Trojan War Timeline

The Mourning of Achilles

Aug 4, 1183

Achilles lay facedown on the ground. All was quite, until a wailing sound arose from the sea. As the sound grew louder, a wave appeared from the water. Riding the wave was his mother, Thetis. Thetis detatched herself from the water and flung herself on her son's body. Her nymphs came and took up a song. Greeks gathered to listen to the beautiful song and found themselves mesmerized by its lovliness. When the song was done, Thetis ordered her men to light the fire and burn Achilles.

The Auction of Achilles' Armor

Oct 11, 1183

As the body of Achilles burned on the ground, all of his possesions were brought from his tent to be given away as a memorial of his life. Everything was given away except his armor, which could only be worn by the greatest hero, now that Achilles is dead. Ajax and Odysseus both stepped forward to claim the prize. The greeks called the Trojan captives to see who they feared the most. "Odysseus is the evil genius of Troy" they said. Odysseus walked away with the armor of Achilles.

Ajaxs' Killing Spree

Oct 13, 1183

Ajax was furious he was not victorious in winning the armor of Achilles. That night Ajax charged upon the herdsmen, that were peacefully sleeping, sword in hand. However he did not pursue them. Instead he crept into the pen and killed every helpless sheep. He then seized to rams and tied them tightly together. He threw them over his shoulders, and hurried off in triumph before the servants could return with help.

The Aftermath of Ajax's Killing Spree

Oct 15, 1183

Ajax and Odysseus were competing for Achilles Armor. Ajax did not fear that he would loose; however, his hopes were crushed because in deed it was Odysseus that won. Ajax was mad about this fact, and so he went home. He was very standoffish towards his wife, and did not really tell her what was going on. In the middle of the night, Ajax woke up and went outside and performed a killing spree, in which he killed animals. He then killed himself by putting his sword through his stomach.

The Search of Pyrrhus

Nov 15, 1183

Pyrrhus was Achilles “unknown” son. Achilles had a wife and a child. Achilles had died in battle, and now Agamemnon and Odysseus were looking for someone to take Achilles place, and who better than his own flesh and blood son to do the job? Odysseus set out to find Pyrrhus and when he did, he told him that he would be the perfect replacement for his father, and willingly Pyrrhus accepted the offer.

Pyrrhus Joins the Battle

Dec 15, 1183

Pyrrhus was used to deceive Philoctetes and retrieve the bow and arrow. As soon as Pyrrhus was taken from his home, he was immediately used for the war. Pyrrhus being Achilles son was expected to be great in war. They wanted him to trick Philoctetes; however, Pyrrhus was to kind to be beguiling and told Philoctetes the truth.

Philoctetes' Banishment

Jan 10, 1184

Philoctetes was Hercules’ friend, and because he lit Hercules funeral pyre when nobody else did, he received Hercules’ bow and arrows. He sailed with seven ships full of men to the Trojan War. They either stopped in Chryse for supplies, or in Tenedos along with the other ships. He was then bitten by a snake. Since the wound festered and had a foul smell, Odysseus ordered him to stay on Lemnos. Medon took control of his men while he was exiled on Lemnos for ten years.

Convincing of Philoctetes

Feb 17, 1184

Convincing of Philoctetes
After the tenth year at war with Troy, it was prophesized that Troy cannot be taken without the bow of Hercules, which was currently being held by Philoctetes. The Greeks knew that the arrows had a great poison on them, and that even a scratch from one was considered death, so Odysseus came up with a plan. He would take Pyrrhus with him, since Pyrrhus was not known of when Philoctetes was left on the island; Philoctetes would not think that Pyrrhus was suspicious.

Paris is Struck

Mar 19, 1184

After they convinced Philoctetes, Paris was struck by one of Hercules’ arrows, which were poisonous. Paris had to find help immediatley if there was any chance for him to live.

Oenone's Medicine

Apr 4, 1184

Paris became injured by Heracles’ bow. Paris was taken to the place of Oenone to be healed, but Oenone was not pleased with how he treated her before. In the past Paris had left her for Helen. Oenone asked Paris why he came to her. Paris told her that she is the only one who could heal him, and that Helen could not. Oenone asked Paris if he believed that Helen was more fairer than herself. He began to agree with her, but told her that Helen is fairer. Oenone told him that Helen could heal him.

The Death of Paris

Apr 5, 1184

After Paris was refused help by Oenone he was carried back to his home. He requested to be taken home, so he could see Helen again. When they arrived at the gate of his home it was already dark. One of the bearers told the news that Paris had died on their trip back to Ida.

Oenone's Change of Mind

Apr 6, 1184

Oenone shows up at the gates of the home of Paris and Helen. She tells the guards to let her in, and that she has brought the supplies needed to heal Paris. The guards refuse to let Oenone in thinking she might be a spy, so she argues with them. The guards finally tell her that Paris has died. Oenone is extremely upset and she begins to cry. A guard yelled for her to go home and threw his javelin in the direction of the noise she was making. The noise stopped abruptly and silence fell over.

Stealing of the Palladium

Jun 3, 1184

The Palladium was a wooden image that was supposedly ‘fallen from heaven’ as a symbol of the God’s favor for Troy. The Trojan’s kept it in a wooden temple and thought it was safe from any thieves. Odysseus and Diomede take on the nearly impossible task of climbing the wall and stealing it. Diomede feels it is his time to be in the spot light so he is the one who climbs over and steals this wooden trinket for the Greeks.

The Trojan Horse

Aug 4, 1184

The Greeks knew that they had to figure out a way to get into the protective walls of Troy. Finally they came up with a plan. The Greeks built a tall wooden horse and hollowed it out. They put some of their best soldiers inside the horse and took it to the gates of Troy. The Trojans looked up at it from its tall wooden legs and decided it must be a gift from the Gods. They took the horse into their city, as to not be disrespectful to their Gods.

Laocoon's Warning

Aug 5, 1184

One man in Troy was particularly against the giant wooden horse that had come through the gates of Troy. That man was a priest of the name Laocoon. He told the Trojans that he did not think it was a gift from the Gods, but a trap. After he had made his argument against the horse a sea serpent rose from the water and killed Laocoon and his two sons. The city saw this as a sign from the Gods that Laocoon was wrong, and that the horse was safe.

Trojan War Timeline: Fuson pp 146-194

Period: Aug 29, 1184 to Aug 29, 1194