The Trojan War

The Trojan War is a common topic amongst English and historical scholars today. The main reason for the popularity of this subject is the overlap of its theme into a variety of fields. This story of war can be classified as an event in history, a story of mythology, and even an epic tale of literature. The events in this world-renowned experience, and the events leading up to it, defy anything anyone has ever studied simply because one can learn just about anything from its facts and stories. The matter of the Trojan War is truly a piece of learning and a piece of pleasure that is sure to interest even the narrowest of readers. This literary piece will delve into the Trojan War up to the funeral games for Patroclus. It will be studied from a mythological standpoint.

The Trojan War began with Zeus, father of the gods, desiring the nymph Thetis. However, a prophecy said this nymph would have a son who was greater than his father was. Zeus, scared that this prophecy would dethrone him, decided to arrange for her marriage to Peleus, king of the Myrmidons. At the wedding dinner, the goddess Discord, angry she was not invited, threw an apple on the table. The words, “For the Fairest” were written on the apple. The goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite saw the apple and fought over who was most beautiful. They consulted Zeus and asked him to pick the most beautiful of the three goddesses. Zeus, not wanting to ruin the relationship he had with all of them, decided that Paris, the young prince of Troy, should be the judge. Aphrodite came to him and offered him sexual deviances and other pleasures, but Paris denied the apple to her. Athena came to Paris and offered him knowledge and power, but he denied her the apple. Lastly, Hera came to him and offered him the most beautiful mortal on the earth. Paris gave the apple to Hera, and was told of Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta.

Paris left immediately for Sparta in search of Helen. He found the palace and met the beautiful queen for the first time. Hera, keeping her promise, made Helen fall in love with Paris. The young couple left that night and sailed back to Troy. The next morning, Menelaus was in a fitful rage when he learned that Helen was “kidnapped” and taken to Troy. The angry king demanded the return of his wife, but the government of Troy disagreed. Agamemnon, the brother of Menelaus and king of Mycenae, told him to call all the kings of Greece to Aulis to get ready for war against Troy. Menelaus approved and called all soldiers and kings of Greece to fight Troy for the return of Helen, but many did not come. The young king and Agamemnon, who was the next highest in command, rode around Sparta gathering the kings and soldiers who ignored the call to Aulis. They came upon Odysseus, who faked insanity to avoid going to Troy. While Odysseus was plowing the sand, a soldier threw Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, in front of the plow. Odysseus, a Greek hero, was forced to stop the act. He gathered his things and rode on with the kings.