fall of Troy, and his wanderings in search of a new homeland. His adventures include almost staying with Queen Dido in her country. Aeneas eventually founds his own new nation, Rome.

Edited January 19, 2016 by Lori D.

[ScoutTN]

Yes, there are many books which tell the same stories. Choose the ones which suit your family. Some are illustrated, others not. Some lend themselves to RA, others not as much. There may be some reading level variation, but I am not sure.

 

Of the specific books you listed, I have read Black Ships before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff and The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum. My edition of the first is an oversized hardback with wonderful illustrations by Alan Lee. It retells The Illiad. My copy fo the second is a paperback with a few blackline drawings. It retells both The Illiad and The Odyssey.

 

If you search these boards for ancient history threads or the book titles or authors, you will find many opinions about the strengths and weaknesses of the various resources.

 

Welcome to the WTM forums!

[Lizzytra]

Thank you both very much!