who were the trojans in greek mythology

Who were the trojans in greek mythology? By Steven Fiorini / How-to The Trojans

were people that lived in the city state of Troy on the coast of Turkey by the Aegean Sea, around the 12th or 13th Century BCE. We think they were of Greek or Indo-European origin, but no one knows for sure.

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Are there any good monsters in Greek mythology?

There are certain good monsters in Greek Mythology:— 1] Elder Cyclopes and Cyclopes that are sided with Posiedon. 2] Hundred-handed-ones (Hekatonkheires) like Briares. 3] Damasen the bane of Ares is the only friendly giant who avoids killing and fighting.

Were the Trojans Greek or Roman?

The Trojan horses were thought to be Greek by scholars a generation ago, just as the men who attacked them were Greeks. Greek pottery and Greek speakers were also found at Troy, but neither was dominant. Several new documents indicate that most Trojan speakers spoke a language closely related to Hittite and that Troy was a Hittite ally.

Who were the gods in the Trojan War?

Here are the major players of the Trojan War story that you’ll want to know by heart:

• Aphrodite: The Greek goddess of beauty, love and pleasure
• Athena: The Greek goddess of war and wisdom
• Hera: The Greek goddess of marriage, religion and all women. ...
• Zeus: The Greek god of thunder and sky who also ruled as the king of all gods from his home on Mount Olympus. ...
• Eris: The Greek goddess of discord

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Is there any truth in Greek mythology?

Is there any truth to Greek mythology? That the myths contained a considerable element of fiction was recognized by the more critical Greeks, such as the philosopher Plato in the 5th–4th century bce. In general, however, in the popular piety of the Greeks, the myths were viewed as true accounts.

Are Trojans Greek mythology?

According to the ancient Greek epic poet Homer, the Trojan War was caused by Paris, son of the Trojan king, and Helen, wife of the Greek king Menelaus, when they went off together to Troy. To get her back, Menelaus sought help from his brother Agamemnon, who assembled a Greek army to defeat Troy.

What did the Trojans do?

The Greeks pretended to sail away, and the Trojans pulled the horse into their city as a victory trophy. That night the Greek force crept out of the horse and opened the gates for the rest of the Greek army, which had sailed back under cover of night.

Who did the Trojans fight?

The Trojan War fought between the Greeks and Troy originated in the following manner. King Priam of Troy was wealthy and powerful; by his wife Hecuba and by concubines he had 50 sons and 12 daughters.

Who is the God of the Trojans?

GODS who supported the Trojans were: Aphrodite, Apollo, Poseidon, and (for a while) Athena.

Are Trojans Greek or Roman?

The Trojans were people that lived in the city state of Troy on the coast of Turkey by the Aegean Sea, around the 12th or 13th Century BCE. We think they were of Greek or Indo-European origin, but no one knows for sure.

Does Troy still exist?

Over the course of several centuries, Troy was repeatedly destroyed, but a new city would rise up on the ruins of the last. People lived there until Roman times. The ruins can still be seen today, about 220 miles to the southwest of Istanbul.

Is Troy a true story?

Most historians now agree that ancient Troy was to be found at Hisarlik. Troy was real. Evidence of fire, and the discovery of a small number of arrowheads in the archaeological layer of Hisarlik that corresponds in date to the period of Homer's Trojan War, may even hint at warfare.

Who Killed Paris of Troy?

archer PhiloctetesParis himself, soon after, received a fatal wound from an arrow shot by the rival archer Philoctetes. The “judgment of Paris,” Hermes leading Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite to Paris, detail of a red-figure kylix by Hieron, 6th century bc; in the Collection of Classical Antiquities of the National Museums in Berlin.

Who Won the Trojan War?

The GreeksThe Greeks finally win the war by an ingenious piece of deception dreamed up by the hero and king of Ithaca, Odysseus – famous for his cunning. They build a huge wooden horse and leave it outside the gates of Troy, as an offering to the gods, while they pretend to give up battle and sail away.

