Zeus's Intrigues and Promises

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The chapter delves into Zeus's behavior and promises, including his interactions with Hera and Theta, showcasing the strained nature of his marriage. It also explores the events of Book two of The Iliad, detailing Agamemnon's dream, troop organization, and impending battle strategies. Additionally, the discussion highlights the puzzling inaction of the Greek heroes during the war and delves into Odysseus's manipulative character and his insights on fate through prophecies.

For our latest show-within-a-show, we'll revisit Ancient Greece through Emily Wilson's new translation of Homer's The Iliad. We'll be reading it a few books at a time and having a more in-depth chat about it than we do about most books. These two episodes cover Books 1-4.

Episode 1: The Iliad drops us right into the middle of the action, where "the middle" is 9 years into a 10 year conflict and "the action" is a couple of easily-affronted guys who instantly get mad at each other. Then we're treated to some maneuvering among the gods, some Odyssean trickery, the Catalog of Ships, and the less-impressive Catalog of Boys. (Books 1-2)

Episode 2: Just as the Trojans and Greeks seem on the brink of a giant clash, pretty boy Paris is shamed out of the crowd and cajoled into dueling Paris' former husband Menelaus. Surprise, surprise - the gods intervene! And after a brief interval, the gods spur the two sides into bloody action. (More like Aga-neg'em-on, amirite.) (Books 3-4)

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