The Trojan War: A New History

The Greeks hide on the nearby island of Tenedos, leaving only the famous Trojan Horse, and a spy, Sinon, behind. Inside the horse are nine Greek warriors. The Trojans fiercely debate what should be done with the horse, ultimately bringing it into the city. In the Aeneid, the Roman retelling of the story, Sinon pretends to be a deserter to gain access to Troy. Cassandra, who has the gift of prophecy, speaks against the horse but is ignored. Laocoon, a priest of Poseidon, is another opponent of the horse, but he is strangled by two sea snakes in Virgil’s Aeneid.

Aeneas fights while Troy burns, before carrying his elderly father, Anchises, out of the city on his back. The Sack of Ilium offers a more pragmatic version of the story, in which Aeneas escapes to the Dardania Valley. The casualties are numerous. Neoptolemus scores the most kills, with elderly king Priam among them. Meanwhile, Menelaus vengefully kills Helen’s new husband, Deiphobus. Menelaus finds Helen at home, and moves to kill her, but she seduces him, instead.