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why was the trojan war important to greek history

by Xavier Kutch Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The Trojan War was a huge and important war in Greek mythology. It was important because it's the earliest recorded myth that we have that was written down, and it set the stage for the Odyssey and the Illiad.Sep 13, 2019

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What are facts about the Trojan War?

Trojan War

  • History of the Bronze Age and Troy. The Bronze Age was the first era known for humans to create tools and weapons made out of metal which replaced their stone ...
  • Homer's Greek Gods. ...
  • The Trojan horse. ...
  • Allusions of the Trojan War. ...
  • Trojan War in Pop Culture. ...
  • Stories, books, movies. ...
  • References. ...

Why was Odysseus important to the Trojan War?

Odysseus’s wanderings and the recovery of his house and kingdom are the central theme of the Odyssey, an epic in 24 books that also relates how he accomplished the capture of Troy by means of the wooden horse.Books VI–XIII describe his wanderings between Troy and Ithaca: he first comes to the land of the Lotus-Eaters and only with difficulty rescues some of his companions from their lōtos ...

Why did the Trojan War really start?

Trojan War War between the Greeks and Trojans, lasting 10 years. It began when Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, kidnapped Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. When the Trojans refused to return her, the Greeks formed an army, led by Agamemnon, including Achilles, Odysseus and the two Ajaxes.

Why were the gods in the Trojan War?

Why did the gods take sides in the Trojan War? The Gods Choose Sides Athena and Hera, still harboring a grudge against Paris, came to the Greeks’ aid along with Poseidon. Aphrodite sided with the Trojans, and Artemis and Apollo did as well. Zeus vowed to remain neutral, but in his heart he favored the Trojans.

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What is the importance of the Trojan War to Greek culture?

Not only did the inclusion of the Trojan War serve as a way to help the Greeks remember the myths and history of their past, but it helped link the Greeks to a common enemy during the period of the Persian Wars.

What is the historical significance of the Trojan War?

The Trojan War has defined and shaped the way ancient Greek culture has been viewed right up to the 21st century CE. The story of gods and heroic warriors is perhaps one of the richest single surviving sources from antiquity and offers insights into the warfare, religion, customs, and attitudes of the ancient Greeks.

Why is Troy so important in Greek mythology?

Troy was a city in the region of Asia Minor in modern-day Turkey, which was the setting of one of the most famous events in Greek mythology, the Trojan War. The Greek fleet set sail for Troy after the city's prince, Paris, abducted or, according to other sources, eloped with Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta.

What does Trojan War teach us?

The Iliad, the story of the Trojan War, offers several moral lessons to its readers, including the importance of leaders treating their soldiers with respect, the importance of accepting apologies, and the need for respecting family bonds.

What are the 4 reasons for the Trojan War?

In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta....2.6.1 Penthesilea and the death of Achilles.2.6.2 Judgment of Arms.2.6.3 Prophecies.2.6.4 Trojan Horse.

What are 3 facts about the Trojan War?

The Trojan War was a fight that happened in the Bronze Age. It happened between Troy and Mycenaean, Greece. The war has been found to be happening around 1,180 B.C., which might be when it happened in the story of Homer, who created the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey.”

What was the outcome of the Trojan War?

The Greeks triumphed over many towns near Troy, but Troy itself avoided defeat for ten years (Troy). During the first nine years of the war, hardly any progress was made towards rescuing Helen (Trojan War).

What makes Troy a hero?

In August Wilson's “Fences” Troy is viewed as a tragic hero, to be a tragic hero one must have dignity, something to fight for, and a downfall, Troy is the perfect example of a tragic hero because he possess all three of these qualities.

What Greek God was involved in the Trojan War?

The gods took part in the war as well, affecting the outcome of various battles. Apollo, Artemis, Ares, and Aphrodite sided with the Trojans, while Hera, Athena, Poseidon, Hermes, and Hephaestus aided the Greeks.

What are 5 facts about the Trojan War?

Here's a look at some interesting mythological facts about the details of the Trojan War:Paris Was a Catalyst of the War. ... Eris Played a Part on the Trojan War. ... Prince Hector of Troy Died a Hero. ... The Trojan Horse Turned the Tide. ... Achilles' Was a Hero of the Trojan War.

What did the Greeks want from Troy?

The Narrative of the Trojan War Agamemnon was joined by the Greek heroes Achilles, Odysseus, Nestor and Ajax, and accompanied by a fleet of more than a thousand ships from throughout the Hellenic world. They crossed the Aegean Sea to Asia Minor to lay siege to Troy and demand Helen's return by Priam, the Trojan king.

Why was Troy important to the Romans?

The Romans attached great importance to Troy because they believed it was the granddaughter of Aphrodite's son and Trojan War hero Aeneas. Although the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) offered sacrifices to this place, the concrete plans there were realized by Emperor Augustus (63 – 63 AD).

How did Zeus feel about Troy?

Athena and Hera, still harboring a grudge against Paris, came to the Greeks' aid along with Poseidon. Aphrodite sided with the Trojans, and Artemis and Apollo did as well. Zeus vowed to remain neutral, but in his heart he favored the Trojans.

What started the Trojan War?

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 Menel...

Was the Trojan War real?

There has been much debate over historical evidence of the Trojan War. Archaeological finds in Turkey suggest that the city of Troy did exist but t...

