Answers to frequently asked questions about the Trojan War

The Trojan War is one of the most famous stories in Greek mythology; men and gods participated in it and different feats occurred. Below we develop the answers to some of the most curious questions about the Trojan War and its protagonists.

23 Questions about the Trojan War

The Trojan War has aroused great interest over the years due to the various historical and legendary events that took place during that conflict. 

To understand all the aspects related to the Trojan War and its historical and cultural importance, it is necessary to know its origin, the characters involved and other details of interest. Some of the most frequently asked questions about this war are:

• Who was Homer?
• What are the Iliad and the Odyssey?
• What was the Trojan War?
• When and where did the Trojan War take place?
• How long did the Trojan War last?
• What was Troy called in ancient times?
• What was Troy like?
• Who were the protagonists of the Trojan War?
• Who were the “Hellenes”?
• Why did the Trojan War happen?
• What were the major events of the Trojan War?
• What was the reason for “Achilles’ wrath”?
• Why did Achilles die if he was immortal?
• Did human sacrifices exist in Ancient Greece?
• Who won the Trojan War?
• What and how was the Trojan Horse?
• Who created the Trojan Horse?
• What role did the Trojan Horse play in the war?
• Who was inside the Trojan Horse?
• What happened after the fall of Troy?
• Did the Trojan War really exist?
• Did the Trojan Horse Really Exist?
• Where is Troy located today?

Who was Homer?

Homer was a Greek writer who lived in the 8th century BC. C. Although data about his life are unknown, the epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey are attributed to him . These epics recount the exploits of the heroes and gods of Ancient Greece. Homer is believed to have been blind, but he memorized the lines of the poems and passed them down orally, as was the custom in his day. 

Years later, when the Greek alphabet was created, these poems were written and this is how they have been preserved to this day. At present, Homer is considered the first referent of classical Greek literature.

What are the Iliad and the Odyssey?

The Iliad and the Odyssey are Homer’s main works and the most prominent in Greek literature. In the Iliad , Homer recounts the events that occurred during the Trojan or Ilium War. 

The Odyssey , on the other hand, recounts the adventures of Odysseus, also called Ulysses, at the end of the Trojan War and during the ten years it takes him to return to his kingdom, the island of Ithaca.

What was the Trojan War?

The Trojan War was a war between the Greeks and the Trojans, which consisted of the siege and invasion of Troy by the former. Some historians agree that it was probably not a single battle but a succession of wars between the two parties.

When and where did the Trojan War take place?

The Trojan War is believed to have occurred between 1250 B.C. C. and 1100 a. C. in Ilion, a fortress located in the Tróas region, in Ancient Phrygia, which currently corresponds to an area of ​​Asia Minor. 

More precisely, Tróade extended through the current province of Canakkale, on the Turkish peninsula. This region was bounded on the north by the Sea of ​​Marmara, and on the south by the Gulf of Edremit. Its eastern end was defined by another natural boundary: Mount Ida. 

How long did the Trojan War last?

According to Homer, the Trojan War lasted 10 years. However, the Greek poet only recounted the clashes and events that occurred in a few days, especially during the tenth year of the battle.

What was Troy called in ancient times?

In antiquity, Troy was known as Troas and later as Ilium. The name of Troy derives from Teucer, the first king of this city. Teucer was the son of the river god Scamander and the nymph Ida. The Trojans were descendants of Teucer, therefore in his poems Homer often calls them “Teucro.” 

Teucer’s grandson, Tros, was another of the kings who contributed to the development of Troy. Later, one of Teucer’s great-grandsons, Ilo, founded the city of Ilium.

What was Troy like?

In Greek mythology, Poseidon, god of the ocean, horses, and earthquakes, is mentioned as the founder and patron of Troy. Legends say that the Trojans were known for their predilection for horses. In fact, it is believed that the Trojans were the ones who introduced horses to Asia Minor. These characteristics explain the connection between its divine origin, the earthquake that the fortress suffered and the success of the famous Trojan Horse. 

Troy or Ilion was a famous port located in a strategic area that connected the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea. There, different merchandise from the Near East, Asia, Africa and Europe were traded.

In addition, Ilium was a center of religious worship, as it stood out for its temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, which attracted many Greek pilgrims. Later it also attracted many faithful Romans.

Who were the protagonists of the Trojan War?

