The Trojan Horse

One of the most famous stories in Greek Mythology is that of the Trojan Horse. It was a trick made by Odysseus, and it single handedly won the Trojan War for the Greeks. It can also be an expression that you might want to use in your next English essay.

The Popular Myth:

The most popular myth is that the Greeks were laying siege to Troy 10 years into the war, and the siege was not going very well. The brilliant commander of the Greek army, Odysseus, suggested building a giant horse that would seem like a gift to the Trojans, but actually housed their best warriors on the inside, ready to launch a surprise attack. The Greeks then took their army and fled, leaving only the horse behind. The Trojans celebrated, thinking they won the war and the Greeks gave up. They also saw the horse as an offering to the goddess Athena from the Greeks, so they brought the horse into their city. As the Greek army sailed back to Troy, the soldiers inside the horse opened the gates, and they burned Troy to the ground and won the war.

Stories with the Horse:

The Trojan Horse is referenced in many tales of Greek mythology, like The Odyssey and The Iliad, both by Homer.

What Could be True:

Some people think that the horse was actually a metaphor for something else, and a different theory was that the Trojan Horse was a battering ram used to breach the gates of Troy, and it had the head of a horse. ‘Trojan Horse’ is actually used as a modern expression, as it is something that seems of good intentions, but hides a dark intent, like the horse did to Troy. I will ask now though, which tale do you believe is true?

- James M., 9th Grade