Why did Zeus support the Trojans?

Why does Zeus support the Trojans? Zeus supports the Trojan army because of a pact he makes with the sea nymph Thetis on behalf of her son, Achilles. After Agamemnon abducts Briseis, Achilles becomes so angry with Agamemnon that he will stop at nothing to get revenge on the king.

Why did the gods destroy Troy?

Hera and Athena had their revenge upon Paris and his city. Having accomplished their aim in sacking Troy, the Greeks now had to face the problem of getting back to their various kingdoms. This was a problem, for the gods had scores to settle with many Greeks.

What race was Achilles?

Achilles was the son of Peleus, a Greek king, and Thetis, a sea nymph or goddess.

Where did the Trojans live after the war?

It was believed that one of the Trojans had led the few surviving Trojans after the war to a place which we know as Italy today. The Trojan War has a special mention in Greek mythology, and thus the Trojans too happen to be a vital part of the Greek history.

What did the Trojans do to make a living?

The Trojans used to make a living with the produce that they cultivated on their farmlands and also by servicing the ships, which used to take shelter on the beach near Troy.Troy was a rich city and the Trojans were under constant threat of attack from the Greeks. The infamous Trojan War was a war between the people of Troy and ...

Who are the Amazons?

Athena. Demeter. Greek Goddess. Hephaestus. Hera. Medusa. Amazons Of Greek Mythology. Amazons were the female warriors of Greece, and they have a classical place in Greek mythology. They lived in a region somewhere between Scythia and Sarmatia.

Who is the most famous poet in the Trojan War?

Troy is most famous for the stories told by the Greeks hundreds of years later, specifically by the blind poet Homer. Homer himself is a mystery, as not much is known about his life, but he is credited with writing the epic poems The Iliad and its sequel, The Odyssey. The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War and the kidnapping of Helen, while The Odyssey tells of hero Odysseus' long journey home from war.

Where is the ancient city of Troy?

Map of Ancient Troy. Ancient Troy was located in modern day Turkey in what was once known as Asia Minor. It is located on the Dardanelles, a strait in Northwest Turkey. Troy had control of this strait which was important for trade and defense from enemies. In addition, Troy was a walled city, built to protect it from outside invaders.

What is the difference between the Iliad and Odyssey?

The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War and the kidnapping of Helen, while The Odyssey tells of hero Odysseus' long journey home from war. The story of the Trojan War is a synthesis of history and Greek mythology. The story begins with the kidnapping of Helen of Sparta by Prince Paris of Troy.

When was Troy founded?

Although there is no known exact date as to when Troy was founded, its Golden Age, or time when it prospered economically and politically is thought to have been sometime around 1800-1200 B.C.E.

Who kidnapped Helen of Sparta?

The story begins with the kidnapping of Helen of Sparta by Prince Paris of Troy. According to Greek legend, Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, fell in love with Paris with some help by Greek goddess Aphrodite, after Paris named her the fairest goddess of them all.

Is there written language to tell the history of Troy?

While there is no written language to tell the history of Troy, there is plenty of discussion surrounding it in Greek history and mythology, as well as archaeological evidence found at its alleged site. Troy once stood in modern day Turkey and controlled an important waterway for trade.

What is the Trojan War?

Trojan War. One of the most well-known tales ever narrated (most notably in Homer’s “Iliad”), the Trojan War is undoubtedly the greatest war in classical mythology. Waged by an Achaean alliance against the city of Troy, the war originated from a quarrel between three goddesses ( Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite) over a golden apple, ...

Where did the Achaeans land in Troy?