The main protagonists of the Trojan War were:

• Achilles: Greek hero and demigod, whose only weakness was his heel.
• Paris: prince of Troy, brother of Hector and lover of Helena.
• Helen: wife of Menelaus and queen of Sparta.
• Hector: prince of Troy, son of Priam and brother of Paris.
• Priam: King of Troy.
• Menelaus: King of Sparta
• Agamemnon: brother of Menelaus and king of Mycenae.
• Odysseus: King of Ithaca and a Greek hero famous for his cunning.
• Gods and demigods: Artemis, Athena, Zeus, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Hermes, Heracles, Thetis and other gods interfered to a greater and lesser extent in the war, offering their support to the Greeks and the Trojans on different occasions.
• Greek and Trojan soldiers.
• slaves and prophets

Who were the “Hellenes”?

The Hellenes were the ancient Greeks. In fact, the Greeks called themselves hellas, a term that later became the Spanish hellenos. The name hellas comes from Hellas , which was the name of the territory of Ancient Greece.

However, in the Iliad , Homer calls the Greeks “Achaeans”, “Danaos” or “Argives”, according to the different regions of origin of each people: Achaia, Danao and Argos, respectively. 

Why did the Trojan War happen?

The Trojan War happened for various reasons, including conflicts between the gods and other more earthly reasons, such as the kidnapping of Helen and the control of trade routes in the Aegean Sea and other regions. 

The main event triggering the Trojan War was the kidnapping of Helen, queen of Sparta, at the hands of Paris, prince of Troy. However, the Greek legends recount some previous events that offer a greater explanation and somehow present a divine factor as the origin of the war and justify the intervention of the gods and demigods in it. 

The myth of Paris

Paris was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba. Before his birth, a seer prophesied that Paris would bring about the end of Troy and, therefore, they should kill him at birth. But when Paris was born, the kings could not kill him, and instead they handed him over to Agelaus to be abandoned in the forest, which meant certain death for the child. But Agelaus took pity and raised him as his son. In time, Paris grew into a handsome and brave young man and for his deeds he obtained the favor of the gods.

According to the Greek myth, one day Zeus organized a banquet to celebrate the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, and invited gods, heroes and some mortals. But the supreme god of Olympus did not invite Eris, the goddess of discord, to avoid any inconvenience at the party. As revenge, Eris threw a golden apple that read: “For the fairest.” Immediately, the goddesses Era, Aphrodite and Athena disputed the apple and asked Zeus to intervene in the conflict. 

Zeus ordered Paris to decide which of them the apple would go to. To convince him, each of the goddesses promised him something in exchange for the apple: Era would grant him control of Europe and Asia; Athena would grant him wisdom and the ability to become the best warrior; and Aphrodite offered him the love of the most beautiful woman on earth: Helen of Sparta. 

Helen’s kidnapping

Paris accepted this last option, but later found out that Helen was married to Menelaus, the king of Sparta. Despite this, Paris infiltrated Sparta and with the help of a love spell from Aphrodite, he fell in love with Helen and took her to Troy.

Upon learning of the kidnapping and seeing it as an affront to all the Greeks, Menelaus and his brother Agamemnon, with the help of Odysseus, gathered different Greek troops, and declared war on Troy.

The duel between Menelaus and Paris

However, before leaving for battle and avoiding the bloodshed and costs of a war between the two peoples, Menelaus and Paris dueled for Helen. Menelaus defeated Paris and was about to kill him. But according to legend, the goddess Aphrodite saved him and transported him to another place.

Greek geopolitical and commercial interests

In addition to the issues related to legends and myths, historians believe that the main and real cause of the Trojan War was the need of the Greeks to control that strategic geographical region to favor the development of trade between Ancient Greece and the rest of the world.

What were the major events of the Trojan War?

The Iliad narrates numerous events that occurred during the Trojan War. Some of the most important were:

• The kidnapping of Helena by Paris.
• The duel between Menelaus and Paris, in which he was seriously injured and was saved by the goddess Aphrodite.
• The unification of the Greeks and the declaration of war on Troy.
• Odysseus’s strategies, including the creation of the Trojan Horse.
• The sacrifice of the daughter of Agamemnon.
• Achilles’ wrath.
• Hector’s death at the hands of Achilles.
• The death of Achilles at the hands of Paris.
• The false withdrawal of the Greek troops.
• The abandonment of the Trojan Horse.
• The capture and fall of Troy.

