[hooligan]

Obviously I can’t list all the heroes, but I will at least attempt to detail the most important ones. The 'Greek' heroes and their armies are alternately referred to as Achaeans, Danaans or Argives. Though it isn't particularly accurate, for simplicity’s sake I will refer to them as Greek.

Agamemnon: The leader of the Greek forces and brother to Menelaus. He is the king of Mycenae. He is trying to avenge the wrong committed by Paris by the abduction of Helen from his brother.

Menelaus: Husband of Helen and king of Sparta. He is trying to get his wife back.

Achilles: Leader of the Myrmidons. He is the son of Peleus and Thetis (goddess). Thetis fearing for his life (since his father is mortal, so is he) tried to protect him by making him immortal. There are two stories about how this was done, either he was dipped in the river Styx, but since she held him by the foot he was still vulnerable there. Or he was placed in a fire to burn away his mortal parts, but the job was unfinished leaving his foot still vulnerable. Thetis also tried to hide him away so that he wouldn’t have to go to war. As a youth he was forced to dress as a woman, but Odysseus found him out. Also he was trained by the centaur Chiron.

Achilles was not bound by the Oath of Tyndareus, but was brought into the war because a prophet had said that the war could not be won without him. He is only 15 at the start of the war, much younger then the other heroes.

He is the son of Peleus, who was one of the Argonauts and one of the hunters of the Calydonian Boar.

Ajax (the Greater): He was one of the Suitors of Helen and was therefore bound by his oath to fight. He is the leader of the Salaminians. He is the cousin of Achilles. His father, Telemon, was one of the Argonauts and one of the hunters of the Calydonian Boar. He is referred to as Telemonian Ajax or Ajax the Greater.

Ajax (the Lesser): Son of Oileus and king of Locris. He was a Suitor of Helen and was an Argonaut. He is referred to as Oilean Ajax or Ajax the lesser. The two Ajaxes are often seen fighting together and as such they are referred to as the Aiantes (which is basically the plural of their names, Aias).

Odysseus: King of Ithaca. It was he who arranged the Oath of Tyndareus. He was a Suitor of Helen, but bowed out when Penelope was promised to him. He is considered to be bound by the oath which he authored.

Diomedes: He was one of the warriors of the Epigoni (sort of the sequel to the Seven Against Thebes). He was a Suitor as well. He is the leader of the Argive forces in Troy. He is friend and companion to Odysseus through out the war.

Patroclus: He is most known for being the ‘friend’ of Achilles. As a youth he killed Clysonymus and because of this he was taken to live with Peleus, Achilles’ father. He was a Suitor of Helen, and his father was an Argonaut.

Nestor: Son of Neleus and the grandson of Poseidon. He was the leader of the Pylians. He fought against the Centaurs on the side of the Lapiths with other great heroes like Theseus and Peleus. His son, Antilochus, was a Suitor and although Nestor was very old by the time of the Trojan War he accompanied his son. His mother Chloris was the Niobid who escaped the wrath of the gods. He participated in the Calydonian Boar Hunt and was an Argonaut.

This post has been edited by hooligan: 24 April 2008 - 06:58 AM

[hooligan]

And these gods side with the Greeks...

Athena -- She pretty much always supports the Greeks. She is a big supporter of Odysseus as well. She is still pissed at Paris for picking Aphrodite as well.
Hera -- She is still pissed at Paris for picking Aphrodite.
Poseidon -- He is still upset about getting gyped when he helped build the walls of Troy.

[shelby]

I liked Diomedes' man-eating horses. It's sick and twisted and terrifying. And think of all the war strategies you could cook up!

...Actually, was that the same Diomedes? I only know about the horses because of the Labors of Hercules.

[hooligan]

Nope, it is a different Diomedes. But kudos anyhow for recognizing the name and remembering the labors.