There was no time for losing: the Achaeans immediately set sail for Troy, even though no one knew the exact way. So, by mistake, they landed too far to the south, in the land of Mysia, ruled by King Telephus. The battle which ensued took the life of many a great Greek warrior, all the while highlighting Achilles ’ superhuman strength: in addition to killing numerous Mysians, Achilles (who was barely fifteen at the time!) managed to also wound their king Telephus, a son of Heracles. And as Telephus found out from an oracle soon after the Achaean ships left Mysia, this wound was so unique that it could only be cured by the one who had caused it. Eight years did Telephus search for Achilles, and, eventually, he found him in Aulis, where the Achaean leaders had gathered once again for a consultation, despairing over their incapability of reaching Troy. Now, Achilles had no medical knowledge whatsoever, so he was quite surprised when Telephus approached him with his request. Always shrewder than everybody, Odysseus realized that the prophecy might not refer to the man – but to the weapon which had inflicted the wound; heeding his advice, Achilles scraped off the rust of his Pelian spear over Telephus ’ wound, and, just like that, it stopped bleeding. Out of gratitude, Telephus agreed to tell the Greeks the route to Troy.

Why did the Greeks not sail from Aulis?

However, the Greeks now faced an even bigger problem: even though they finally knew the way to Troy, they were unable to set sail from Aulis because, for most of the time, there was no wind of any kind, let alone favorable one. The seer Calchas realized that this must be some kind of retribution from the goddess Artemis, furious at Agamemnon for killing one of her sacred deer. Artemis ’ demand for appeasement was an unspeakably cruel one: the sacrifice of Agamemnon 's virgin daughter, Iphigenia. After some deliberation, Odysseus lured Iphigenia to Aulis on the pretext of marriage with Achilles. After finding out that he had been used in such a vicious ruse, Achilles tried to save Iphigenia ’s life, only to learn that all of the other Greek commanders and soldiers are in support of the sacrifice. Bereaved of options, Iphigenia gracefully accepted her fate and placed herself on the altar. Some say that, unfortunately, that was the end of her; others, however, claim that just as Calchas was about to sacrifice her, Artemis substituted Iphigenia for a deer and took her to Tauris where she became the goddess' high priestess.

How old was Odysseus when he married Telemachus?

And for a good reason: by this time, Odysseus was a happily married father of a one-year-old boy named Telemachus, and he had learned from the seer Halitherses that if he took part in the Trojan expedition, it would take him many years to return home.

What was Zeus's feast?

The Apple of Discord. Now that the husband was determined, Zeus organized a grand feast in celebration of Peleus ' and Thetis ' marriage , at which all the other gods were invited , except for the disagreeable goddess of strife, Eris. Annoyed at being stopped at the door by Hermes, before leaving the gathering, she threw her gift amidst the guests;

How long was the Iliad in the Trojan War?

Even though Homer’s “ Iliad ” describes just a short period of about fifty days during the tenth year of the Trojan War (with the bulk of it focusing on no more than five), it is, unquestionably, the most well-known primary source for the conflict.

How long did the siege of Troy last?

The siege of Troy lasted for nine years , but the Trojans – able to maintain trade links with other Asian cities, in addition to getting constant reinforcements – firmly held their ground. Near the end of the ninth year, the exhausted Achaean army mutinied and demanded to return home; Achilles, however, boosted their morale and convinced them to stay a bit longer.

What was the Trojan War?

Trojan War, legendary conflict between the early Greeks and the people of Troy in western Anatolia, dated by later Greek authors to the 12th or 13th century bce. The war stirred the imagination of the ancient Greeks more than any other event in their history and was celebrated in the Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer, ...

How did the Trojans defeat the Greeks?

According to the Roman epic poet Virgil, the Trojans were defeated after the Greeks left behind a large wooden horse and pretended to sail for home. Unbeknown to the Trojans, the wooden horse was filled with Greek warriors. They sacked Troy after the Trojans brought the horse inside the city walls.

What happened when the Trojans brought the horse into their city?

When the Trojans brought the horse into their city, the hidden Greeks opened the gates to their comrades, who then sacked Troy, massacred its men, and carried off its women. This version was recorded centuries later; the extent to which it reflects actual historical events is not known. Trojan War.

Who was the Trojan king's son?

