I love Greek and Roman mythology, although much of Roman mythology was lifted from the Greeks. The myths and history from the ancient Greeks still spread through our culture today, from idioms such as “the Midas touch” and “Achilles’ heel.”
Among my favorites are Homer’s “Illiad” which tells of the 10-year Greek siege of the city of Troy. The war began when Paris, son of Priam, the King of Troy, stole Helen, the wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta—she was often described at the face that launched a thousand ships. The Goddess Aphrodite gave Paris the gift of being irresistible to women because he said she was the most beautiful goddess. Menelaus united the Greek city states, including king of Mycenae, his brother Agamemnon. Another key player was Odysseus, the wise and crafty king of Ithica, who devised the Trojan Horse ploy.
But was there really ever a Trojan War? For many years, it was believed that the war and the city of Troy was pure fiction. But that idea fell a part in the 19th century when German amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered a late Bronze Age mound now known as Hissarlik, in the northwest corner of modern-day Turkey. Excavations uncovered fortifications, pottery, and treasures from the site, which is now generally accepted to be the ancient Troy.
There also is evidence to suggest the Trojan War, which is said to have taken place around the 12th century BC, was a real conflict. Cuneiform tablets from the Hittite civilization reference a war with details that follow the rough outline of Homer’s battling empires. What’s more, charred arrowheads and unburied skeletons found in later archaeological excavations suggest that a large and violent conflict took place within the city’s walls, though there’s no knowing for certain if it was the 10-year Trojan War.
And what about the Trojan Horse? Odysseus hatched a scheme to construct a giant wooden horse on wheels to sneak Greek soldiers behind the city walls. The Greek army would appear to flee, abandoning the Horse as a peace offering and a symbol of surrender. This trickery would allow Odysseus’ soldiers to get past the gates and sack the fortress, finally defeating their Trojan foes. The city of Troy fell, and Odysseus sailed away to begin his long journey home, an account of which is in the Iliad’s epilogue poem, “The Odyssey.”
Yet historians still aren’t certain whether the story is factual or, more likely, an elaborate myth with some roots in reality. But the predominant theory is that the Horse may have been based on ancient siege engines, such as battering rams, which were often covered with wet horse hides to protect the wooden siege engines from flaming arrows, which may have been the inspiration for the ruse.
What do you think? Add your comments via my website where my blog is posted athttps://www.FrankVictoriaAuthor.com/blog
Frank
Frank Victoria is an award-winning author and screenwriter. He’s been an Amazon bestseller with his recent book,The Founders’ Plot, a political thriller for our times. He donates proceeds of his books to Tunnels to Towers and Fisher House, helping military veterans and first responders. His novella,The Ultimate Bet is available on his website and Amazon. Check out his new website:Frank M. Victoria
©2024 Frank Victoria
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