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Trojan Horse
Greek Mythology
Ambrose Bierce says that the horse is the founder of civilization. Lets read the Trojan Horse and see how a dummy of a horse changed the course of civilization.
There are several stories about whose idea it was to build the Trojan Horse, but after the Greeks were defeated by the Trojans (Troy is a city located in the present day Turkey), they came up with a clever thought. Some say (see Carlos Parada) Odysseus came up with the idea of the Trojan Horse, which was:
 Trojan Horse (C) Fereydoun Kian2002
The Greeks should make a large wooden horse as an offering to Athena. The Horse had to be so large to fit some of the best Achaean soldiers in it. Then the Greeks had to pretend that they have packed, embarked their ship, and sailed back home. So they gathered a great deal of timbers from Mount Ida and appointed their best architect, Epeius and Ajax to supervise the work.
The architect Epeius made the horse with a hollow belly that looked like a boat. He fashioned the horse with purple mane, spangled with gold. Designed the eyes blood red with green gems, ivory white rows of teeth. Kept the mouth open a bit so that the air could flow in for the soldiers inside to have fresh air. Also he fixed pricked up ears, let the flowing air play with the tail that trailed about the heels. Made the hooves of bronze; adorned the outside with purple flowered straps, and set a ladder inside.
When the horse was ready, the Achaeans let the best among them hide inside it, burned their tents, and left the best soldier, Sinon, who was also a great liar behind. They sailed away to Tenedos, the island off the Troad and waited for a signal from Sinon.
Early morning, the Trojans looked out and saw the Achaeans have deserted and believed that they had fled. So they ran with joy to the shore where they found the marvelous horse standing. It was then that they also found Sinon, who seemed to be badly wounded and could not travel. Sinon told the Trojans (some say under cruel torture) the same single line over and over again: The Achaeans in their ships flee overseas, weary of tribulation of endless war. This horse is their offering to Athena for a safe trip home.
A couple of the Trojans, Laocoon and Cassandra warned the Trojans that there are men inside the horse but no one believed them, for the same god who gave Cassandra her gift of prophecy in exchange for a promise she never fulfilled, caused her prophecies not to be believed. Laocoon also warned them with well remembered words: Trojans, trust not the horse. Whatever it be, I fear the Greeks, even when bringing gifts.
And he even cast his spear against the horse. But since Laocoon was overwhelmed by adverse circumstances (among which the snakes that attached his sons), many argued that the man could not be right, and that he had got what he deserved. So the horse was brought to the shrine of Athena, in the heart of the city, or staitioned beside the palace of Priam.
It is told that when the Wooden Horse was in the city, Helen went round it and called the names of different Achaean commanders, imitating the voices of each of their beloved wives. Such artistry is best performed by a child of Zeus: she did it with such a skill, that Anticlus would have answered fro the horses belly, but Odysseus held fast his mouth so hard that Anticlus lost his breath and died.
If you would like to read more, click here and see the Aftermath of the Trojan War.
If you like the Greek Mythology , it's time to check out Fereydoun's Favorite Greek Folktales,and read some of the worlds most intriguing stories. First, you'll see Aurora's picture, like this one. Give it a shot!
ENJOY!
 | Copyright, 2004 Global Education a Not for Profit 501(c)3 organization in Miami, Florida, focused the global understanding, through arts and literature wrapped in geography education. www.globalkids.info
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