Myths and Legends of the World

OK recap: MVP's death: "Paris's death" New MVPs: Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, and Helenus To War: Still seeking to gain entrance into Troy, Odysseus (inspire by the Goddess Athena) ordered a large wooden horse to be built. The plan was to open Troy's gates, so they could bring the main body of the Greek army into the city. Odysseus was the leader of this company. Its insides were to be hollow so that soldiers could hide within it. Once the statue had been built by the artist Epeius; thirty soldiers and two spies in its mouth, along with Odysseus hid in the Trojan horse's belly. The rest of the Greek fleet sailed away to isle of Tenedos, so as to deceive the Trojans. A Greek spy, Sinon, was deliberately left behind, who would try to convince the Trojans that the Greeks had sailed home, and that Trojans should bring the horse inside their walls. When the Trojans came to marvel at the huge creation, Sinon pretended to be angry with the Greeks, stating...

OK recap: Gods are back: Zeus allow the gods to intervention again. Famous matchup: Achilles vs. Hector MVPs’ death: Hector, Achilles, Ajax, Memnon, and  Penthesileia To War: The Greeks were dismayed by the deaths of two of their greatest fighters. The city seemed as invulnerable as ever. The Greek seer, named Calchas, told them Troy won't fall until the Greeks do two things: Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, joins the war The bow and arrows of Heracles must be brought to Troy Odysseus easily persuaded young Neoptolemus to join the Greeks. Neoptolemus was his father's son and a better warrior.  The bow of Heracles, however, belonged to one of the Greek leaders named Philoctetes, whom the Greeks had abandoned on the island of Lemnos due to the vile odor from snakebite. Philoctetes was bitter of the Greeks deserting him on the uninhabited island, and he refused to join the Greeks, when they arrived. Philoctetes want to kill Odysseus, Agamemnon and Menelaus...

Ok recap: Suitor’s military alliance: Helen’s “kidnapping” sparked a war with Troy and her allies. Leaders of Greece assemble for the Rescue of Helen and the Destruction of Troy. Death of Lover: Patroclus, Lover of Achilles, was killed by Hector and unleash the fury of Achilles To War: Achilles came to the battlefield, with new armor and shield from his mother, fashioned by the god Hephaestus. Homer gave a long description of the shield's design. Achilles was determined to seek out and kill Hector in single combat. Zeus decreed that the Olympians were allowed to visit the battlefield, now that he had fulfilled his vow to the goddess Thetis. Another reason that the other gods was allowed to re-enter the battlefield, is to check Achilles from sacking Troy today. Achilles was not allowed to capture Troy; the city would not fall until its appointed time. This seemed to indicate that Achilles could change the course of history if his murderous rage was left unchecked. Ac...

Ok recap: Suitor’s military alliance: Helen’s “kidnapping” sparked a war with Troy and her allies. Leaders of Greece assemble for the Rescue of Helen and the Destruction of Troy. Nine years: Pillaging and raping the cities and nations that support Troy. Drama queen: Achilles refused to fight after an insult to his pride. Divine Intervention: Gods are heavily involved in the war. To War: The next day, fierce fighting continued. At first, the Greeks were able to drive the Trojans back. Zeus had decided to honor his promise to Thetis. Zeus ordered all of the gods and goddesses not to take part in the war. But the tide turned at mid-morning in favor of the Trojans. Several hours before noon, three Greek leaders were wounded: Agamemnon, Odysseus and Diomedes. With three prominent leaders out of the fighting, the Greeks were driven back to face the Trojans behind the wall. Another Greek leader, named Eurypylus, received a leg wound from the arrow of Paris. Eury...