Who won the Trojan War?

The Greeks won the Trojan War. According to the Roman epic poet Virgil, the Trojans were defeated after the Greeks left behind a large wooden horse...

What happened to Achilles in the Trojan War?

The death of Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior of the Trojan War, is not described in Homeric works. In Arctinus’s Aethiopis, Achilles is said t...

What started the Trojan War?

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.

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.

Who won the Trojan War?

The Greeks won the Trojan War. 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 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 was the Trojan War?

The story of the Trojan War—the Bronze Age conflict between the kingdoms of Troy and Mycenaean Greece–straddles the history and mythology of ancient Greece and inspired the greatest writers of antiquity, from Homer, Herodotus and Sophocles to Virgil. Since the 19th-century rediscovery of the site of Troy in what is now western Turkey, archaeologists have uncovered increasing evidence of a kingdom that peaked and may have been destroyed around 1,180 B.C.—perhaps forming the basis for the tales recounted by Homer some 400 years later in the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey.”

When was the Trojan War epic written?

The Trojan War Epics. Little is known about the historical Homer. Historians date the completion of the “Iliad” to about 750 B.C., and the “Odyssey” to about 725. Both began within the oral tradition, and were first transcribed decades or centuries after their composition.

How long did the siege of Troy last?

The siege, punctuated by battles and skirmishes including the storied deaths of the Trojan prince Hector and the nearly-invincible Achilles, lasted more than 10 years until the morning the Greek armies retreated from their camp, leaving a large wooden horse outside the gates of Troy.

When was Troy destroyed?

Since the 19th-century rediscovery of the site of Troy in what is now western Turkey, archaeologists have uncovered increasing evidence of a kingdom that peaked and may have been destroyed around 1,180 B.C. —perhaps forming the basis for the tales recounted by Homer some 400 years later in the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey.”.

Who discovered the citadel in Troy?

Major excavations at the site of Troy in 1870 under the direction of German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann revealed a small citadel mound and layers of debris 25 meters deep.

Is the Trojan War a Real War?

Many portions of the Trojan War epics are difficult to read historically. Several of the main characters are direct offspring of the Greek gods (Helen was fathered by Zeus, who disguised himself as a swan and raped her mother Leda), and much of the action is guided (or interfered with) by the various competing gods. For example, Paris supposedly won Helen’s love after awarding the Goddess Aphrodite the golden apple for her beauty (“The Judgment of Paris” tells the story of how Paris was asked to select the most beautiful goddess between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite by granting the winner a golden apple). Lengthy sieges were recorded in the era, but the strongest cities could only hold out for a few months, not 10 full years.

Who was the hero of the Trojan War?

The heroes of the Trojan War continue to fascinate audiences. Perhaps the most famous of all the Greek heroes who fought in Troy's 10-year siege is Achilles. His adventures, especially in Homer's work, are among the most memorable in all of Graeco-Roman mythology. The young warrior who was invincible in battle because of his swiftness and lived only for glory was the ultimate Greek hero and a cultural icon who inspired conquerors, politicians, poets, and artists. The myths of Achilles need to be understood, as they offer a unique window into the Greek World and mindset.

What was Achilles' role in the Trojan War?

Achilles was to the Greek’s the embodiment of the heroic ideal. He represented the virtues that they most admired. But he also represented to them the price of glory that was violence and early death. The warrior who slew Hector was central to the mythology of the Trojan War. A cult grew up around this legendary hero, demonstrating how influential myths were in the Classical World. Achilles was critical in the culture of the Ancient World. He was important in the development of the ethos of the aristocracy of the Greek world, and many famous figures modeled their conduct on the warrior.

What did Agamemnon do to Achilles?

However, despite this, Agamemnon angered Achilles when he demanded that Myrmidon hand over a slave girl. The son of Thetis reluctantly agreed, felt shamed and refused, to take any further part in the war, and this his anger leads to a catalog of deaths and disasters. In the words of Homer ‘Sing, O Muse, of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.’ Odysseus and his old tutor Phoenix gave him gifts to stay. Ajax told Achilles that he was turning his back on his old comrade-in-arms.

Why did Odysseus disguise Achilles as a girl?

However, the King of Skyros did not want Achilles to go, disguised the youth as a girl so that the Achaeans would not find him. While visiting the court at Skyros, Odysseus had a trumpet blast, and immediately Achilles rushed to get a sword, showing his martial spirit. The wily Greek then recognized the young hero and persuaded him to join the expedition to Troy.

Why was Achilles important to the Greeks?

Achilles soon became a crucial part of the Achaean army during Troy's siege in an effort to retrieve Helen of Troy. The young hero became one of the expedition’s most feared fighters. Such was his prestige that, on one occasion, he persuaded the Greeks to stay and continue the siege after a defeat. In the Iliad, he is shown as the favorite of the Goddess Artemis. Homer portrays him as being quick to anger and, at times lacking in self-control, and this was to have tragic consequences.

Who is Achilles in Greek mythology?

The great Greek dramatists and poets often depicted Achilles and his life in their works. He is a central character in works by Pindar, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Sadly, many of these works are now lost. He was revered by many of the greatest figures in Greek history. He was the embodiment of the great warrior and, in many ways, was the ideal man. Achilles had all the characteristics that the Hellenes admired.

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