Questions tagged [trojan-war]
Questions related to the 10 year long war between the Trojans and Achaeans(Greeks).
37
questions
0
votes
0
answers
21
views
How do readers of Homer's Odyssey tend to react to Odysseus' raid on the Cicones at Ismaros?
Near the beginning of Book 9, the first incident in Odysseus' account to his Phaeacean hosts of his journey home after the Trojan War.
- 648
2
votes
1
answer
92
views
Is there any evidence as to which incidents in the Odyssey were invented by Homer and which were existing legends (apart from the Trojan War)?
Homer's epic the Odyssey is mainly about the Greek hero Odysseus' adventures on his way home from the Trojan War, including raiding the Cicones at Ismaros, the lotus eaters, the Cyclops' cave, the ...
- 648
3
votes
1
answer
94
views
How does Glaucus know Patroclus killed Sarpedon?
I'm reading the Loeb Iliad so I have the original Greek text alongside English and am confused when reading verse Il. 16-543:
τὸν δ᾽ ὑπὸ Πατρόκλῳ δάμασ᾽ ἔγχεϊ χάλκεος Ἄρης.
... Him [Sarpedon] has ...
- 133
2
votes
2
answers
165
views
Shouldn't Helen of Troy be Helen of Sparta?
Wasn't the Trojan war fought precisely because Helen was not of Troy, but of Sparta? How come we call her "Helen of Troy."
- 121
2
votes
1
answer
122
views
Which world mythologies depict humans directly harming or killing gods in combat?
In The Iliad, the Greek warrior Diomedes directly attacks and wounds both Aphrodite and Ares in a single day. He does so with the blessing of Athena, but the story makes it clear that it is Diomedes ...
- 540
0
votes
1
answer
149
views
Why does Achilles put up with Agamemnon's abuse?
Why doesn't Achilles simply kill Agamemnon and his army?
Agamemnon seriously disses him, repeatedly and it's an honor/shame society.
- 14.1k
1
vote
1
answer
211
views
Has there been a reconstruction of the Aethiopis, Little Iliad, Iliou persis or Nostoi?
I am planning on reading the Epic Cycle. Apart from the Iliad and Odyssey the original texts are only fragmentary. I have found reconstructions of the Cypria and Telegony by D.M. Smith.
Is there ...
- 33
6
votes
2
answers
936
views
What is the significance of the two cities on the Shield of Achilles?
In Book 18 of the Iliad, Homer describes the Shield of Achilles. The second layer from the shield's centre features scenes from two cities. In the first city a wedding and a tribunal are taking place:
...
- 17k
2
votes
1
answer
112
views
Issues with the temporality of Heracles
When I was in Greece recently, almost everyone I met (writers, politicians, common people) believe that Heracles was a real person. One of Hippocrates' forefathers was Heracles (from his mother's ...
- 21
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a referenced kill-count for Hector of Troy?
According to many sources Hector was the greatest warrior of Troy.
In the Iliad, Hector did not approve of war between the Greeks and the Trojans, and for ten years, the Achaeans besieged Troy and ...
- 4,051
4
votes
2
answers
484
views
In the Ιliad why is there no continuation of the duel between Paris and Menelaus?
In the Iliad why is there no continuation of the duel between Paris and Menelaus?
I guess I will never understand the mentality of the Iliad but the whole war is started by a Paris vs Menelaus ...
- 413
0
votes
1
answer
712
views
fate in mythology
How did the ancient Greeks deal with the concept of fate that is the characters have "free will" they are intelligent and their choices are not predetermined but certain events are predetermined. (...
- 413
5
votes
2
answers
196
views
Why does Achilles continue fighting?
Why does Achilles continue fighting after killing Hector?
He only returned to avenge Patroclus and he did that. Didn't he end up feeling empathy for Priam and the Trojans?
- 413
7
votes
1
answer
379
views
Did Helen and Stentor have voice-related "super-powers"?
Helen's Many Voices
In Odyssey 4.274-289 Menelaus recounts a story from the time that he and other leaders of the Greek forces at Troy were hiding in the famous decoy wooden horse which they used as ...
- 9,772
5
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Was it an option for the Trojans to give Helen back? Why didn't they?
In the Trojan War in Greek Mythology the Greeks spent 10 years fighting to capture Troy, because the Trojan Prince Paris had stolen the Greek King Menelaus' beautiful wife Helen.
Finally when the ...
- 648
8
votes
1
answer
667
views
How did Aphrodite's promise of Helen to Paris work?
When Paris was asked to choose a recipient for the Golden Apple of Discord, he accepted Aphrodite's bribe and gave it to her in exchange for Menelaus's wife Helen. Paris later took Helen from Menelaus ...
- 183
1
vote
1
answer
277
views
Why was it important that the cattle have 'never yet felt the goad?'
In the Iliad, book 6, there is a line were Hector is speaking to his mother.
"...Get the matrons together, and go with offerings to the temple of Athena driver of the spoil; there, upon the knees ...
- 6,685
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How did Aphrodite even help the Trojans during the Trojan war?
I am a Latin student, and currently studying the Trojan war myths
How could Aphrodite, being the goddess of love (being almost as far from a war goddess as possible) help Paris and the Trojans ...
