The Trojan War
The Trojan War is the legendary war fought by Greek armies against the city of Troy after Paris takes Helen from Sparta. Its stories explore courage, loyalty, grief, and the terrible cost of victory, and form the background to several great classical poems.
Key stories of The Trojan War
Helen and the cause of war
Helen, wife of the Spartan king Menelaus, goes to Troy with Paris, a Trojan prince. Traditions differ over whether she goes willingly or is taken against her will.
In The Iliad, Helen stands beside Priam on Troy's walls and identifies the Greek leaders below. Their conversation brings her former life into view while the armies face each other.
In The Iliad by Homer
The anger of Achilles
Achilles withdraws from battle after a quarrel with the Greek commander Agamemnon. His refusal to fight brings terrible losses to his own side.
In The Iliad, Achilles allows Patroclus to wear his armour and lead his troops into battle. When Hector kills Patroclus, Achilles returns to the fighting to seek revenge.
In The Iliad by Homer
Hector and the grief of Troy
Hector is Troy's chief defender, but his courage cannot save him from Achilles. His death reveals the suffering of his family and city.
In The Iliad, Priam enters Achilles' shelter to ask for Hector's body. The two enemies share their grief, and Achilles agrees to return the body for burial.
In The Iliad by Homer
The wooden horse and Troy's fall
In the most common version, Greek soldiers hide inside a huge wooden horse while their army appears to sail away. The Trojans bring the horse into their city, allowing the Greeks to attack from within.
In The Aeneid, Aeneas recalls how the Trojans accepted the horse despite warnings. He then describes the city's destruction and his escape with his father and son.
In The Aeneid by Virgil
How to recognise The Trojan War in stories
- Look for Troy's walls, Greek ships, and a long siege.
- Notice heroes divided between personal honour and loyalty to their people.
- Watch for the wooden horse as a sign of deception and approaching disaster.
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Was the Trojan War real?
The legendary war may preserve memories of real conflicts, but its full story cannot be confirmed as history. Archaeology shows that ancient Troy existed and suffered destruction. That does not prove the particular deeds of Helen, Achilles, or the gods.
Does The Iliad tell the whole Trojan War?
No, The Iliad tells only a short part of the war, centred on Achilles' anger and Hector's death. It ends with Hector's funeral, not Troy's fall. The wooden horse and the city's destruction appear in other ancient works, including The Odyssey and The Aeneid.
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