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By Charis S. Fun Facts People say that the Trojan War was started by some of the goddesses of Mount Olympus. The Trojan War was also an apple’s fault. Yes, I know, an apple. This war was nine years long. Wow! Homer, a man was the one who started the myth (or was it true??) about the Trojan War and Horse. *Note: This history is based on the most common tales of Troy. You may know of a different version. How It All Started (A Long History) It all started when Thetis, a sea goddess got married. Except, Thetis accidentally forgot to invite Eris, the goddess of discord. On the day of the wedding, Eris stormed in the banquet hall and started yelling. Then Eris threw a golden apple. “ The fairest of the goddesses shall get it!” Eris stormed back out. In the fun facts, I mentioned that an apple started the whole Trojan War. Yes! It was a golden apple, this one. Now, “fairest” is old- speak for prettiest. Goddesses are really vain, in my opinion. Three goddesses , Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite dove for the golden apple. Zeus, the king of the gods, shouted “STOP!” Also, because Zeus could throw thunderbolts, the three goddesses stopped at once. Stop!! Zeus decided to ask Paris , a mortal on Earth to judge who was the “fairest”. That way, all the fighting would be over. So Hermes, the god’s messenger zipped down to Earth and brought back Paris, the prince of Troy from Earth. This is Hermes. Eeny meeny miney mo Catch a tiger by the toe… If he hollers “Let me go…” Each of the goddesses wanted to win the golden apple so badly. They each promised a gift that Paris would get if he picked her. “You will get to marry the most beautiful woman on Earth.” Aphrodite said. “You will get power if You choose me.” hera promised. “You will get wealth if you choose me.” Athena told Paris. Paris chose Aphrodite. Now, it happened the the most beautiful woman on Earth, Helen of Greece was already married to King Menelaus, the king of Greece. Well, with the help of Aphrodite, Paris kidnapped Helen and brought her back to Troy. When King Menelaus found out, he was really angry! He declared war. Odysseus, a smart man on the Greek team, (possibly with the help of Athena) had a large wooden horse built. After it was finished, a group of Greek warriors, and Odysseus climbed into it. The Trojans thought it was a gift of surrender, and hauled the horse into their city. The Trojans partied all night. However, when everyone was sleeping, the Greek climbed out and killed all the Trojans. Then the other Greeks that weren’t in the horse barged in, with their own horse, Theory Number One! Scientists say the whole Trojan stuff may not be real. The war may have been based on one huge drastic war, but really juicy details, like the horse and golden apple, may have been added as the story was passed on through the generations. Scientists say that the history is too complicated and twisted for people to actually carry out. Theory Number Two! Now, the wall of Troy was very strong. There was no possible way that the remaining Greeks could have come in. It is said that a natural disaster, an earthquake, weakened the wall, letting the Greeks break in. The horse may have been a sacrifice for Poseidon, the god of earthquakes, horses, and the sea, though Poseidon probably didn’t help because he didn’t exist. Obviously Poseidon wasn’t the one who “made” the earthquake, it was a natural disaster. Theory Number Three! It is said that the Trojan Horse was a battering ram. A battering rams are in the shape of horses. Armies use battering rams to break through enemy city gates. Sound familiar? The Greek may have used the Trojan Horse as their own battering ram, instead of Odysseus climbing in the horse. My Own Theory My own theory is that there was a feud between the Greeks and the Trojans, about Helen, who I think was half Greek and half Trojan. Unfortunately, the two countries hated each other, so Helen would’ve had to “choose a side” . The two countries turned to their gods and goddess for help, offering sacrifices on what to do when Helen couldn’t decide what to do. Eventually the Greeks and Trojans thought up a competition. An offering to Poseidon was to be made, and the best one would “get” Helen. The Greeks built what is known to us as the Trojan Horse. Because Poseidon, the god of the sea and horses, the Trojan Horse must’ve been a fitting sacrifice, and the Greeks won. Works Cited www.stanford.edu/~plomio/history.html www.bible-lands.net/cities/lachish/431-siegeoflachish-fortifications-bateringrams www.worldbook.com/student Ancient History Book Thanks for Watching! What do you think? Did the Trojan War exist? And did the Trojan Horse exist too?