In this engaging discussion, Professor Armand D’Angour, a classical scholar from Jesus College, Oxford, explores the legendary tales of the Trojan War. He dives into the iconic characters like Achilles and Helen, raising questions about their existence. The conversation highlights Heinrich Schliemann's archaeological pursuits, the clash between myth and reality, and the enduring legacy of Troy. Furthermore, themes of love, warfare, and divine intervention add depth to the narrative, linking ancient lore to the complexities of history.
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Schliemann's Quest
Heinrich Schliemann, a self-made millionaire, sought the lost city of Troy.
He excavated Hisarlik hill, believing it to be Troy, based on Homer's Iliad.
insights INSIGHT
Myth vs. History
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, recounting the Trojan War, are considered both history and myth.
These stories, passed down orally, shaped ancient Greek culture and beliefs.
insights INSIGHT
The Trojan War's Significance
Classical Antiquity blurred the lines between myth and history, using stories to explain phenomena.
The Trojan War, predating Classical Greece, served as a foundational story for the Greeks.
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The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges. Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne. The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.
The Iliad
Homer
The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events. The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris. The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war. The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector[1][3][5].
The Trojan War was a time of heroes. From the swift-footed Achilles, and the hot-headed Prince Paris, to the beautiful Queen Helen, and the all-powerful gods, Zeus, Athena, and Aphrodite. In these early days of what we now call Ancient Greece, the story of Troy was already a saga from a bygone age, re-imagined by Homer, and told around the world ever since.
But was any of it true? Did those legendary heroes ever exist? How did Helen’s beauty launch a thousand ships? And could the Greeks really have breached the city walls by hiding inside a giant wooden horse?
This is a Short History Of The Trojan War.
A Noiser Production, written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Professor Armand D’Angour, a classical scholar at Jesus College, Oxford, and presenter of the podcast It’s All Greek (And Latin) To Me.
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Short History Of... 
