1. The Trojan War

2. The Apple of Discord For the Fairest Marriage ceremony
The goddess of discord didn’t get invited
At the wedding, she threw a golden apple on the table labeled “for the fairest”
Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite each reached for the apple and a fight soon followed
Zeus chose Paris, prince of Troy, to give the golden apple to “the fairest”
For the Fairest

3. He chose based on bribes not beauty
Hera promised him power
Athena promised him wealth
Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen

4. And what did he choose? Paris chose Aphrodite’s bribe.
Problem - Helen was the wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta
Paris arrived in Sparta and the king treated Prince Paris as royalty—even allowing him to stay in the king’s castle with him and his wife, Helen.
So how did Paris repay this kindness?

5. He kidnapped Helen! When Menelaus left Sparta to go to a funeral…
Paris abducted Helen (who perhaps went willingly) and also carried off much of Menelaus' wealth.
In Troy, Helen and Paris were married. (1200BC)
King Priam, Paris’s father, protected the newlyweds, until…

6. Menelaus was outraged when he found out what Paris had done.
He got the help of his brother, Agememnon, who was commander of the Greek army
Odysseus, King of Ithaca, tried to stay out of the fight but was talked into joining
Achilles, great fighter with special powers, wanted to go, but his mother tried with no luck to stop him because he was fated to die in the war
Ajax, Achilles’ cousin, went and was considered one of the greatest fighters of Greece

7. Army off to Troy The fleets of ships set sail for Troy
Helen is known as the “face that launched 1000 ships”
Troy was ruled by King Priam and his other son Hector, greatest warrior of Troy

8. Fighting went on for nine years with each side doing well
Ajax and Hector were called out to battle; they ended in a draw. Hector gave Ajax a sword; Ajax gave Hector a belt. The battles continued.
Greeks began to weaken because of a fight between Agamemnon and Achilles
Battles stopped, and Paris and Menelaus were left to settle affairs in personal fight
Paris was losing until Aphrodite stepped in and took him back to Troy – Agamemnon declared Menelaus winner and asked for Helen back – would have worked except Athena and Hera started the battle back up by insulting Greeks

9. Apollo and Zeus helped Trojans begin
to win; then Poseidon and Hera helped Greeks
Achilles refused to fight; his friend Patroclus used his armor and fought in his place. Hector killed him thinking it was Achilles.
Achilles rejoined the war and killed Hector and dragged his body behind his chariot around the city of Troy using the belt Ajax had given him – felt guilty and returned body to King Priam so Hector could have a proper burial
War stopped for nine days for mourning at Achilles’ command

10. Paris, with the help of Apollo, killed Achilles.
He shot an arrow that Apollo guided into Achilles’ heel, his only vulnerable spot.
Odysseus received Achilles’ special armor made by Hephaestus. When Ajax did not receive it, he was disgraced, went mad, and then killed himself because of his actions.
Paris was then killed with the bow and arrows of Hercules, one of the Greeks had been given them upon Hercules’ death.
Troy was still protected by its gigantic walls, which were thought impenetrable.

11. Odysseus’ great plan
The Greeks build a giant wooden horse and roll it to the Trojan gates, pretending that they have surrendered and gone home.
The Trojans take the horse into the city.*
At night, the Greek chiefs sneak out of the horse and open the city gates. The Greek army massacred the Trojans, and Troy is destroyed.
To show the complete destruction of the city, the Greek army threw Hector’s infant son off the top of the Trojan wall. No one survived.