What was the reason for “Achilles’ wrath”?

Achilles was an immortal hero and one of the best soldiers in the Greek forces and in large part the reason for their success. However, during the Trojan War, some events occurred that caused what is known as the “anger of Achilles”. 

When Agamemnon took Briseis, Achilles’ slave, Achilles refused to continue fighting. Because of this, the Trojan troops under Hector’s command gained an advantage and drove the Greeks back. 

In one of the battles, Hector killed Patroclus, Achilles’ best friend. Upon learning of his death, Achilles was enraged, put aside his enmity with Agamemnon, returned to fight for the Greeks, and went in search of Hector, whom he killed with a spear through the neck. Later, full of anger, he tied his body to a cart and dragged it across the battlefield for nine days.

Why did Achilles die if he was immortal?

Achilles was the son of Peleus and the Nereid Thetis. When he was born, his mother took him by the heel and immersed him in the River Styx, whose waters had the property of making those who immersed themselves invulnerable. In this way, Achilles became invincible and his only weakness was his heel. Paris killed him by throwing a poisoned spear right into that part of his body.

Did human sacrifices exist in Ancient Greece?

In addition to the priestesses who were consecrated to the gods, in Ancient Greece human sacrifices were frequently performed to obtain the favor of various divinities. One of the most impressive sacrifices in the Iliad was the one made by Agamemnon, king of Mycenae. According to legend, during the Trojan War, Agamemnon angered Artemis by killing a deer that had been consecrated to this goddess. As a consequence, the wind stopped and the Greek fleet could not advance. 

To appease Artemis’s anger, Agamemnon had to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia. After the sacrifice, the wind began to blow and the Greek troops were able to continue sailing. 

Who won the Trojan War?

The Greeks won the Trojan War after laying siege to this city for ten years. Although the Greeks outnumbered the Trojans in troops and weaponry, the Trojan fortress proved to be impenetrable over the years. 

Finally, the victory of the Greeks occurred thanks to a ruse: the famous Trojan Horse.

What and how was the Trojan Horse?

Homer describes the Trojan Horse in the Odyssey, when he recounts the end of the war and the fate of Troy. 

The Trojan Horse was a large horse-shaped wooden structure built by the Greeks, inside which some of the best soldiers hid, while the rest of the troops pretended to withdraw from the area. 

Supposedly, the Trojan Horse had an inscription that said: “To return home, the Greeks dedicate this offering to Athena.” The horse was left abandoned outside the walls of Troy, with only one soldier as guard. 

The Trojans, believing that the Greeks had finally given up the war and finished with the siege of Troy, took the horse as a war trophy and brought it into the city to pay tribute to the goddess Athena.

Who created the Trojan Horse?

According to legend, Odysseus, who was cunning and a skilled strategist, was the one who conceived the idea of ​​building the Trojan Horse. The construction of this structure lasted about three days and was carried out by Epeus, a Greek artist.

The figure of a horse does not seem to have been purely coincidental: it was the emblem of Troy and the Trojans were fond of horses. 

According to Virgil’s Aeneid , Odysseus’s plan was to leave a soldier off his horse, so that he would inform the Trojans that the Greeks had abandoned him and that he was an offering to Athena, the goddess of war. Also, that they had built it too big so that the Trojans could not bring it into their city and obtain Athena’s favor for them. This soldier was Sinón and he was in charge of sending a signal to the Greeks who were on the high seas. 

What role did the Trojan Horse play in the war?

The wooden horse played a fundamental role in the Trojan War, as it brought victory to the Greeks and caused the end of the siege and the fall of Troy.

The Greeks besieged Troy for ten years without success. During all this time, the Greek forces besieged the city, but the Trojan fortress remained intact. In the tenth year of the battle, the Greeks feigned retreat, leaving a large wooden horse at the gates of Troy. Inside the horse were hidden Greek soldiers who waited until the Trojans entered the structure inside the fortress.

After so many years of war and believing they had won, the Trojans celebrated their apparent victory and lowered their guard. 

During the night, once inside Troy, the Greek soldiers killed the sentinels and opened the citadel gates to let in the Greek troops who had returned to the coast. In this way, they took control of Troy and looted and burned the city. 

Who was inside the Trojan Horse?

According to legend, thirty elite Greek soldiers hid inside the Trojan Horse. Some of them were the famous warriors Odysseus, Ajax the Lesser, Acamas, Diomedes and Menesteo, among others.

