Crisis Cabinet
LGSMUN XV
The Trojan War
Prelude to the Conflict
The catalyst for the Trojan War emerged from a celestial beauty contest convened on Mount
Olympus. Paris, a Trojan prince endowed with the task of adjudicating this competition, found
himself enticed by the allure of three goddesses: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. Each goddess, in
pursuit of his favour, presented a bribe. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, offered the promise of
Helen, the most desired mortal woman, as Paris’ paramour.
However, this proved to be consequential. Helen, known as the ‘face that launched a thousand
ships,’ was the wife of Menelaus, the King of Sparta. Unconstrained by their marriage, Paris
escaped with Helen, acting as a threat to Menelaus’ honour. Infuriated by his offence, Menelaus
invoked the oaths of loyalty, rallying several Greek kings to exact retribution and restore his
honour with preparation for war, giving rise to the conflict: the Trojan War.
The Formation of the Greek Coalition and Trojan Resolve
In response to Menelaus’ request, the Greek coalition united under the command of
Agamemnon, the brother of Menelaus. This alliance encompassed an array of warriors and a
fleet of vast proportions. Among the pantheon of heroic figures who answered the call were
Achilles - accompanied by his comrade, Patroclus - Odysseus, Diomeded, Ajax the Great and
Nestor. The Trojan’s, under the guidance of King Priam and the prowess of his sons, Hector and
Paris acted as the bulwark against the Greek attack.
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The Role of the Gods
Guided by their vested interests, the Gods wove a tapestry of allegiances and antagonisms.
Athena and Hera, shamed by Paris’ rejection, casted their support for the Greeks. Aphrodite, who
had won Paris’ favour, supported the Trojans. Apollo, Poseidon, and a collection of other deities
similarly allied themselves with one of the two opposing sides, exacerbating the tensions within
the war.
The Wrath of Achilles
Achilles’ role in the events was overshadowed by an argument with Agamemnon over owning
Briseis, a captured woman. Consequently, the Greeks suffered the loss of their strongest warrior
who withdrew from the battlefield. The vacancy precipitated a sequence of calamitous reversals
for the Greeks. Capitalising on Achilles’ absence, Hector surged forth to drive the Greeks to the
precipice of defeat. The nadir of this sequence was the loss of Patroclus, killing Achilles’ fury,
compelling his return to the fray.
The Duel of Hector and Achilles
The Trojan War reached its climax when Achilles and Hector faced each other in a battle. Hector,
aware of the prowess of his opponent, still faced him with valour. Hector was overpowered by
Achilles, the victor of their duel.
Marking a tragedy in the Trojan War, Hector’s body was tied to Achilles’ chariot and dragged
back to the Greek camp.
Achilles’s Demise and the Stratagem of the Trojan Horse
Guided by Apollo, Paris unleashed an arrow targeting Achilles’ heel, leading to his death.
Consequently, Odysseus conjured the stratagem of the Trojan Horse: a statue concealing a group
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of Greek warriors. Employing deception, the Greeks orchestrated the transport of this ruse to the
gates of Troy.
Beguiled into believing the victory was theirs and that the horse constituted a gesture of
reconciliation, The Trojans granted the horse entry. Shortly met by the emergence of the
warriors, the Greek army was facilitated into the sanctuary.
The Fall of Troy
The immediate aftermath of these events bore calamitous consequences for Troy. The Greeks,
unburdened from the constraints of the city’s walls, surged forth and overwhelmed Troy,
transforming the once-magnificent city into ruins.
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