Ok recap: Judgment of Paris: Paris awarded the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite as the Fairest of All. Paris won Helen and the wrath of two powerful goddesses. Helen: Helen’s background, the suitor’s military alliance deal, her decision to left with Paris. Suitor’s military alliance: Helen’s “kidnapping” sparked a war with Troy and her allies. Leaders of Greece assemble for the Rescue of Helen and the Destruction of Troy. Sacrifice:  Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter to the Goddess Artemis for favored wife. He has an enemy wait for his return from the Trojan Campaign. After nine long years, despite their victories in the surrounding area of Troy, the Greeks never came close to penetrating the colossal walls of Troy, which were built by gods Apollo and Poseidon. To War: Achilles called upon his mother Thetis, the sea goddess, for aid. Thetis went to Olympus, asking for a boon from Zeus. Why she can ask Zeus for this boon? She saved Zeus’s ass and throne from the revol...

Ok recap: Judgment of Paris: Paris awarded the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite as the Fairest of All. Paris won Helen and the wrath of two powerful goddesses. Helen: Helen’s background, the suitor’s military alliance deal, her decision to left with Paris. Suitor’s military alliance: Helen’s “kidnapping” sparked a war with Troy and her allies. Leaders of Greece assemble for the Rescue of Helen and the Destruction of Troy. Sacrifice:  Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter to the Goddess Artemis for favored wife. He has an enemy wait for his return from the Trojan Campaign. To War: The Greek fleet arrived at Troy. Deciding that the best tactic would be to cut off the supply of provisions to the city, the Greeks attacked the surrounding towns. These battles took place over the course of nine years. By destroying the surrounding kingdoms, the Greeks not only gained supplies but also captives. It was only during the war's tenth year that the Greeks attacked Troy directly. King Priam of...

Ok recap: Judgment of Paris: Paris awarded the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite as the Fairest of All. Paris won Helen and the wrath of two powerful goddesses. Helen: Helen’s background, the suitor’s military alliance deal, her decision to left with Paris. Suitor’s military alliance: Helen’s “kidnapping” sparked a war with Troy and her allies. Leaders of Greece assemble for the Rescue of Helen and the Destruction of Troy. To War: A great army was gathered in Aulis, ready to set sail. Being the most powerful of all kings, Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and brother of Menelaus, took the position of Chief Commander. According to the second book of the Iliad, the whole Greek army consisted of 28 contingents which originated from all over Greece. The total contribution of ships amounted to around 1,200 and the head count of warriors was estimated to reach 130,000. Unfortunately, unfavorable winds kept the fleet from setting out for Troy. Calchas, the most renowned seer at the time, blamed...

Some of you may have even seen Troy, the movie with Brad Pitt playing a very sensitive Achilles and Orlando Bloom as a painfully wus Paris. The movie was good, despite the fact that it's really loosely based on the Trojan War, but seeing Helen was a big downer. I mean, she was hot (and that was great given my feelings about most artistic representations of the heroine), but what's awesome about Helen is that no one ever can really know her. She is profoundly multi-dimensional and beyond any one telling.  I'm here to tell you the story how those infamous thousand ships got launched, but, since you can  go ahead and read Homer’s Iliad  to see the version focusing on such heroes as Achilles and Hector, I will begin with the woman who got the blame, and I will begin at the beginning. Leda was the very beautiful Queen of Sparta and married to King Tyndareus by loved by the King of the gods, Zeus himself. Only, this wasn't any old' seduction, as you...

The story is almost standard, and reminds me strongly of the story of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, but instead of an evil fairy, the main character is the sinister Goddess of Discord and Strife: Eris. Thetis, basically the most eligible bachelorette of the Gods that both Zeus and Poseidon wanted to sleep with her. Until they told a prophecy the Titan Prometheus that any son Thetis bore, would become greater than the father, possibly ruling Olympus, if Zeus became the father. This stopped their lustful advances upon Thetis dead in their tracks. Zeus quickly arranged to have her marry a mortal to make sure that no god marries her. Zeus decided to marry her to the hero, Peleus, King of Phthia. Thetis, like many sea-deities, had the ability to change her shape as well being gifted with prophetic power. In order for Peleus to marry Thetis, Peleus had to capture while the goddess slept in the cave. Peleus had to hold the goddess as she chang...