In the traditional accounts, Paris, son of the Trojan king, ran off with Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta, whose brother Agamemnon then led a Greek expedition against Troy. The ensuing war lasted 10 years, finally ending when the Greeks pretended to withdraw, leaving behind them a large wooden horse with a raiding party concealed inside. When the Trojans brought the horse into their city, the hidden Greeks opened the gates to their comrades, who then sacked Troy, massacred its men, and carried off its women. This version was recorded centuries later; the extent to which it reflects actual historical events is not known.

Who killed Achilles in the Trojan War?

In Arctinus’s Aethiopis, Achilles is said to have been killed by Paris of Troy. In the traditional accounts, Paris, son of the Trojan king, ran off with Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta, whose brother Agamemnon then led a Greek expedition ...

Who killed Penthesilea?

Achilles killing Penthesilea during the Trojan War, interior of an Attic cup, c. 460 bce; in the Museum of Antiquities, Munich.

Who painted the Trojan Horse?

The Procession of the Trojan Horse into Troy from Two Sketches Depicting the Trojan Horse, oil on canvas by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, c. 1760; in the National Gallery, London.

What is the Trojan War?

The events of the Trojan War are found in many works of Greek literature and depicted in numerous works of Greek art. There is no single, authoritative text which tells the entire events of the war. Instead, the story is assembled from a variety of sources, some of which report contradictory versions of the events. The most important literary sources are the two epic poems traditionally credited to Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey, composed sometime between the 9th and 6th centuries BC. Each poem narrates only a part of the war. The Iliad covers a short period in the last year of the siege of Troy, while the Odyssey concerns Odysseus's return to his home island of Ithaca following the sack of Troy and contains several flashbacks to particular episodes in the war.

Who wrote the dramas of the Trojan War?

Among Roman writers the most important is the 1st century BC poet Virgil; in Book 2 of his Aeneid, Aeneas narrates the sack of Troy.

How long did the Achaeans besiege Troy?

The Achaeans besieged Troy for nine years. This part of the war is the least developed among surviving sources, which prefer to talk about events in the last year of the war. After the initial landing the army was gathered in its entirety again only in the tenth year. Thucydides deduces that this was due to lack of money. They raided the Trojan allies and spent time farming the Thracian peninsula. Troy was never completely besieged, thus it maintained communications with the interior of Asia Minor. Reinforcements continued to come until the very end. The Achaeans controlled only the entrance to the Dardanelles, and Troy and her allies controlled the shortest point at Abydos and Sestos and communicated with allies in Europe.

What movies were based on the Trojan War?

Films based on the Trojan War include Helen of Troy (1956) , The Trojan Horse (1961) and Troy (2004) . The war has also been featured in many books, television series, and other creative works.

How did Zeus become king?

According to Greek mythology, Zeus had become king of the gods by overthrowing his father Cronus; Cronus in turn had overthrown his father Uranus. Zeus was not faithful to his wife and sister Hera, and had many relationships from which many children were born. Since Zeus believed that there were too many people populating the earth, he envisioned Momus or Themis, who was to use the Trojan War as a means to depopulate the Earth, especially of his demigod descendants.

What game did Achilles and Ajax play?

At some point in the war Achilles and Ajax were playing a board game ( petteia ). They were absorbed in the game and oblivious to the surrounding battle. The Trojans attacked and reached the heroes, who were only saved by an intervention of Athena.

How long was the Iliad?

The core of the Iliad (Books II – XXIII) describes a period of four days and two nights in the tenth year of the decade-long siege of Troy; the Odyssey describes the journey home of Odysseus, one of the war's heroes. Other parts of the war are described in a cycle of epic poems, which have survived through fragments.

What is the Trojan War?

For thousands of years, the mythical Greek tale of the Trojan War has delighted and haunted readers with its epic characters and unbelievable twists and turns. The topic of Hollywood movies, such as the 1997 film Trojan War, the story has its most notable roots in the Greek poem by Homer known as the Illiad. In the poem, Homer recounts four days in the 10-year fight for Troy after the Greek goddesses Athena, Aphrodite and Hera had a quarrel.

