"In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks)."
A ten-year war fought by the Greeks against the city of Troy as recounted in Homer's Iliad.
The origins of the Trojan War: The Greek epic poems attributed to Homer (the Iliad and the Odyssey) explain how the war was started by the abduction of Helen, the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus, by the Trojan prince Paris.
The gods and goddesses involved in the Trojan War: The Greek gods and goddesses had different allegiances and intervened in the war in various ways, often manipulating human actions.
The heroes of the Trojan War: These are the main characters of the Iliad, including Achilles, Agamemnon, Hector, and Odysseus, each with their own strengths, flaws, motivations, and destinies.
The Siege and Fall of Troy: The 10-year struggle between the Greeks and Trojans, culminating in the sack of the city, the death of Hector, and the revenge of Achilles.
Greek military tactics and technology: Greek warfare relied on hoplites with spears and shields, accompanied by cavalry, chariots, and siege engines. The Greeks also used strategies and tricks such as the Trojan Horse.
Ancient Greek Geography: The location of Greece and Asia Minor, the geography of the Aegean Sea, the islands and cities involved in the war.
Ancient Greek Culture: The role of mythology, religion, and rituals in warfare and daily life, the importance of hospitality, honor, and glory.
Archaeology and History: The archaeological evidence and literary sources for the Trojan War, the debates over the historicity and interpretation of the events.
Art and Literature: The depiction of the Trojan War in ancient and modern literature, art, music, film, and popular culture.
The legacy and relevance of the Trojan War: The impact of the Trojan War on Greek and Western culture, the lessons and meanings of the war for contemporary societies, the ongoing debates on war, identity, and nationalism.
Historical Trojan War: A real war that took place between the Greeks and Trojans around the 12th century BC, as described in Homer's Iliad.
Mythical Trojan War: A poetic retelling of the Trojan War by Homer, which added supernatural elements to the historical account.
Divine Trojan War: A version of the Trojan War that was believed to be orchestrated by the gods, who played an active role in the conflict.
Epic Trojan War: A legendary battle that was immortalized in works of literature such as the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid.
Political Trojan War: A metaphorical conflict that symbolizes the struggle for power between different political factions or nations, often used to describe contemporary political events.
Symbolic Trojan War: A symbolic conflict that represents the internal struggles and challenges faced by individuals, such as the battle between reason and passion, or duty and desire.
Psychological Trojan War: A metaphorical battle that symbolizes the psychological struggles experienced by individuals, such as internal conflicts between the conscious and unconscious mind.
Cultural Trojan War: A symbolic conflict that reflects the clash between different cultures, beliefs, and values, often used to describe social or ideological conflicts.
Educational Trojan War: A pedagogical tool used to teach students about Greek mythology and literature, often used in literature classes or as part of a liberal arts curriculum.
Cinematic Trojan War: A cinematic adaptation of the Trojan War story, including movies like "Troy" and "Helen of Troy".
"The war was waged... after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta."
"The war is one of the most important events in Greek mythology."
"The war has been narrated through many works of Greek literature, most notably Homer's Iliad."
"The core of the Iliad describes a period of four days and two nights in the tenth year of the decade-long siege of Troy."
"The Odyssey describes the journey home of Odysseus, one of the war's heroes."
"Other parts of the war are described in a cycle of epic poems, which have survived through fragments."
"Episodes from the war provided material for Greek tragedy and other works of Greek literature."
"The ancient Greeks believed that Troy was located near the Dardanelles and that the Trojan War was a historical event of the 13th or 12th century BC."
"By the mid-19th century AD, both the war and the city were widely seen as non-historical."
"In 1868, the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann met Frank Calvert, who convinced Schliemann that Troy was at what is now Hisarlik in Turkey."
"On the basis of excavations conducted by Schliemann and others, this claim is now accepted by most scholars."
"Whether there is any historical reality behind the Trojan War remains an open question."
"Many scholars believe that there is a historical core to the tale."
"Those who believe that the stories of the Trojan War are derived from a specific historical conflict usually date it to the 12th or 11th century BC."
"...often preferring the dates given by Eratosthenes, 1194–1184 BC."
"...which roughly correspond to archaeological evidence of a catastrophic burning of Troy VII."
"...though this may simply mean that the Homeric stories are a fusion of various tales of sieges and expeditions by Mycenaean Greeks during the Bronze Age."
"On the basis of excavations conducted by Schliemann and others, this claim is now accepted by most scholars."
"...and the Late Bronze Age collapse."