16
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Accepted
How old were Paris and Achilles at the time of the Trojan War?
Time and chronology tend to be fairly loose in Greek mythology, particularly as there are usually multiple authors treating the same subjects.
Regardless, Achilles is presumed to be a youth at the ...
- 14.1k
10
votes
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Is the Cumaean Sybil known by any other name?
There have actually been many names from almost as many sources. In the Aeneid, Virgil described the priestess as "Deiphobe, daughter of Glaucus":
ni iam praemissus Achtes
Adforet, atque una ...
- 7,786
9
votes
How old were Paris and Achilles at the time of the Trojan War?
The Actual Duration of the War
Towards the end of the Iliad, whose action takes place in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War, Helen says (in Line 765 of Book 24) that "this is now the ...
- 9,772
9
votes
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How did Helen get back from Troy?
There is not a canonical answer to this. Helen's portrayal in the Greek and Roman sources presents a wide variety of different interpretations. Perhaps most canonical is Apollodorus' Bibliotecha. ...
- 7,156
9
votes
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Was there an epic or drama detailing Menelaus's return?
The wanderings of Menelaus were described in the “Nostoi” attributed to Agias of Troezen. The remnants of this poem are collected by M.L. West in the Loeb volume “Greek Epic Fragments”. This is older ...
- 472
8
votes
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How did Aphrodite's promise of Helen to Paris work?
The earliest known account of the Judgement of Paris comes from the Cypria, a work which has since been lost. A preserved summary, however, states that:
Alexandros judges for Aphrodite, encouraged by ...
- 7,786
8
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Did the Trojans worship the gods by their Greek or Roman names?
The simple fact that in the Aeneid Vergil used Latin names is because the Aeneid was written in Latin. That is all there is to it. It was written much later—700 years later—and thus we cannot expect ...
- 7,156
8
votes
Accepted
Is there a referenced kill-count for Hector of Troy?
Hector's most famous kill is Patroclus, the second-in-command of Achilles over the Myrmidon forces on the Greek side of the Trojan War. Because of how close Patroclus was to Achilles, to whom he was ...
- 9,772
7
votes
Was there an epic or drama detailing Menelaus's return?
In Book 4 of the Odyssey, Menelaus mentions a few details of his voyage home, during his conversation with Telemachus:
"I was trying to come on here, but the gods detained me in Egypt, for my ...
- 17k
6
votes
Why was Astyanax thrown from the wall?
You're in good academic company to think it originated in sacrifice, but likely as its instantiated in the epic tradition. For one, the Greeks did not sacrifice anything by throwing it off the wall. A ...
- 7,156
6
votes
Why did the gods demand Iphigenia's sacrifice?
I've always thought it falls under Frazer's concept of Sympathetic Magic. In Ancient Greek, the idea of the lifeforce is bound with words related to breath or wind: ψυχή (psuke) and πνεῦμα (pneuma), ...
- 14.1k
6
votes
Odysseus raid on the Cicones at Ismaros (Odyssey Book 9 lines 40-66)
It was quite common to sack towns on the trip to, from, and even during the war. (Compare to the medieval Crusaders.) I don't have time to run down specific examples, but there is a discussion here: ...
- 14.1k
6
votes
Was it an option for the Trojans to give Helen back? Why didn't they?
Yes, the Trojans could have surrendered Helen to avoid war. Before the fighting began, an embassy composed of Menelaus and Odysseus was dispatched to Troy demanding the return of Helen. This the ...
- 7,786
6
votes
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Did the Trojans worship the gods by their Greek or Roman names?
The oversimplified, triple-diluted answer is that they used their Greek names.
But then, with the Question worded as it is, the answer is not justifiably so simple. The breakdown thereof can be ...
- 9,772
5
votes
What was Apollo's reason for siding with the Trojans?
Okay, first of all, Apollo is actually pretty neutral in the beginning of the war, very much like Zeus. It's after Zeus orders him to go get involved that he enters the war. Zeus secretly favored the ...
