TROJAN WAR: A QUICK CHEAT SHEET son.

son. These two try to scheme their way out from their duty, but eventually they join
with the others to attack Troy.
For a long time, scholars used to think that "Troy" was an imaginary city. Because
of the mythological elements to the story, it is easy to see why they thought so. It takes two years for the Greeks to assemble the fleet, and Agamemnon sacrifices
However, an amateur archeologist named Heinrich Schliemann actually uncovered his own daughter Iphigenia to the gods to win good weather for his journey. The
the ruins of this city. It apparently was sacked and destroyed sometime around 1200 heroes fighting on the Greek side initially include Achilles (a fierce, cruel warrior
BCE. who was nearly invulnerable except for one spot on his ankle), Patroclus (Achilles'
best friend and sidekick), Ajax (a strong but rather stupid giant of a man), Diomede
Sometime around 800 BCE, Homer writes his version of the city's fall in The Iliad. (a courteous and handsome prince), Odysseus (a trickster famous for his cunning
(The title we use today comes from "Ilium," a Latin term for Troy.) In Homer's plans and clever lies), Stentor (a man with a deafeningly loud voice), and Nestor and
account, the conflict begins as a squabble among the gods. Mentor (two of the eldest and most experienced warriors). On the Trojan side
several men serve the aged King Priam and Queen Hecuba. Prince Paris (Helen's
At the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, the goddesses attending the wedding decide lover) fights alongside Hector (a family man who deeply loves his children), Aeneas
not to invite the goddess Discord. (Her name means "Trouble"; she is also called (one of the few survivors of the war), Deiphobus, Glaucus, and Sarpedon. The gods
Eris or sometimes Chaos.) Enraged at this snub, Discord creates a beautiful golden also squabble and take sides. Hera and Athena and Poseidon help the Greeks, while
apple and labels it with a tag that reads, "For the fairest." She then tosses this apple Aphroditê and Ares help the Trojans. Apollo and Zeus are either impartial or
into the middle of the wedding party. vacillate in their support between one side and the other.

Hera, Aphroditê, and Athena each proclaim that this beautiful gift must be intended The battle is largely a stalemate, and the siege lasts for another eight years (making
for herself alone, since she is obviously the most beautiful one. The fight gets out of the expedition take ten years long in total). When the Greeks begin arguing among
hand, so they decide to find a judge. themselves over treasure and slave-girls, Achilles feels insulted and refuses to fight
any more. In his absence, Hector kills Patroclus in battle. Angered and grieved by
They settle upon a handsome Trojan shepherd-prince named Paris and ask him to the death, and feeling guilty for his selfishness, Achilles turns to his mother Thetis.
decide who is most beautiful. The goddesses come and parade their bodies before She talks the god Hephaestus into building a magic shield and enchanted armor for
him. They also try to bribe him. Respected Hera offers him prestige, honor, and him. (Patroclus had been wearing Achilles' old armor when he died in battle.) With
power in the community where he lives. Clever Athena offers him wisdom in this new armor, Achilles seeks out Hector and kills him, then mutilates the body and
military matters so he could become a great conqueror. Sexy Aphroditê offers him drags it around the city behind his chariot to humiliate the Trojans and old King
the most beautiful woman in the world as his lover. Paris settles on Aphroditê. Priam. His barbarism completely demoralizes Troy, but Achilles dies when an arrow
Unfortunately, the most beautiful woman in the world is already married: Helen. hits his heel.

As a girl several years earlier, Helen had been cursed with such beauty that every Since neither army can gain the upper hand, Odysseus suggests a clever trick. He
man who saw her lusted after her. Fifty powerful princes, generals, and warriors had has the Greeks build a giant wooden idol of a horse containing a secret entrance
competed for her hand. When she refused them all, they ended up drawing lots for where soldiers can hide. The Greeks sail away, pretending to give up battle, but
her hand in marriage, making a vow to abide by this lottery and promising to gang actually anchor their boats just out of sight from Troy. When the Trojans send scouts
up and attack any man who tried to steal Helen away from the man who won her. and discover the Greeks are gone, they take the beautifully carved wooden horse as
plunder and bring it inside their city--thinking it must surely be a holy item to
Menelaus, king of Sparta, wins the game, and he takes Helen away to Lacedemonia. Athena. Only the priest Laocoön and the prophet Cassandra warn against this action,
Aphroditê arranges for Paris to visit Menelaus' palace, where he betrays his host by but hostile gods shut them up before their warnings can take hold. After the Trojans
abducting Helen. The couple flees back to Troy, where King Priam and Queen fall asleep, exhausted by their victory celebrations, the secret panel in the Trojan
Hecuba reluctantly agree to give Helen shelter for Paris's sake. horse opens up. Out creeps Odysseus and several other Greek soldiers, and they cut
the gatekeepers' throats and throw open the city gates for the invading Greek army
Menelaus immediately calls upon his brother (the general Agamemnon) and the before setting the city on fire. The city is completely sacked and burned, old King
other suitors to aid him in his war to retrieve Helen from Troy. All of them come Priam and his wife are ruthlessly slaughtered along with his grandchildren, and the
forward except Achilles (who has been warned by the gods not to get involved) and civilization of Troy is utterly destroyed. Now it's all over but the journey home.
Odysseus, who has just married Penelope and is happy at home with his new baby Unfortunately, for Odysseus that voyage is trickier than it first appears. . . .