The best soldier of the Greeks, Achilles, could not participate in this feat because he died earlier on the battlefield, during his confrontation with Paris.

What happened after the fall of Troy?

When the Greeks took the city, they murdered those in their path, plundered its treasures, and eventually set a fire that destroyed Troy. Among the victims were the Trojan king Priam, his daughter Cassandra and his son Paris.

Did the Trojan War really exist?

This is one of the questions that still does not have a conclusive answer. Although many of the events, details, and circumstances surrounding the Trojan War are considered fictional and part of the legends of Greek mythology, most researchers hold that this war probably did take place at some point in time. 13th century BC

Homer recited these poems some 500 years after the Trojan War, therefore it is not known for sure if they are orally transmitted stories that were modified with time and the popular imagination, or simply a creation aimed at entertaining the public. public and exalt the heroes and Greek gods.

Did the Trojan Horse Really Exist?

Although it is believed that Troy and the war that Homer described did exist, there are many doubts regarding the existence of the Trojan Horse. Most historians agree that it is just another one of the Greek myths. Possibly, the legend was based on siege engines that were often covered in fur and resembled horses.

The oldest graphic representation of the Trojan Horse was discovered in 1961, when a ceramic vase was found on the Greek island of Mykonos. The image on the vase shows a large wooden horse with small openings through which several soldiers can be seen. This vase dates from approximately the 7th century BC. C., that is, it was made almost a hundred years before the birth of Homer. This discovery raises some questions about the existence of the Trojan Horse and the transmission of the epic poems about the Trojan War.

Where is Troy now?

Troy is currently believed to be located in the town of Hisarlik, in the province of Canakkale, in Turkey. There, in the 19th century, the English archaeologist Frank Calvert began exploring a mound that seemed to contain the ruins of an ancient fortress. Years later, the German amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann excavated the site and discovered ten different levels of buildings belonging to different historical periods. 

After an analysis of each of these strata and Homer’s descriptions of the city, it was concluded that Troy probably existed on the seventh level. The ruins indicate that there was a fortress there that had a great wall around it and showed signs of having suffered an earthquake and having been burned. 

Although there are no other more accurate data, in Hisarlik some ceramics with inscriptions of Hittite cuneiform texts were discovered, an empire that dominated a large part of Asia Minor until that time. In these texts, the city is mentioned as Wilusa , whose pronunciation was similar to Ilion , which would be another evidence of the existence of Troy on that site.

Other curious facts

In addition to the details that appear in the epic poems of the Iliad and the Odyssey , there are other interesting facts about the Trojan War. For example:  

• Although most of the events that occurred during the Trojan War are recounted in the Iliad , the Trojan Horse does not appear in the said poem, but rather in the Odyssey .
• Most of the Greek myths and legends were transmitted orally through the recitation of poems and their representation in theaters. Generally, these epic poems were accompanied by music.
• The Trojan War in the cinema: in 2004 the film Troy was released, with Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom and Eric Bana as protagonists. In Canakkale, Turkey, there is a replica of the Trojan Horse that was used to record some of the scenes of said film.
• Aeneas and the Roman Empire: Aeneas was a Trojan hero who, after the fall of Troy, fled to the territories that are now part of Italy. The Romans assumed that there was a connection between Rome and Troy, since Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were supposedly descendants of Aeneas. The Roman emperor Augustus commissioned the Roman poet Virgil to describe the exploits of Aeneas and the Roman Empire in a similar way to that of the ancient Greeks. This is how the poems of the Aeneid arose , in the year 29 BC 
• Currently, the Trojan Horse is used as a metaphor to indicate a ruse in which the victim introduces the enemy into a place that is considered safe or impenetrable. There is also a computer virus called a “Trojan horse”, or simply “Trojan”, which tricks users into executing it on their computers themselves.

Bibliography

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• Homer. The Iliad and the Odyssey. (2013). Spain. FV Editions.
• BBC. (2018, July 7) Is the story of the Trojan War true? BBC History. Available here .
• Westmaas, R. (2019, August 1). The city of Troy was real. The Trojan horse? Not so much . Discovery. Available here .
• Pickles, M. (2014, July 25). Did the Trojan Horse exist? Classicist tests Greek ‘myths’ . Oxford University. Available here .
• Trojan etymology . Etymologies.deChile.net. Available here .