Dartmouth Model United Nations Trojan War- Joint Historical Crisis: Cabinet of the Gods of Mount Olympus

Transcription

1 Dartmouth Model United Nations Trojan War- Joint Historical Crisis: Cabinet of the Gods of Mount Olympus April 10-12, 2015

2 DARTM O U TH MODEL UNITED NATIO NS CONFERENCE Tenth A n n u a l C o n f e r e n c e April 10-12, Dartmouth College 6048 Haldeman Center Hanover, NH (603) dartmun@dartmouth.edu Ridhima Gurnani Secretary-General Larry Liao Director-General William Jennings Chief of Staff Robert Scales Chargé d Affaires Jordan Einhorn General Assemblies Kevin Zhang Special Committees Justin Roshak Current Crisis Committees Ksenia Ryzhova Historical Crisis Committees Joshua Koenig Ad-Hoc Committees Alanna Kane Director of Public Relations Adam Grounds Director of Technology Ruben Gallardo Lopez Director of Finances Julia Pomerantz Director of Philanthropy February 21, 2015 Dear Delegates: Welcome to the tenth installment of DartMUN! We are confident that this year s conference will be the largest, most stimulating, and most rewarding in Dartmouth s history. Our experienced staff has worked relentlessly over the past few months to set up the framework for and to ensure an educational simulation that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom. Despite the best efforts of our staff, each year, it is ultimately the delegates who are the drivers of political dialogue, the sources of innovative ideas, and the ultimate reason for the conference s success. For this reason, we a grateful and excited you have decided to join us in Hanover, NH. With this said, Model United Nations is only meaningful when delegates are thoroughly prepared. To aid in your research preparation, your committee staff has spent hours researching, writing, and editing this Background Guide. The Background Guide serves as an introduction to your respective committee and an overview of the topics that you will be debating over the course of the conference. The Background Guide is intended to be a starting point for your research and is not, in itself, an adequate exposure to the complexities of your committee s topics. To be prepared, each delegate is expected to do further research and focus on processing information through the lens of his or her respective position. If you are having trouble digesting all the information, the Background Guide contains relevant discussion questions that break down the topics. Also, as questions or ideas arise, do not be shy in contacting your committee staff via . Committee directors are knowledgeable and can help you better understand a particular topic or how your country fits into the larger international debate. More often than not, discussing the issue at hand with someone else can unearth paradigms and viewpoints that may guide you through the brainstorming process. As in years past, all delegates are expected to write a brief position paper before the conference to synthesize all of their preparatory research and analysis. Please see the position paper guidelines on the conference website for specific information about content, format, etc. Committee staff will collect position papers at the beginning of the first committee session on Friday evening, so be sure to bring two hard copies. Delegates who do not submit position papers will not be eligible for awards. With this said, welcome to! I am excited to have the opportunity to engage with you within your respective committees and gain valuable insights from the various ideas you each will bring to our conference. I truly look forward to meeting you all in April! Sincerely, Ridhima Gurnani Secretary-General