Why is the Trojan War out of control?

Pretty soon, the fight is out of control because a full on war has been waged. If there is any testing of this theory that can be heeded, it is in the Greek myth of the Trojan War.

Why did Eris and Athena quarrel?

The three goddesses Aphrodite, Athena and Hera began to quarrel soon after yet another goddess named Eris, the Greek goddess of fighting and discord, presented them with a golden apple. Eris was jealous because the three beautiful goddesses Athena, Aphrodite and Hera were invited to a wedding, and Eris was not.

Why did the Achaeans open the gates of Troy?

They opened the gates of Troy to let the rest of the hiding Achaean troops in who were outside of the city after sailing back in the night. The Achaeans then destroyed the city of Troy definitively, ending the 10-year Trojan War. The Greek heroes who were still alive made their way back home, if they could.

How long did Homer fight for Troy?

In the poem, Homer recounts four days in the 10-year fight for Troy after the Greek goddesses Athena, Aphrodite and Hera had a quarrel. That quarrel would turn into a 10-year war that no one could have predicted. Gods and goddesses fighting. Rivals and foes and marriages–all that could change at any moment.

What happened to Helen's brother in Troy?

There, the brother of Helen’s husband — named Agamemnon, gathers a troop of Achaean warriors and leads them to Troy to siege the city in revolt of Paris’ insult to taking his brother’s wife. This war becomes a 10-year war that leads to the deaths of many Greek heroes, including the vicious and brutal slaughter of many Trojans.

How long did the siege of Troy last?

The siege of Troy does not last just one day. It lasts 10 years total, peppered with battles that take on some of the most famous Greek heroes including Achilles and Hector, the prince of Troy.

What word did Homer use to describe the Trojans?

Words used by Homer are: Dardaniōnes, Δαρδανίωνες denotes Trojans in general. Dardanioi, Δαρδάνιοι, same as above. Dardanidai, Δαρδανίδαι, descendants of Dardanus; in Latin sometimes also used for Trojan women in the Aeneid. Dardanoi, Δάρδανοι, descendants of Dardanus, but also Trojan descendants of Assarakos.

Who claimed descent from Aeneas?

Many rulers of Rome claimed descent from Aeneas and the Houses of Troy and Dardania. Homer adds the epithet Dardanid (Δαρδανίδης) to Priam and to other prominent characters denoting that they are members of the house of the Dardanoi. Homer writes;

What is the Royal House of Troy?

The House of the Dardanoi (its members being the Dardanids, Greek: Δαρδανίδαι; Latin: Dardanidae) was older than the House of Troy, but Troy later became more powerful.

Who led the Dardanians?

The Dardanians were led by brave Aeneas, whom the fair Aphrodite, a goddess bedded with a mortal man, bore to Anchises in the mountains of Ida. He was not alone, for with him were the two sons of Antenor, Archilochus and Acamas, both skilled in all the arts of war.

The Background of The War

The Course of The War

The Aftermath

• Troy is most famous for the stories told by the Greeks hundreds of years later, specifically by the blind poet Homer. Homer himself is a mystery, as not much is known about his life, but he is credited with writing the epic poems The Iliad and its sequel, The Odyssey. The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War and the kidnapping of Helen, while Th...

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Trojan War Sources

• Peleus and Thetis
  The genesis of the Trojan War goes all the way back to a divine love contest, and a prophecy concerning the very foundations of the Olympian order. Namely, decades before its commencement, both Zeus and Poseidon fell in love with a beautiful sea-nymph named Thetis. …
• The Apple of Discord
  Now that the husband was determined, Zeus organized a grand feast in celebration of Peleus' and Thetis' marriage, at which all the other gods were invited, except for the disagreeable goddess of strife, Eris. Annoyed at being stopped at the door by Hermes, before leaving the gathering, she th…

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