Questions tagged [trojan-war]
Questions related to the 10 year long war between the Trojans and Achaeans(Greeks).
37
questions
2
votes
1
answer
114
views
How did the Trojans get Aphrodite's Veil in the first place?
Long before Paris stole Helen from Menelaus and took her back to Troy with him, a move that launched the legendary Trojan War, there was another kidnapping of note. My question is related to that ...
2
votes
1
answer
106
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
103
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
204
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
133
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 ...
- 548
0
votes
1
answer
183
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.
- 14.2k
1
vote
1
answer
270
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
1k
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:
...
- 17.1k
2
votes
1
answer
113
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 ...
- 4,067
4
votes
2
answers
496
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
777
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
203
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
483
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 ...
- 9,845
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