- 51
5
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How did Aphrodite even help the Trojans during the Trojan war?
Being the goddess of beauty and love doesn't turn Aphrodite harmless. Quite the contrary...
Theoi site gives a full summary of Aphrodite's role in the Trojan war.
Convinced Ares to side with the ...
- 2,277
5
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Of whom was the Trojan Palladium supposed to be an image?
It is an image of Pallas (hence the name) reputedly fashioned by Athena.
"This was the Palladium, a legless image three cubits high, made by Athene in memory of her dead Libyan playmate Pallas... ...
- 14.1k
5
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Why did the Trojans believe Cassandra's recognition of Paris?
@Bellerophon's answer is popularly believed to be correct. In this case Cassandra was not prophesying the future.
Hyginus (Fabulae XCIII) states that "Apollo brought it about that she should not ...
- 14.1k
5
votes
In the Ιliad why is there no continuation of the duel between Paris and Menelaus?
The Trojan War is the continuation of that duel. The idea of a duel between individuals, with no collective consequences, reappears sometimes in history during times of rugged individualism: in the ...
- 396
4
votes
Was Helen of Troy in Egypt during the war?
Ah, well,
Not a exact answer, as this is probably where you got it from, but, here goes!
At least three Ancient Greek authors denied that Helen ever went to Troy; instead, they suggested, Helen ...
- 6,719
4
votes
Was it an option for the Trojans to give Helen back? Why didn't they?
No.
From both an ancient philosophical approach, and one based on human nature, this was impossible.
Some of the answers cite the Iliad to show some attempts to avert the city's destruction, but ...
- 1,613
4
votes
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Why was it important that the cattle have 'never yet felt the goad?'
Sacrifices are usually expected to be of high quality and worth, pure, strong or unusual in some way. That's why virgins tend to be sacrificed in many myths and stories or rams, bulls and stallions (i....
- 258
4
votes
If the Trojans had a different language than the Achaeans, does this mean they spoke the same as Queen Dido?
Which Languages?
There is good reason to think that, as far as the myths are concerned, the Trojans probably did speak the same language as the Achaeans. At the foundation of Carthage its primary ...
- 9,772
4
votes
Why does Achilles continue fighting?
In Madeline Miller's Song of Achilles she posits that, after the death of his beloved friend, Achilles is seeking death.
This makes sense because the prophecy about Achilles' death was that if he ...
- 14.1k
4
votes
fate in mythology
A lot of Greek myths dealing with the concept of fate/destiny (Oedipus most clearly), are used to illustrate how you can't escape your fate, no matter how you try or what measures you take, it will ...
- 485
4
votes
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Why does Achilles put up with Agamemnon's abuse?
Because Athena forbids it, and says he will be rewarded if he obeys. From the Iliad book 1:
While Agamemnon spoke, the son of Peleus was gnawed by pain, and the heart in his shaggy breast was torn; ...
- 7,156
4
votes
Accepted
How does Glaucus know Patroclus killed Sarpedon?
The Greek you presented is the right line, and you're right that it's not clear what is going on.
Because the text doesn't actually say, it's anyone's guess why Homer might have had Glaucus name ...
- 7,156
3
votes
Why did the gods demand Iphigenia's sacrifice?
Homer nowhere mentions any sacrifice of Iphigenia, and debate is ancient on whether the “Iphianassa” whom Agamemnon offers as a potential bride to Achilles, at Iliad 9.145 & 9.287, is ...
- 1,307
3
votes
What more is known of Iapyx?
Iapyx the son of Daedalus is a different character from the physician compatriot of Aeneas. For some reason certain translators, especially in previous centuries, render the name of Aeneas's companion ...
- 9,772
3
votes
Accepted
The interruption of the duel in the Iliad
I am not sure where you got the idea that the truce in Book VII was a "sacred truce", but I'm afraid that is not the case. The concept of the sacred truce is very specific, it's a device designed to ...
- 17k
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