Table of Contents
The Trojan War plays a central role in Greek mythology.
Origins & Cause
The conflict begins with a divine dispute among the goddesses concerning a golden apple inscribed "for the fairest". The goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite each claim it. The mortal Paris, prince of Troy, is appointed by Zeus to decide. Aphrodite offers him the world’s most beautiful woman, Helena, already married to Menelaos of Sparta. Paris takes (or elopes with) Helena to Troy—this abduction sparks the war.
The War & Key Features
In response, the Greek forces under Agamemnon are rallied to retrieve Helena and punish Troy. The war lasts about ten years and includes heroic figures such as Achilleus and Hektor. A famous turning point is the cunning plan devised by Odysseus: the Greeks build a huge wooden horse (the "Trojan Horse"), hide inside it, the Trojans bring it into their city thinking it a gift, the hidden Greeks open the gates at night and destroy Troy from within.
Historicity & Significance
While the story is mythological, scholars debate whether it reflects real historical events around the 13th-12th century BCE in Anatolia. Regardless of factual accuracy, the Trojan War myth has shaped Western literature and cultural memory significantly.