Events leading to The
Trojan War
Apple of Discord
 The marriage between Peleus and Thetis, a seagoddess.
 Peleus and Thetis had not invited Eris, the goddess of
discord.
 Apple of Discord
 The apple belonged to, Eris said, whomever was the
fairest.
 Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite each reached for the
apple.
 Zeus proclaimed that Paris, prince of Troy and thought
to be the most beautiful man alive, would act as the
judge.
 Hera promised him power, Athena promised him
wealth, and Aphrodite promised the most beautiful
woman in the world.
 Paris chose Aphrodite, and she promised him that
Helen, wife of Menelaus, would be his wife.
 Menelaus then called upon all of Helen's old suitors, as all of the
suitors had made an oath long ago that they would all back
Helen's husband to defend her honor.
 Achilles, though not one of the previous suitors, was sought after
because the seer Calchas had stated that Troy would not be taken
unless Achilles would fight.
Trojan War
 The first nine years of the war consisted of both war in
Troy and war against the neighboring regions.
 The Greeks are winning most of the war until Achilles is
insulted.
 After being insulted, Achilles withdraws from battle.
 With the Greek forces on the verge of absolute
destruction, Patroclus leads the Myrmidons into battle
wearing Achilles' armor, though Achilles remains at his
camp. Patroclus succeeds in pushing the Trojans back
from the beaches, but is killed by Hector before he can
lead a proper assault on the city of Troy.
 Enraged over the death of Patroclus, Achilles ends his
refusal to fight and takes the field killing many men in
his rage but always seeking out Hector. Achilles even
engages in battle with the river god Scamander
 Zeus even intervenes and has many gods hold him
back.
 Finally Athena goes to Hector in the form of his favorite
brother, Deiphobus, and convinces him to meet Achilles
for battle.
 Achilles kills him and drags his body with his chariot
around the city of Troy for everyone to see.
 Eventually Paris kills Achilles by shooting him through
the heel with an arrow.
 Still seeking to gain entrance into Troy, clever
Odysseus (some say with the aid of Athena) ordered a
large wooden horse to be built. Its insides were to be
hollow so that soldiers could hide within it.
 After exiting the Trojan Horse, the Greeks sack Troy.
 The war is over after ten years.
 The Odyssey details the return home for one of the
Greek leaders, Odysseus.