3 DARTM O U TH MODEL UNITED NATIO NS CONFERENCE Tenth A n n u a l C o n f e r e n c e April 10-12, Dartmouth College 6048 Haldeman Center Hanover, NH (603) dartmun@dartmouth.edu Ridhima Gurnani Secretary-General Larry Liao Director-General William Jennings Chief of Staff Robert Scales Chargé d Affaires Jordan Einhorn General Assemblies Kevin Zhang Special Committees Justin Roshak Current Crisis Committees Ksenia Ryzhova Historical Crisis Committees Joshua Koenig Ad-Hoc Committees Alanna Kane Director of Public Relations Adam Grounds Director of Technology Ruben Gallardo Lopez Director of Finances Julia Pomerantz Director of Philanthropy February 21, 2015 Dear Delegates: Welcome to the Trojan War Historical Crisis, Mt. Olympus Committee, and congratulations on your deification! This will be a rare opportunity to engage with one of history/literatures most storied conflicts. As the Gods, the supposedly neutral party in this conflict, you will all learn a great deal about diplomacy, consensus building, and of course how to manipulate the mere mortals you encounter along the way. A little background: My name is Sam Stratton and I will be your committee director. I am a senior at Dartmouth with a major in Government and a minor in Philosophy. This is my 3 rd year being involved with DartMUN, and I am looking forward to making it the best one yet! My MUN experience began in high school in Massachusetts, where I participated in Harvard MUN. I will be joined by Emma Oberstein and Gina Campanelli as assistant committee directors. Both Emma and Gina are freshman at Dartmouth with plenty of high school MUN experience. Also, I would like to remind you that our committee will be conducted according to parliamentary procedure. I and my assistant directors will switch off serving as moderator for the debate. This committee is a crisis committee, which means that the DartMUN staff will continually provide you with new and changing information regarding the imagined crisis that you will be attempting to solve. Historical crises are unique committees. While it will certainly take some adjustment from those who have not previously participated in such a committee, hopefully this guide sufficiently explains the workings of the committee. The differences may be disconcerting at first, but the Trojan War will gives participants an experience that cannot be had elsewhere. I am confident that this committee will be enjoyable and rewarding. Please do not hesitate to contact me, Emma, or Gina if you have any questions about the conference, the committee, Model UN, or life in general! We look forward to meeting you in the spring. Sincerely, Sam Stratton, Emma Oberstein. and Gina Campanelli Cabinet of the Gods Co-Directors

4 Committee Overview What is a crisis committee? Crisis Committees are specialized groups at DartMUN that spend most of their time dealing with real-time events that require immediate attention and action. These crises range from terrorist attacks to natural disasters to corruption within a certain organization. Common considerations of crisis committees include: understanding the crisis and its implications, informing (or not informing) the press and public, undertaking immediate damage control, reacting to the actions of other groups, and preventing future crises. What are Independent Crisis Committees? Independent Crisis Committees interact in real time within their committee. Delegates in the committee must respond to not only crises, but also the actions of the other member states, adding a layer of complexity to crisis simulations. While dais and crisis staffs will help drive the simulation, much of its direction will be determined by the actions of the committee. Simulation Overview Parliamentary Procedure Specific to Crisis Committees The same parliamentary procedures used for General Assemblies and Special Committees apply to Crisis Committees as well. However, Crisis Committees tend to be more informal than other committees. The chair will make his/her procedural preferences clear at the start of the first committee session. There may be a speaker s list, yet most committees do without one. There is often no official setting of the agenda, as debate tends to flow between topics and is determined by the pertinent crisis at hand. In general, discussion occurs through moderated caucuses in which the chair calls upon delegates to speak. Delegates motion for moderated caucuses of a specified length and speaking time and on a specified topic. Many issues may be discussed concurrently and crises introduced by the crisis staff may interrupt discussion. Occasionally, unmoderated caucuses (motioned for by a delegate) are held in which formal debate is suspended and delegates speak at will in groups of their choosing. In voting, a motion for an unmoderated caucus takes precedence over a motion for a moderated caucus. Often, motions are simply passed without voting if there are no competing motions. Action is taken through directives, and there are generally no working papers or resolutions, unless the chair so desires. Notes are used to communicate between delegates while the committee proceeds. They are often used to work with delegates of similar viewpoints to coordinate actions. Questions can also be sent to the chair (or crisis staff) in a note. Directives and Notes Directives In order to carry out any action during committee, a directive must be sent by an individual, a group of individuals, or the committee as a whole. If it is not on behalf of the entire committee, then the delegate(s) can choose to make the directive private and it will not be revealed to the whole committee. If the chair deems necessary, the directive may need

5 to be introduced by a requisite number of writers. To pass a directive on behalf of the whole committee, a simple majority vote is required. The chair will hold a vote as each directive is introduced. There are three types of directives Action Orders, Communiqués, and Press Releases. Action orders are used to direct troops, agencies, individuals, etc. to take an action that is within the authority of the committee. An individual may only send an action order if it is within his power (check the background guide for a summary of the characters and their committee roles and powers). A communiqué is used to communicate with foreign governments, or individuals outside the committee. A press release is used to reveal information to the public. Examples of Directives Action Order: Direct Allied forces to invade Normandy, France on June 6th. Paratroopers shall be dropped behind enemy lines on June 4th. Landings shall take place at Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches. -The Allies Communiqué: To the Emperor of Japan: We demand an immediate, unconditional surrender by all Japanese forces within 48 hours, or we shall be forced to unleash heretofore unimaginable devastation upon your cities. - The Allies Press Release: Yesterday, Dec. 7, a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. - Franklin D. Roosevelt [Address Section on outside of Note] To: Franklin D. Roosevelt From: Winston Churchill [Message on inside of Note] We ask that you work with us to increase intelligence efforts directed against our so- called allies, the Soviets, so that we will not be surprised by any actions they take after the war. - Winston Churchill To chair or crisis staff: [Address Section on outside of Note] To: Chair/Crisis From: Winston Churchill [Message on inside of Note] What is the current disposition of British forces in the Middle East? - Winston Churchill An Outline of Typical Crisis Committee Flow» A moderated caucus takes place with delegates outlining their position.» A delegate motions for a moderated caucus on a specified topic of a specified length with a specified speaking time.» Delegates discuss actions to take regarding that topic through the moderated caucus and through notes.» Delegates submit directives to the chair to take an action and motion to introduce the directive.» Discussion on the directives will proceed through the current moderated caucus and amendments may be proposed and voted on.» A delegate will motion to vote on a directive and the directive is either passed or rejected.» A crisis will occur, oftentimes in the middle of debate. The crisis staff will introduce new information or developments through news articles, videos, intelligence reports, etc.» Discussion will shift informally or through a motion for a new moderated caucus to discuss this development. Examples of Notes To a member of the same committee:

6 Bloc Positions Joint Historical Crisis Committee: Cabinet of the Gods General Note: Each of these positions is much more nuanced, and a good position paper will take these nuances into account. To determine your individual position, please refer to literary sources such as Homer s Iliad or other Greek mythology. Positions might be based on affinity for certain mortal heroes, historic support for certain cities, or rivalries with other deities. Negotiations among the Olympians is almost unbearably personal and even petty. At times, it will seem more like Jersey Shore than the United Nations. However, the Olympians and the conclusions they come to will have a huge impact on the development of this crisis. A good delegate will not only understood the various nuances of his/her position vis a vis the Trojan War, but will also embody the persona of his/her deity. Each of the gods has a lot on the line with the Trojan War. Each god or goddess has a vested interest in his or her favorite(s) flourishing in battle and returning home safely. Moreover, if a favorite mortal or civilization wins in battle, they are sure to reward the gods that supported them with large sacrifices, tributes, and other deeds. Further, the Gods in general have an interest in maintaining Troy. Asia Minor is an outpost of Greek civilization, and Troy is its major center; if Troy is destroyed, the cult of the Olympian Gods may disappear entirely from Asia Minor. Zeus God of Thunder Zeus position on the war is one of great complexity. On the one hand, his position as king of the gods gives him a vested interest in peace; not so much among mortals, but among the other gods. Like a crotchety old patriarch, Zeus hates to see his relatives bickering not to mention that inter-deity conflicts can have disastrous consequences for the world at large. Likewise, Zeus is god of travelers and hospitality and is displeased with the way Paris abducted Helen, a direct breach of the host-guest hospitality he protects. Aphrodite - Goddess of Love In order to secure the golden apple from Paris, she promises him the love of the most beautiful mortal woman in the world. Paris accepts this offer and elopes with Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. This set the Trojan War in motion and Aphrodite naturally sides with Paris and the Trojans. She works closely with Paris and Aeneas. Apollo God of the Sun Angered by Agamemnon s insult to Chryses, his priest s daughter, Apollo sides with the Trojans. Another contributing factor to his decision is his Trojan son, Troilus, with Queen Hecuba. Apollo is the patron god of Troy and was widely worshipped in the city. Artemis Goddess of the Hunt Artemis had no loyalties to either sides initially, however, since her brother supports the Trojans, and she is widely worshipped there as well, she sides with Troy. She is angered when Agamemnon shoots one of her sacred stags and boasts that he is a better hunter. At present, she is withholding favorable winds from the Greek flotilla. Ares God of War Although he originally promises his mother, Hera, that he would aid the Greeks; however his lover, Aphrodite, may persuade him to side with the Trojans. Athena Goddess of Wisdom Athena sides with the Greeks due to the fact that Paris picked Aphrodite s gift over hers (see history). She also heavily favors Odysseus, a Greek warrior, and attempts to help him at all costs. She works through Odysseus, helping him think of wily plans and convincing him to rally the troops to continue fighting.

7 Hera Goddess of Motherhood Hades God of the Underworld Hera dislikes the Trojans for the same reason that Athena does; Paris picked Aphrodite s gift over hers. Hera works more indirectly than Athena. She is the one that tells Athena to inspire the troops, and often keeps watch over the Greeks. Zeus continued infidelity and insults have eroded much of Hera s support for him. She also distracts Zeus by seducing him and putting him to sleep so that Poseidon can intervene and turn the tides in favor of the Greeks. Hermes God of Travelers Hermes sides with the Greeks for relatively uncertain reasons. When the gods come to blows with one another, he stands against Leto, though he refuses to fight her. Hermes is not a partisan, though; he is willing to help the Trojans when he sees doing so as a moral responsibility. Poseidon God of the Sea Poseidon backs the Greeks due to an old conflict with Priam s father, Laomedon. Laomedon forced Poseidon to build the walls of Troy, then refused to pay him, causing Poseidon to despise the Trojans. Like Hermes, however, he is not above protecting a Trojan in the face of unjust Greek actions. Ever since the beginning of Mt. Olympus Hades has felt betrayed by his brother Zeus. Although he rules over 1/3 rd of the Universe, he still has no vote amongst the Gods of Olympus. The Trojan War has provided Hades the opportunity to capitalize on the disorganization of the Olympians to push for a voting seat and increased influence amongst them. He will need to cultivate alliances amongst the Gods and Goddesses in order to expand his power beyond the depths of the Underworld. Dionysus God of Wine Dionysus is the son of Zeus and mortal woman. He holds immense sway over the sanity and mentality of mortals. In the Trojan War, he is one of the more neutral gods; however, he desires to expand his influence and worship among mortals. He is open to alliances with various other deities depending on the advantages they provide him. As the God of wine, madness, and ecstasy, Dionysus thrives on war and the discord that it brings to the mortal world. Hephaestus God of Smiths Hephaestus is neutral in the Trojan War. Generally, he favors the Greeks, but tends to interact with mortals on a case-by-case, according to whom he favors. His rivalry with Ares and love-hate relationship with his wife Aphrodite might shift him more toward the Greek side.

8 Crisis Overview Joint Historical Crisis Committee: Cabinet of the Gods The Olympian deities are heavily involved in the daily affairs of Greek mortals, and are often just as petty, jealous, partisan, and spiteful as the mortals over whom they rule. Many of them have favorite mortals, great heroes or heroines whom they will support, champion, and frequently develop intimate relationships with. They also frequently disagree with one another and even fight amongst themselves. Yet, something that may seem like a disagreement between two gods, can and often does have far-reaching implications for any mortals involved. At present, the Trojan war has stirred up an escalating conflict on Mt. Olympus that has the potential to turn into a rebellion. The source of this conflict is twofold; first, the Olympians have a direct stake in the Trojan War conflict. The gods will do whatever it takes and that includes backstabbing and betraying each other in order to get what they want. Second, Zeus, the King of the Gods, stresses non-intervention amongst the gods in mortal affairs. The degree to which he prevents certain gods from acting as they please escalates the discontent with his rule. As a result, the drama and daily life of the Olympian deities can have a very profound and multifaceted effect on human conflicts such as the Trojan War, while the reverse is also true. It is up to the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus to effectively navigate Olympic politics such that each God or Goddess achieves their goals in the Trojan War. Causes of the Trojan War The Trojan War, like many conflicts in ancient Greece, began as a conflict amongst the gods. At a wedding party for a minor goddess, another minor deity presented a golden apple, which she offered to the most beautiful goddess. This immediately created discord among the goddesses as Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena all claimed themselves to be most beautiful. In order to settle the score, they appealed to Paris, a young prince in the Greek city of Troy (on the coast of what is now Turkey). Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy, was known to be a fine judge of female beauty, and as a mortal man, did not have a stake in the longstanding conflicts between the three goddesses. In an attempt to win Paris over, each goddess offered him a bribe should he name her the most beautiful. Hera offered to make him the most powerful king in the world; Athena offered to make him the wisest man in the world; and Aphrodite offered him the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife. Being a young and vain man, Paris chose the woman, and offered Aphrodite the golden apple. However, Aphrodite had not thought of the fact that the most beautiful woman in world, Helen, was already married to another man, King Menelaus of Sparta. Helen was the daughter of Zeus and a mortal woman, and had been so beautiful in her youth that every man in the world came to court her. She was so beautiful, in fact, that arguments and fights began breaking out between her suitors. It seemed apparent to all involved that any choice Helen made would enrage hundreds of men, and that beauty such as hers would likely drive the unlucky suitors to violence. Luckily, the wise king Odysseus was in attendance, and he proposed the following pact: no matter whom Helen chose as her husband, every other suitor would stand behind him and agree not to steal her away from him. Further, should anyone ever steal Helen from her eventual husband, every other suitor must agree to support him in his attempt to win her back. All the suitors agreed, and Helen chose Menelaus of Sparta has her husband. The other suitors went home disappointed, and Menelaus went home confident that no one would steal his wife from him. After realizing her mistake, Aphrodite tried to offer other brides and other prizes to Paris, but

9 he insisted that she stay true to her promise of the giving him the most beautiful bride in the world, Helen. Thus, Aphrodite had no choice but to help Paris kidnap Helen from Sparta and bring her back to Troy. Menelaus, obviously displeased, set about trying to win Helen back. As it happened, he was uniquely situated to do so; his brother, Agamemnon, had only just succeeded in the unprecedented feat of uniting all of Greece in one confederation. Each polis was still ruled by an independent king, but Agamemnon, from his seat in Mycenae, was the High King, a first among equals whose orders demanded respect from lesser rulers. Thus the two brothers, Agamemnon and Menelaus, had little trouble rousing up a majority of the Greek citystates behind their cause. Each Olympian god or goddess has a distinct position in the conflict: some are neutral, some lean in favor of Troy, some lean in favor of the Greeks, and some are heavily partisan one way or the other. Some are concerned with ending the conflict peacefully, but many others do not share that concern. Loosely defined, the pro- Greek deities are Athena, Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, and Poseidon, while the pro-trojan deities are Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, and Artemis. Trojan War Current Situation Before setting off the ancient Greek equivalent of a World War, Agamemnon and Odysseus sailed to Troy to negotiate with the King Priam. However, Paris vanity proved too great for negotiations, and the Greeks sailed home unsuccessfully. It was at this point that Agamemnon called all of the Greek kings to muster and assemble their armies for war. Over 1,000 ships gathered at Aulis, in Greece. Here we sit today, at Aulis; the winds blow against us, brought about by the wrath of Artemis against Agamemnon for his past crimes. The Greeks cannot sail for Troy without favorable winds from the Gods. Even if they were to arrive in Troy, it would take an act of god to sack Troy s impenetrable walls, or convince the Trojans to give up Helen, just as it would take an act of god to defeat an army of 1,000 ships. Without divine intervention, there will be no solution to this crisis. The fate of the Greek world is in your hands. The Olympian Deities Although the Greeks worshiped a plethora of deities, the gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus were by far the most powerful. They are a large, interrelated (and incestuous!) family. The first generation consists of six siblings: Poseidon (god of the sea) Hera(goddess of marriage/motherhood) Zeus (god of thunder) Demeter (goddess of the harvest) Hades (god of the underworld) Hestia (goddess of the hearth) Zeus, although the youngest, is the king of the gods, and is married to Hera. However, he has also had children by a number of other goddesses and mortal women. Of these six siblings, only 4 are Olympians. Hades, as god of the underworld, does not currently have a seat on Mt. Olympus, nor does Hestia. The rest of the 12 Olympian deities are: Apollo (god of music/light, son of Zeus and a Titaness)

10 Artemis (goddess of the hunt and chastity, twin sister to Apollo) Athena (goddess of wisdom, daughter of Zeus and a minor goddess) Hephaestus (god of smiths, son of Zeus and Hera and husband to Aphrodite) Aphrodite (goddess of beauty and love, was born spontaneously from ocean spray. Wife to Hephaestus.) Ares (god of war, son of Zeus and Hera) Hermes (god of travelers, son of Zeus and a Titaness) Dionysus (god of wine, son of Zeus and a mortal woman) Although all of the above deities are important and will play a role in the debate, Mt. Olympus only has 12 seats for Olympian deities. The 12 deities with seats (and therefore, votes in the committee) are Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Ares, Hermes, and Dionysus. Hestia, Hades, and Persephone are, at present, all non-voting members of the committee, but their input will be essential for winning support and enacting various schemes. Mt. Olympus Recent Trends A comprehensive overview of the history of Olympus is far too detailed and complex to describe; however, recently, a few trends have begun to emerge in Olympian politics. The first major trend has been Zeus paranoia over his position of power. The second major trend has been Hades dissatisfaction with the current distribution of power amongst the Olympic Gods. The last, and perhaps most disruptive trend, has been the push amongst the gods for increased involvement and influence in the daily lives of mortals. The interplay between these three intersecting and oftentimes mutually interfering objectives will shape the outcome of the Trojan War conflict as well as the relative power of each god or goddess at the end of the conflict. Zeus Paranoia Zeus, being the King of the Gods, has a vested interest in seeing things stay the same as they are. Conflict between the Gods has the potential to escalate into all out war, which is a costly undertaking, even for Gods not directly involved. Furthermore, as the patriarch of Olympian family, Zeus does not wish to see his various children, family members, and dear friends engaged in hostile conflict. War also has the potential to unite certain Gods into powerful alliances. These alliances might persevere after the war and be used to counterbalance Zeus position of exclusive power. Complicating things further, a recent prophecy has predicted that one of Zeus mortal sons will soon rise up and become more powerful than Zeus himself. This prophecy could not have come at a worse time as it has heightened Zeus paranoia concerning his position of power and has only caused him to tighten his hold on his position as leader. Zeus sees the Trojan War as an opportunity to cull the earth of his many offspring. Zeus, who took power by killing his own father, derives a great deal of anxiety from the fact that he has so many powerful sons. In particular, his many sons by mortal women are all powerful heroes. Further, other gods have also fathered mortal sons who are heroes among men. Zeus sees the powerful mortals as a threat to the Olympian regime, and sees a massive conflict such as the Trojan War as an opportunity for these heroes to eliminate one another. The help of the Gods will be necessary for either side to win the war and Zeus sees a long war with no help from the Gods as a good way to eliminate his mortal challengers. Rebellion in the Ranks Hades, ruler of the Underworld, is actually the oldest of his brothers, Zeus and Poseidon. He

11 rules the Underworld somewhat reluctantly, forced to rule there after drawing lots with his brothers. His contributions during the overthrow of the Titans demonstrate that he is somewhat equal in power to Zeus. Hades feels slighted by the current distribution of power, believing that he should have a greater say in Olympian politics. He does not sit amongst the gods of Olympus and currently has little say in their actions. Zeus enforced this arrangement, as he feared Hades counter-balance to his own exclusive rights to power. Recently; however, Hades discontent has swelled, as the Underworld will have to take on more and more occupants due to fatalities in the coming War. These increased responsibilities combined with the general unrest on Mt. Olympus have bolstered Hades bargaining power and influence. What he chooses to do with such influence is, of course, extremely unpredictable and entirely up to him. To complicate matters further, the other Olympians have taken to getting more and more involved in mortal affairs. Although Zeus prefers that the Gods stay out of mortal life, the events leading up to the Trojan War are a perfect example of how the Gods have been behaving. Zeus, himself, is known for his womanizing, child-creating, and world changing actions, which has only increased the other God s desire and motivation to do the same. Furthermore, the Gods that have directly involved themselves with the Trojan War want to emerge victorious from the conflict. If the Gods and Goddesses do not provide back up for their mortal allies, those mortals will be less inclined to support various deities in the future. Current Situation At present, the Olympians have a few pressing matters on their hands. First, they must decide how to proceed with the current developments between the Trojans and Greeks. Diplomacy has failed and Artemis winds are the only thing keeping the Greeks from the Trojan beaches. Many Gods and Goddesses support this war; however, to varying degrees. Additionally, the Olympians support different sides of the conflict, further complicating the dialogue surrounding the war. Interventionist and noninterventionist deities are vying for policies of interference and non-interference respectively. The balance of power on Mt. Olympus is a more general issue facing the Olympians. In order to achieve their individual objectives in the Trojan War and at large, the Olympians will have to make friends and, of course, enemies with each other. At present, Zeus remains the unchallenged leader of Mt. Olympus; however, powerful currents of discontent with his rule exist among almost all of the major Gods and Goddesses and rumors of rebellion have begun to emerge. Which Olympians or groups of Olympians will emerge victorious from the political fray and how will they do so? Questions to Consider 1. To what degree will the Gods meddle in and influence the Trojan War? All of the Gods have a vested interest in the war and how far will they go to protect and further those interests? Which Gods will choose which sides and how will they go about creating alliances to further their interests in the war? 2. How will the balance of power shift or not shift on Mt. Olympus? In order to achieve their objectives in the war and more generally, the Olympians will have to go against or adhere to the status quo? What exactly is the status quo on Olympus? Who wants to change it and how? How will each God go about enacting said change? 3. How far will each God go in order to achieve their strategic objectives in the conflicts at

12 hand? Furthermore what is the strategic objective of each God? The Trojan War is mere blip in the life of the Olympians, but what does each Olympian hope to gain from the conflict? Which Gods are willing to defy Zeus outright in order to achieve their goals and which Gods will take a more underhanded approach? References Here is a list of resources to start your research and preparation for this committee. You should also be researching well beyond these resources. While history of the war is effective material for preparation, the Trojan War does not have to play out exactly as it did in the history books. Don t be scared to diverge from the history, but please keep all debate relevant and on task. Please prepare thoroughly, as every position on this committee was picked carefully and deliberately and is paramount to the success of the committee. Homer. The Iliad. Any edition. Homer. The Odyssey. Any edition. D aulaire, Ingri & Edgar Parin. D Aulaire s Book of Greek Myths. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Print. Shakespeare, William. Troilus and Cressida. Any edition. McCarthy, Nick. Troy: The Myth and Reality Behind the Epic Legend. New York: Barnes & Nobel, Print.