The Trojan War

Chapters

1. 01

   Paris Chooses Aphrodite

   Hera, Athena and Aphrodite compete with different promises; Paris chooses Aphrodite and the promise of Helen.

   ZeusHeraAthenaAphroditeParisHelenParis Chooses Aphrodite
2. 02

   Helen Leaves Sparta

   After receiving Menelaus’ hospitality, Paris leaves with Helen; the source also preserves conflicting traditions about a phantom Helen.

   HelenParisMenelausAphroditeTroyTrojan War
3. 03

   The Achaean Coalition

   Menelaus asks Agamemnon to mobilise the kings; Odysseus, Nestor, Diomedes, Ajax and Achilles enter a shared expedition.

   MenelausAgamemnonOdysseusNestorDiomedesAjaxAchillesTrojan War
4. 04

   Aulis and the Cost of Departure

   At the second Aulis muster the fleet is becalmed; Pseudo-Apollodorus’ deer-substitution version places Iphigenia at the centre of departure and household sacrifice.

   AulisAgamemnonIphigeniaArtemisOdysseusTrojan War
5. 05

   Plague and the Wrath of Achilles

   Agamemnon rejects the priest’s ransom and Apollo sends plague; after Chryseis is returned, he seizes Briseis, so Achilles withdraws and asks Thetis to petition Zeus.

   Apollo’s PlagueApolloChrysesAgamemnonAchillesBriseisThetisZeusTrojan War
6. 06

   Helen on the Walls

   Helen identifies Achaean leaders for Priam; Paris duels Menelaus, and Aphrodite rescues Paris before coercing Helen.

   HelenPriamParisMenelausAphrodite
7. 07

   Gods on the Battlefield

   Athena empowers Diomedes, who wounds Aphrodite and Ares, while Apollo protects Aeneas.

   DiomedesAthenaAphroditeAresApolloAeneas
8. 08

   Hector and the City

   Hector returns to parents, brother, Helen, wife and child, making Troy a family and civic community rather than scenery.

   HectorAndromachePriamHecubaParisHelenTroyTrojan War
9. 09

   The Death of Patroclus

   Patroclus saves the ships in Achilles’ armour but Apollo, Euphorbus and Hector successively bring about his death.

   PatroclusAchillesHectorApolloZeusTrojan War
10. 10

    Achilles and Hector

    Thetis secures new armour from Hephaestus; Achilles kills Hector, Priam crosses the lines to ransom his son, and the Iliad ends with burial rather than Troy’s fall.

    AchillesHectorPriamThetisHephaestusPatroclusTroy
11. 11

    The Death of Achilles and the Contest for the Arms

    Pseudo-Apollodorus says Paris and Apollo kill Achilles with an arrow at the gate; Ajax recovers the body but later loses the contest for the arms to Odysseus.

    AchillesParisApolloAjaxOdysseusThetisTrojan War
12. 12

    Horse, Sack and Returns

    After the last heroes who decide the war leave the field, the story turns to the conditions for capture, the horse, warnings and sack; Odyssey song preserves the victory as a tearful memory of war.

    Wooden HorseSack of TroyOdysseusEpeiusCassandraLaocoonPriamAeneasAndromacheHelenMenelausTroyTrojan War

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome, E.3.1–2: causes of the war, Paris' choice among the goddesses and their three offers
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome, E.3.3–5: Paris’ hospitality, Helen’s departure and the Egyptian phantom variant
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome, E.3.6–7: Menelaus requests mobilisation and Odysseus is compelled to join
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome, E.3.11–16: the Aulis fleet, ten-year omen and coalition command
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome, E.3.19–22: the second Aulis muster, calm and Iphigenia deer-substitution tradition
• Homer, Iliad, Book 1: Apollo's plague, the quarrel and Hephaestus' mediation
• Homer, Iliad, Book 9.182–657: the embassy urges Achilles to return
• Homer, Iliad, Book 3: Helen at the wall, Menelaus' duel and Aphrodite's intervention
• Homer, Iliad, Book 5: Diomedes' aristeia and the wounding of Aphrodite and Ares
• Homer, Iliad, Book 6.369–502: Hector, Andromache and Astyanax
• Homer, Iliad, Book 16.1–867: Patroclus enters battle and dies
• Homer, Iliad, Book 18.368–617: Hephaestus forges Achilles' armour and shield
• Homer, Iliad, Book 22: Achilles pursues and kills Hector
• Homer, Iliad, Book 24.468–804: Priam ransoms Hector and Troy mourns
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome, E.5.3–7: Achilles’ death, recovery of his body and the awarding of his arms
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome, E.5.8–14: Paris’ death, conditions for capture, the Palladium and horse construction
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome, E.5.15–20: the horse enters Troy, Cassandra and Laocoon warn, and the hidden force opens the gates
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, Epitome, E.5.21–23: Priam’s death, Aeneas’ flight, sanctuary violation and allocation of captives
• Homer, Odyssey, Book 8.492–520: Demodocus sings of the horse and sack