Trojan War

Odysseus angered the Sea God Poseidon after befuddling, tricking, humiliating and blinding his son Cyclops Polyphemus. Odysseus had too much hubris and started to taunt Polyphemus giving his name and destination. In turn, Polyphemus prayed to his father to punish Odysseus. Therefore, Poseidon gave him a hard journey back to his home Ithaca.[It takes 10 years]

"Hear me, Poseidon Earthholder Seabluehair! If I am truly thy son, and thou art indeed my father, grant that Odysseus the conqueror of Troy - Son of Laertes - whose address is in Ithaca, may never reach his home! [Homer, Odyssey, 111]"

amanda

he helped odysseus

Yep, although there are some accounts of a true trojan war. Be that as it may, and nonfiction has roots in fiction.

The Trojan war was a war. Two countries were fighting to learn more about it read the Oddesey by Homer

Achilles and his Myrmidons were the best warriors in Greece at that time. After the falling out with Agamemnon (who took Achilles' concubine after his had to be returned to the Trojans), and Achilles' subsequent refusal to enter the battle, the Greeks didn't win a single engagement.

The Greeks had been beaten back to their ships, which were in danger of being destroyed (which would leave the Greeks at the mercy of the Trojans), so Patroclus, his longtime friend and companion, convinced Achilles to let him wear Achilles' armor and lead the Myrmidons into battle. Achilles agreed, but ordered Patroclus to break off the attack once the ships were no longer in danger. But in the heat of battle, Patroclus ignored the command and he fought the Tojans back to the city gates where he was killed by Hector (who assumed he was fighting Achilles). He had killed 53 Trojans that day.

Achilles, in anger, both at Hector and himself, Achilles challenged the Trojan prince to single combat, which Achilles won and then continued to lead the Myrmidons and the Achaeans to victory, ultimately dying at the hand of Paris.

After the King and Achilles decided they couldn't settle their arguement, one of Achilles's closest friends stole his armor and rode into battle pretending to be Achilles. After he was killed in battle, Achilles felt he needed to avenge his fallen friend.

Honestly, most of it probably happened in similar fashion to Homer's story. Just that those things they couldn't explain or didn't understand were attributed to divine intervention. I like the movie TROY for it's rendition of the War as a completely human event, even showing how it could appear Achilles was killed by an arrow to the heel.

Those who prefer to believe the Trojan War as fact accept the dates of

1194-1184 BC. However, Homer himself gave no dates.

After Patroclus is killed wearing Achilles' armor and the Trojans take possession of it, Hephaestus forges Achilles a new set of armor.

Notably, most of the women survive the sacking of Troy to become concubines to the warriors who led the Greek campaign. Andromache, Hector's wife, was taken by Achilles' son, Neoptolemus. Hecuba, the wife of Priam, was to be taken by Odysseus as a slave, but as she snarled and bit at him, the gods turned her into a dog so she could escape. Helen was taken back to Sparta by Menelaus. None of the men of the royal family survived.

One notable survivor, though, was Aeneas, who was third cousin to Hector, and a lieutenant in his army. Aeneas went on to Italy to found Alba Longa, and establish the roots of Rome.

The exact answer is Zeus. It was Zeus who wanted to couple with Thetis, but was warned by Prometheus that she would bear a son that would be greater than his father. Fearing for his throne, Zeus gave Thetis up to Peleus, one of the Argonauts. It was at the wedding of Thetis and Peleus that the Eris threw the golden apple.

Zeus also selected the judge of who would win the Golden Apple: Paris of Troy. In doing so, he set in motion the wheels that allowed Paris to take Helen as his bride (for giving the apple to Aphrodite, she promised him the hand of the most beautiful woman in the world in marriage).

So despite thinking it was Paris' fault, or Aphrodite's fault, or even Eris' fault, in the end, it was really Zeus' fault.

achilles

Details aren't given for every member of the family, since Priam had over 50 sons and daughters. Hector was killed by Achilles, Paris was killed by Philoctetes, and Priam himself was killed by Neoptolemus, Achilles' son. The women were all taken into slavery and their children either killed or made slaves as well.

In general, aside from Classical Sparta, women were viewed very poorly in ancient Greece. They were property of the men they married and the men, especially important ones, would often have many consorts and concubines. In myth, women are usually either the cause of the problem, or in need of saving.

Agamemnon, principal chief of the gathered Greeks (as he was king of Mycenae and all of Achaea) took a woman named Chryseis as a slave. Her father, a priest of Apollo, praed for her return, so Apollo sent a plague among the Greeks. The prophet, Calchas, after being sworn protection by Achilles, told Agamemnon that Chryseis needed to be returned to end the plague. Agamemnon agreed, but also declared that Achilles' slave, Briseis be brought to him as a replacement. Achilles, raging over the dishonor (and because he loves Briseis), prays to his mother, Thetis, for Zeus to help the Trojans gain the upper hand.

Most stories agree that he was killed by being thrown from the walls of Troy.

Some stories say that another baby was killed in his place, whether knowingly or unknowingly depends on the story, and he survived to found a dynasty, which also depends on the story you hear.

Justification is a difficult thing to prove, depending on who you ask. From the Greek point of view, especially that of Menelaus, the war was justified because he was chosen to be Helen's husband and no one had the right to take her from him. Her removal from Sparta, by divine means or otherwise, would have been a tremendous affront to his sovereignty, not to mention his manhood. So, from his standpoint, it was just.

Do you think Priam would agree?

The Achaeans versus the Trojans .

Greek & Roman armies :D

Hector, Prince of Troy.

Athena - Participated in the contest for the Golden Apple, but lost to Aphrodite. Aside from this, the Acheans were devout followers of Athena.

Poseidon - had a long-standing feud with Troy. While banished from heaven, Poseidon was made to work for Laomedon, the first king of Troy. After his work was done, Laomedon refused the agreed-upon payment, earning the ire of the god forevermore.

Hera - Also participated in the contest for the Golden Apple. Hera was well known for being spiteful and vengeful when she didn't get her way.

Hermes - acted mainly on Zeus' behalf, because he felt responsible for starting the war. Hermes did very little, but it was he that chose Paris for the contest for the Golden Apple, and he that led Priam safely to Achilles' tent to beg for the return of Hector's body.

Hephaestos - Sided with the Greeks out of spite against Aphrodite and Ares, and for devotion to his mother, Hera.

Thetis - Sided with the Greeks because she was the mother of Achilles.

The King of Sparta was Helen's husband, Menelaus.

Aphrodite was the winner of the beauty contest between her, Athena, and Hera. Each of the goddesses offered Paris, the judge, something different, and Aphrodite's offer, the love of the most beautiful woman, appealed to him the most. However, the most beautiful woman, Helen, was married to Menelaus, king of Sparta. When she was taken by Paris to Troy, a war ensued.