BOOK BY BOOK SUMMARY OF
THE ILIAD
OCR 2017 onwards
BOOK 3 SUMMARY
•The Trojan army meets the Achaeans on the battlefield and Paris challenges any of the
Achaeans to a duel.
•After Menelaus steps forward, Paris retreats back into the Trojan ranks and is scolded by his
brother Hector for his cowardice
•Paris finally agrees to fight Menelaus and they agree that the victor will take Helen home,
restoring peace between the two sides.
•As the combatants prepare, Iris visits Helen in the Trojan palace disguised as her sister-in-law
Laodice and urges her to watch the duel from the Scaean Gates.
•Here Priam asks her to identify three Achaean heroes before he goes to swear a truce with
Agamemnon on the battlefield, leaving again before the duel starts.
•Neither Paris nor Menelaus can fell the other with their spears and after Menelaus’ sword
breaks over Paris’ helmet, he begins dragging Paris around by the chin-strap, choking him.
•Aphrodite snaps the chin-strap, Paris’ helmet falls off, and just as Menelaus goes to drive his
spear into Paris, Aphrodite covers him in mist and whisks him back to his bedroom.
•Aphrodite then orders Helen there and forces her to sleep with Paris.
The Iliad | Book 3
THE ILIAD
OCR 2017 onwards
BOOK 3 SUMMARY
•The Trojan army meets the Achaeans on the battlefield and Paris challenges any of the
Achaeans to a duel.
•After Menelaus steps forward, Paris retreats back into the Trojan ranks and is scolded by his
brother Hector for his cowardice
•Paris finally agrees to fight Menelaus and they agree that the victor will take Helen home,
restoring peace between the two sides.
•As the combatants prepare, Iris visits Helen in the Trojan palace disguised as her sister-in-law
Laodice and urges her to watch the duel from the Scaean Gates.
•Here Priam asks her to identify three Achaean heroes before he goes to swear a truce with
Agamemnon on the battlefield, leaving again before the duel starts.
•Neither Paris nor Menelaus can fell the other with their spears and after Menelaus’ sword
breaks over Paris’ helmet, he begins dragging Paris around by the chin-strap, choking him.
•Aphrodite snaps the chin-strap, Paris’ helmet falls off, and just as Menelaus goes to drive his
spear into Paris, Aphrodite covers him in mist and whisks him back to his bedroom.
•Aphrodite then orders Helen there and forces her to sleep with Paris.
The Iliad | Book 3
