Troy, Truth in the Myth Essay example - 1962 Words

The ancient city of Troy, a legendary city in classical literature and Hollywood films alike, has been an attraction to visit for at least twenty-five centuries. Visitors such as Alexander the Great, who stopped at Troy in 334 BC while on route east to conquer Asia, came to Troy looking for the city immortalized in Homers Iliad. Presently, archaeologists visit Hisarlik, a site in northwest Turkey, as it is believed to be the location of the ancient city. Alexander must have been puzzled when he had arrived in Ilion, the name of the city at the time of his visit. Ilion was a small colony founded centuries after the Trojan War supposedly took place; Alexander and his men must have had a similar reaction to what they saw as many a†¦show more content†¦Instead of a single Trojan war, he believes, there were dozens of conflicts fuelled by Troys geopolitical strategic position astride the sea-lanes of the Dardanelles. The prevailing winds and currents would trap ships for mon ths in Troys harbor on the Aegean, where they were ripe for plunder or simply the collection of a port tax. (Fleischman) It was these practices, according to Korfmann, that had made Troy very rich, yet hated throughout the sea. Troy was feared by sailors, and had also become a great target for military ventures. Korfmann called Troy a pirate fortress. (Fleischmann) In the late Bronze Age, villages had started to come together into larger regions. The first of these to come to significant power was Mycenae. Mycenae was across the Aegean from Troy, and was the mythical seat of King Agamemnon. According to Homer, it was here in Mycenae that the trouble with the Trojans had begun. Paris of Troy (with a little push from the Gods) kidnapped Helen; then married to Agamemnons brother, Menelous. Agamemnon came to the aid of his brother by getting Odysseus, Achilles, and many other warriors, and left in pursuit of her captors. Once at Troy, though, they were held at bay for ten years by King Priams (Paris father) army. The Greeks were finally able to penetrate the walls of the city by pretending to retreat, and offering the legendary Trojan Horse as a gift. The wooden horse was full of commandoes who, once nightfallShow MoreRelatedLeda and the Swan Notes763 Words   |  4 PagesLeda and the Swan notes Origins Leda and the Swan was a Greek myth in which the God Zeus transformed into a swan and raped the girl Leda. Different versions of the myth disagree on whether Leda was actually raped or seduced by Zeus. In the myth, Leda gave birth to four children, who hatched from eggs. One of the children was Helen of Troy, the woman the Trojan War was fought over. Analysis on form The poem is a sonnet-it has 14 lines. Each of the lines has 10 beats to it. Yeats plays withRead MoreTrojan War and Troy819 Words   |  4 PagesHIS 111- Antiquity to 1500 Film Analysis- Troy Troy is an adaption of the poem written by Homer, also known as the Iliad. The screenplay was written by David Benioff and stars Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Brian Cox, Diane Kruger, and Rose Byrne. It is a brilliant story of love and war produced in 2004. My reason for choosing this film is because of the controversy over what is myth and what is fact regarding the fall of Troy. I find the movie so majestic yet the timeframe of the IliadRead MoreHelen Of Troy : The World Of Mythology1188 Words   |  5 PagesPoetry Analysis Essay Helen of Troy holds legendary status is the world of mythology. Being the catalyst of one of mythologies largest wars, Helen lacks no influence. Many know the story, at least in its most basic form, the girl so mesmerizingly beautiful that the mighty empires of Greece and Troy waged war over her. 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Historians have long doubted the credibility of Homer as a reliable historical source. However evidence has been uncovered by archaeologists t o suggest that The Iliad has some basis in truth within the epic saga and that althoughRead MoreMycenaean Greece : An Authentic Bronze Age Name1735 Words   |  7 PagesForrer in the 1920s and 1930s. When discussing an ethnic group named the Ahhiyawa in the texts, the scholar focused his attention on the place names Wilusa and Taruisa, which he advocated were the Hittite way of writing (W) ilios (ilios) and Troia (Troy). Former also noted the mention of a Wilson ling Alaksandu, who had made a treaty with the Hittite king Muwatalli; the name, closely resembling Alexander, the alternative name for Paris, son of Priam. Forrer offered other identifications includingRead MoreFailure Of The American Dream In The Writings Of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zora Neale Hurston, And August Wilson1418 Words   |  6 Pagesfailures in life by using her granddaughter, Janie, as vehicle for her own financial success. Nanny fails by forcing Janie into marriages with abusive men, which is very similar to th e failure of the American Dream in August Wilson’s characterization of Troy Maxson as a failed baseball star in the Negro leagues that is too embittered to allow his son Cory, to become a professional athlete. In essence, these literary examples define the failure of the American Dream in the writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald