Warning! This article contains spoilers for Eyes of Wakanda episode 2.
Eyes of Wakanda episode 2 focuses on the events surrounding the Trojan War, significantly rewriting them for the MCU. Marvel’s latest miniseries takes a closer look at the mythological history of Wakanda and their interactions with the wider world throughout history, with some surprising twists along the way.
Eyes of Wakanda episode 2, for example, draws heavy inspiration from Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, and the other works contained in the Epic Cycle which depict the events of the Trojan War. Unsurprisingly, though, the latest Marvel TV show tells a tale that’s very different in several key ways that make it stand out.
How Marvel Changes The Trojan War For The MCU
The Trojan War Is Far More Complex Than Eyes Of Wakanda’s Brief Crossover
Homer’s Iliad explores an epic 10-year war between the Greeks and the Trojans. There are many aspects of the story that connect the mythological realm of the gods to the people of these two nations, and the book goes into extraordinary detail in exploring the events of the war.
Eyes of Wakanda, however, begins at the end of the conflict; that places it somewhere between Homer’s Illiad and its sequel The Odyssey. In this setting, Odysseus is leading the charge against Troy, with no mention of Menelaus. Menelaus is the husband of Helen, the man who gathered the support of others like Odysseus, Achilles, and Agamemnon.
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The MCU avoids specifically mentioning why the war is happening, with Achilles saying it is to somehow regain “the honor Troy stole from us.” Eyes of Wakanda shows Greek soldiers retreating when Troy has the upper hand. This is very different to the Iliad, where the death of the central character Hector inspires Odysseus to formulate a new plan of attack.
The episode also sees the addition of a character called Memnon to the events, who has a strikingly similar name to Agamemnon from the Iliad. However, where Agamemnon is the brother of Menelaus, and a leader in this fight, Memnon appears to be a soldier, fighting alongside Achilles.
How Marvel Changes Achilles’ Death
Achilles Suffers Betrayal And Death In Eyes Of Wakanda
Nearly all the details surrounding the Trojan Horse, its construction, and the way it was given as a false peace offering are similar to how they are described in the Epic Cycle. However, once the troops are inside the walls of Troy, the story takes a sharp turn away from the source material.
Memnon is actually a Wakandan agent, and he leaves the men of Greece to fend for themselves while he seeks out a lost artifact that he has sought for nine years. Achilles sees his friend ascend the stairs and follows him after breaking free from the onslaught of Trojan warriors.
Achilles then sees Memnon allowing Helen and her lover Paris of Troy to escape. Once again, it isn’t confirmed that Helen is necessarily the one that the Greeks are trying to retrieve, but she appears integral in some undefined way.
It’s at this point that Memnon and Achilles enter into a brutal fight to the death, with Memnon wielding Wakandan tech to get an advantage over the legendary warrior. Eventually, Memnon slices Achilles’ ankle; Memnon then tries to convince Achilles to back down. However, Achilles tries once more, and is fatally stabbed in the chest.
Achilles’ death happens after the Iliad, in another part of the Epic Cycle known as Aethiopis. Achilles is shot with a poison arrow by Paris, which is guided by the god Apollo to strike his vulnerable heel. The only real connection between these two versions of Achilles’ death is the striking of the heel.
Was The MCU’s Memnon Based On A Real Mythological Figure?
Despite Some Surface Level Similarities, Memnon Appears To Be An Original Character
From everything that takes place in Eyes of Wakanda episode 2, it appears that the character of Memnon is not actually based on one fictional character. Despite the similarity of his name, Memnon is not similar in character or behavior to Agamemnon.
Memnon does have some ties to the character of Patroclus, a close friend of Achilles, who eventually has a falling out with his friend. However, even in this regard, their stories fail to overlap with the events listed here.
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Memnon fought with the Greeks for at least nine years. He earns the trust of Achilles and many others, and he fights earnestly alongside his allies. However, he is an undercover agent of Wakanda, seeking out an artifact that was stolen from his home.
While Eyes of Wakanda episode 2 appears to have ties to Homer’s writings, and the depictions of the Trojan War from mythology, it freely alters events. Eyes of Wakanda explores an alternative version of this mythological history, and invents the character of Memnon as a way to adapt the piece.
