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Trojan War

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

An ancient Roman fresco from Pompeii showing the meeting of Helen and Prince Paris, with a loyal dog looking on.

The Trojan War was a legendary conflict in Greek mythology that took place around the twelfth or thirteenth century BC. The war was fought by the Achaeans (Greeks) against the city of Troy. It began when Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. This event brought together many Greek heroes and led to a long siege of the city of Troy.

The war is one of the most important stories in Greek mythology and has been told through many books and poems. The most famous of these is Homer's Iliad, which describes events during the last days of the war. Another famous story, the Odyssey, tells of the journey home of Odysseus, one of the Greek heroes. Many other poems, tragedies, and stories also cover different parts of the war.

For a long time, people thought Troy might just be a myth. But in the late 1800s, an archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann dug at a place called Hisarlık in modern-day Turkey and found evidence that led many to believe this was the real Troy. While some believe the Trojan War was a real event, others think it may be a mix of many different stories from the time. Either way, the tale of the Trojan War remains a powerful and enduring part of ancient history and literature.

Images

Ancient Greek painting showing Achilles caring for his wounded friend Patroclus, from a 500 BC vase in Berlin.
A 17th-century painting by Jacob Jordaens showing a scene from Greek mythology, featuring gods and goddesses in a wedding scene.
An artistic depiction of the legendary Sack of Troy from ancient Greek mythology.
An ancient stone sarcophagus from around 500–490 BC shows an enthroned woman receiving gifts surrounded by musicians and dancers, reflecting a historical funerary celebration from ancient Anatolia.
An artistic depiction of The Judgment of Paris, a famous scene from Greek mythology where Paris decides which goddess is the fairest.
An ancient Greek vase showing the goddess Thetis giving weapons to her son Achilles, made around 575–550 BC.
Ancient figurines of musicians and dancers from the Troy Museum, showcasing musical instruments like the lyre and flute.
An ancient Roman mosaic showing a scene from Greek mythology where Odysseus finds Achilles hiding among the princesses. This artwork comes from a historic site in Spain and illustrates a famous story from ancient times.
A classic painting showing the mythological scene of Achilles being discovered on the island of Skyros.
An ancient Greek vase painting showing a scene from the myth of Philoctetes, showcasing detailed artwork from the 5th century BC.
Ancient Roman fresco showing the mythological scene of Achilles and Briseis, part of a wall painting from Pompeii.
Ancient Greek vase showing heroes Achilles and Ajax playing a game, from the Etruscan Museum.
Map showing the ancient region of the Troad, including the location of Troy and the area where Greek ships were believed to have been located.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Trojan War, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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