The Trojan War

The Trojan War and its characters are detailed in the writings of Homer, Vergil, Dante and many others. It is a fantastical tale of a decade-long siege of a powerful city by a massive pan-hellenic force. However, even though it has proved to be such a rich source of inspiration for writers, poets and artists throughout history, it is debated whether it

The Greek forces won the Trojan War. The story of the war is a cornerstone of Greek legend, and pervaded Greek literature and culture. Though the evidence for the Trojan War as historical fact is scarce, it was a formative event in Greek cultural memory, producing some of the classical world’s most famous heroes and narratives. The War was won, Helen was retrieved from Paris, whose violation of ξενία was redressed, the heroes attained the κλέος that many of them fought for – and yet the positive outcomes of the Trojan War are difficult to grasp. For the victims of the Trojan War, the tragedy is obvious; the War ended in genocide and total cultural destruction. But such a war, burnt into legend, should have left the victors far better off; and yet, the Greek heroes only suffer because of it. They die tragic, dishonourable deaths; their households are left in ruin; their families are torn apart. From both modern and classical perspectives, the Trojan War is a tragedy, a “harrowing destruction of life” (Euripides, Andromache, 291). The victory is pyrrhic, the loss of life is horrific, the reparations non-existent.

Homer’s interpretation of The Trojan War stated that the war was provoked solely by Paris, who stole Helen from Greece. Prince Paris was invited to a dinner where the Greeks and the Trojans were celebrating their alliance with one another. Paris caught eyes with Helen and they were immediately in love with one another, and Paris abducted her and brought her back to Troy to become her husband. By describing the story in this manner, Homer writes to the conventions of the Bronze Age Era, prioritizing romanticism over political objectives.

Barry Strauss organizes his summary of the Trojan War by referencing Homer 's the Iliad and the Odyssey and compares it to the historical contexts of what he thinks happened. Most scholars agree that the Trojan War dates back around 1200 B.C. during the Bronze Age. The most popular tale of how the Trojan War starts is when Paris, Prince of Troy, goes to visit Sparta to mend relations. In Sparta, Paris is welcomed by Menelaus, King of Sparta and his beautiful wife Helen. According to ancient sources, Menelaus went to Crete for business and foolishly left Helen all alone with Paris (Strauss, 15). Afterward, Helen is seduced by Paris and flees Sparta to accompany him back to Troy, along with bountiful treasures.

Analyse the effectiveness of the tactics used by both sides in the Trojan War. ____________________________________________________________

As most know, Greek Mythology is a very complex concept that is free for interpretation and is shown in multiple ways. Many believe Greek Mythology is fiction, whereas some believe that it is nonfiction. As seen in Barry Strauss’s The Trojan War: A New History, the author argues that the Trojan War was significant and then shows evidence from as of late that supports the concept of the Trojan War actually occurring. Throughout his book he explains and gives insight into what happened during the Trojan War and how it developed based off of Homer’s writing. Strauss’s sole purpose is to inspect what was previously said about the Trojan War and evaluate it enough to the point where he is able to make logical reasoning to determine the

Each of the goddesses promised to give Paris something in return for giving her the apple. Hera offered Paris power and the richest kingdom on earth. Athena promised to make him a great hero and to give him wealth. Finally, Aphrodite promised a marriage to the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta (Joe "Trojan War"). Paris immediately chose Aphrodite to be the fairest, causing much discord for the others. He quickly set off to Sparta to fetch Helen; however, she was the wife of the Spartan king, Menelaus. When Paris reached Sparta, he saw that Menelaus was not there and he proceeded to abduct Helen. Menelaus was infuriated by this deviousness. He called upon all of Helen’s old suitors who had promised to keep her honor. These suitors did not truly want to go to war, in fact, Odysseus feigned insanity and

Later, during the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Eris the goddess of strife, was angry for not being invited. She threw a golden apple with the words, "to the fairest one" inscribed on it amidst the guests. Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena had a squabble over who should get the apple. They asked the Prince, Paris of Troy, to be the judge. The three goddesses offered him glorious gifts, but in the end Paris of Troy gave the apple to Aphrodite. Helen had promised the Prince the most beautiful woman in the world. Aphrodite helped him kidnap Helen. Menelaus was enraged by this and conjured the oath that had been taken by all the suitors of Helen. Helped by his brother Agamemnon, the two set a course for Troy. The departure of Menaleus and his brother set off a chain of events, including commissioning the help of Odysseus, which led to the fall of Troy.

