Bonus Ep 5: The Role of the Gods in Mythology

Bonus content for my fellow Greek mythology nerds out there! This episode we are talking the role of the gods in the Trojan War, how they appear in The Iliad, and how they show up in other retellings of the war, including Shakespeare, of course.

Really, this was all an elaborate excuse for me to talk about the 2004 movie Troy.

Join me as we consider why the gods are involved in mythology and the Trojan War aside from the fact that they are super fun to read about. What does their appearance and meddling mean for the people and what does it mean for our understanding of the action? Does a telling of the Trojan War work if you cut the gods out entirely?

Just a few of the fun topics we'll be exploring in this episode.

Further reading and watching

The Iliad by Homer (I read the Robert Fagles translation because that's what was available at the library but I really want to get my hands on the Emily Wilson translation)

Circe and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes (or, if you want something Trojan War related, check out A Thousand Ships)

Troy (2004)

Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare

Credit where credit is due

Art by Halie Branson

Music recording by josdvg