- 53
2
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Who kept the Cumaean Sybil in a jar (ampulla)?
I have previously asked a question about the Virgin of Cumae, or the Cumaean Sybil, so the info will, for the most part, just be a memorize and type deal.
The Virgin of Cumae was a priestess with the ...
- 6,685
1
vote
1
answer
47
views
Who came to Troy?
Near the end of Book II of the Iliad, Homer says that if he had nine tongues, he could not list all those that came. He then lists as many as he can. Do other authors add to the list?
- 6,685
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What was Apollo's reason for siding with the Trojans?
It doesn't make sense to me. After the rebellion by Poseidon, Hera, Athena and Apollo, Poseidon and Apollo were sent to Troy as mortals to build a wall. When they finished, Troy's king refused to ...
- 6,685
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What more is known of Iapyx?
Iapyx is the son of Daedalus, brother to Icarus. Apollo gave him the gift of healing and was with Aeneas as a hand-full of Trojans fled the fallen city. What more is known between/after these snippets ...
- 6,685
3
votes
1
answer
105
views
Why did the Trojans accept Paris back?
I just learned that Paris was exposed as a baby (left outside to die).
How did he survive? If he was exposed, why did the Trojans accept him back as their prince?
- 6,685
4
votes
1
answer
174
views
The interruption of the duel in the Iliad
I remember there is a point in the Iliad where they try to put an end to the war. They have two men, one from each side, fight each other to see who gets to keep Helen and her riches. The Achaean ...
- 6,685
5
votes
2
answers
897
views
If the Trojans had a different language than the Achaeans, does this mean they spoke the same as Queen Dido?
I have previously asked if the Trojans called the gods by their Greek names (Athena, Demeter...) or their Roman names (Minerva, Ceres...). I was told they had their own language and the two sides had ...
- 6,685
7
votes
1
answer
588
views
Is the Cumaean Sybil known by any other name?
Warning- Extremely deep in Greek/Roman myth.
The Virgin of Cumae, or the Cumaean Sybil, was a priestess with the gift of prophecy. She would write her prophecies on oak leaves an arrange them. But, ...
- 6,685
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Did the Trojans worship the gods by their Greek or Roman names?
In the Iliad by Homer(and relating stories by him about the Trojan War), all the god's names are Greek. But in the Aeneid by Virgil, a story that takes place immediately during and after the fall of ...
- 6,685
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why did the gods demand Iphigenia's sacrifice?
In the Greek drama (?) Iphigenia, in order to be able to go on a war against Troy, the Greeks need wind, and for the wind, they need to sacrifice Agamemnon's daughter (the gods demand it). Menelaus ...
- 281
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How is Diomedes distinct among the other two "ultimate warriors" of the Achaeans?
I've always considered Diomedes the most impressive of the three, which also includes Achilles and big Ajax, because, unlike Achilles, Diomedes is not a demi-god with potentially invulnerable skin (...
- 14.1k
5
votes
1
answer
184
views
Of whom was the Trojan Palladium supposed to be an image?
I've been studying book two of the Aeneid, in which Diomedes and Odysseus steal the Palladium from Troy.
My translation notes say that the Palladium was an image of Pallas, "whom the Greeks ...
- 161
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Odysseus raid on the Cicones at Ismaros (Odyssey Book 9 lines 40-66)
Open question for thoughts and explanations re Odysseus’ raid on the Cicones (also called Kikonians) while on his way home from the Trojan War, on any of my questions below and/or other thoughts of ...
- 648
7
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why was Astyanax thrown from the wall?
There are several conflicting accounts of the death of baby Scamandrius (aka Astyanax), son Hector and Andromache, but several important sources, including Pausanias [Descriptions of Greece, 10.25.9], ...
- 14.1k
9
votes
1
answer
582
views
Why did the Trojans believe Cassandra's recognition of Paris?
The Trojan princess Cassandra was cursed by Apollo that nobody would ever believe her. Apparently though, the curse wasn't completely effective:
After Cassandra grew up, she again spent a night in ...
- 17k
15
votes
4
answers
23k
views
How old were Paris and Achilles at the time of the Trojan War?
Paris of Troy was presumably an adult at the time of the marriage of Peleus and Thetis and the Judgement of Paris. That would mean Paris was at least 15-20 years older than Achilles. Other than that, ...
- 17k
6
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Was Helen of Troy in Egypt during the war?
In the myth of Helen of Troy, there has been noted a story from Egyptian mythology of Helen coming to Egypt and staying there, her double being sent on to be imprisoned and have a war fought over. ...
- 61
8
votes
2
answers
282
views
Was there an epic or drama detailing Menelaus's return?
In book IV of the Odyssey (translator Robert Fitsgerald), Menelaus mentions he spent 7 years returning to Sparta. This seems like it would be something that somebody in ancient times would write about....
- 275
10
votes
1
answer
767
views
How did Helen get back from Troy?
The nostoi, or journeys home, of many of the heroes of the Trojan War are recounted by Homer -- most famously that of Odysseus -- or were known in antiquity but later lost. Is anything known about how ...
- 211