With that being said, a mortal being named Paris was chosen to decide who was to receive the golden apple. After paying close attention to the three goddesses, Paris came the conclusion that the goddesses should all share this golden apple. This decision made by Paris, had angered the Greek god Hermes, the greek god of all messengers. After becoming quite angered, Hermes had then taken Paris, Athena, Hera, and Aphrdite to the top of

The Trojan War was commenced around 3000 BCE marking most memorable period in Greek Mythology. These events were presented in Homer’s lliad through poetry. The war began during the Bronze Age with Greeks and the defenders of the city of Troy fighting in Anatolia. Troy, today known as modern Turkey was in Anatolia i.e. at the eastern Shores of Aegean Sea. The city of Troy was colonized by 5000-10000 Trojans and was attacked many times by 5000 Mycenaeans who had crossed the Aegean Sea in hundred ships. Around 1200 BCE the city was destroyed by Mycenaean Greeks. The war was sophisticated to higher level by tactics and Magnificent Armors. Mycenaean Greece came under attack by both land and sea around 1200 BCE. (Dutton Marchand Harkness 27)

The Trojans and Greeks fought a frivolous war that began with a golden apple and a trio of precarious goddesses. It initiated when Prince Paris was given an apple from the “evil goddess of Discord, Eris,” and told him to choose the fairest goddess between three. Paris ludicrously chose the goddess who offered him the most beautiful woman. This woman was Helen, queen of Sparta. But Paris stole her from her husband and refused to give her back to Menelaus.

The Trojan War is described as one of histories most legendary battles. This battle is told to have lasted ten years, resulting in the eventual collapse of Troy, under the siege of Greek forces. Modern knowledge of the Trojan War has survived mainly through the account given in Homer’s Illiad, and while having proved to be a rich source of inspiration for other writers, artists, and even filmmakers in recent history, much speculation still exists surrounding his account. I will analyze modern interpretations of the Trojan War and examine both speculation and support for Homer’s account. Concluding with sufficient evidence that has been collected surrounding this epic battle, proving Homer’s account of a massive battle between these two powerful city states to not be just a tale of myth and legend, but actual history.

In the early ages of Greek mythology the Trojan War was battled between the Greeks, and the guardians of the city of Troy in Anatolia, around some time in the late Bronze Age. The Trojan War began as a way for Zeus to consider reducing the enlarging population of humanity, and a way to reclaim Helen, also known as the wife of Menelaos. Helen was captured by Paris, and taken as his prize for choosing Aphrodite as the most astonishing goddess in a competition between Athena and Hera. Menelaos and the Greeks came to an agreement to get Helen back, and attack the Trojans.

Juno, the all-powerful queen of the gods, relies on the actions of others, while Venus, the goddess of love, takes action into her own hands. While Aeneus and his men “journey from the coasts of Troy as far / as Italy and the Lavinian shores” (Book I, 3-4), Juno seeks assistance from Aeolus, the king of the winds. After pointing out that she “won / this modest kingdom / . . . and Jove’s goodwill” (Book I, 112-113, 114) for him, Aeolus immediately stir up a powerful storm in order to disrupt the Trojans voyage. When Aeneus is telling events that unfolded at Troy, we learn that it was Juno who “calls furiously to the fleet for more / Greek troops” (Book II, 829-830) during the ransacking of Troy. Juno even uses Venus’ plan, beguiling Dido to fall in love with Aeneus, in an attempt to fulfill her goals. Then towards the end of the Aeneid, Juno, in her last-ditch attempt, uses Turnus to start another war with the Trojans. However Venus, throughout the entire Aeneid, always takes the action to procure her desired results. She not only appeals to Jupiter for reassurance, she schemes with her son, Eros, to make Queen Dido fall in love with Aeneus. During the battle of Troy she even appears to Aeneus in order to get him to flee while he still can. When he is seeking shelter with his men after having survived Juno storm, Venus appears to him and tells him of the people of the

Discordia, the Roman goddess of strife and discord, is sinister, mean and full of mischief (Lindermans). Her greatest joy is to cause trouble. She is also known as Eris in Greek mythology. Discordia started the Trojan War by tossing a golden apple of discord, which bore a label “For the Fairest”, in the middle of a wedding between King Peleus of Thessaly and Thetis, with the goddesses Athena, Hera and Aphrodite in attendance (Allen & Saunders). Being conceited and competitive, the goddesses wanted to know who the fairest was, and a man named Paris was chosen to make the decision. The goddesses bribed Paris with wisdom, power, and the love of the most beautiful woman on earth. Paris ultimately chose Aphrodite as the fairest, thereby gaining