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1 CE
Wedding of King Pelius and Thetis
King Pelius and Thetis are married in a banquet hosted by Zeus. Eris, the goddess of discord, is the sole deity not invited. -
2
Judgement of Paris
Eris, angered, rolls a golden apple marked "For The Fairest" into the hall. Helen, Athena, and Aphrodite claim it, and Zeus, on the basis of maintaining neutrality, refuses to judge who is the fairest, instead declaring that the trojan Paris will decide who is the fairest. He chooses Aphrodite after being bribed the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. -
3
Paris Takes Helen of Sparta to Troy
Paris, after going to Troy to establish himself as a legitimate prince, sails to Sparta, where he seduces Helen during the absence of her husband, taking her back to Troy. -
4
Menelaus Returns and Summons the Greek Leaders
Upon his return and discovering his wife gone, he gathered the Greek leaders to conquer Troy and recover Helen. They were pledged to aid him, as they had taken oaths to avenge any dishonor against him because of her. -
5
The Trojan War Begins
The Greek expedition reaches Trojan shores, where the first skirmish takes place. Protesilaus is slain by Hector, the Trojan prince. Over nine years, the Greeks destroy many allied kingdoms to Troy, but fail to make much effort against Troy itself. -
6
Achilles Retires From the War
After a disastrous quarrel with Agamemnon, Achilles gives up the maid Briseis, and withdraws with wounded pride. The Trojans notice, and mount a counter-offensive against the Greeks, resulting in a temporary truce. -
7
Paris and Menelaus Duel
As part of the agreed truce, Paris and Menelaus fight in single combat for Helen. Although Paris begins to lose, Aphrodite saves him in a magic cloud, creating an inconclusive result. The Greeks demanded that they surrender Helen, which the Trojans were willing to do, but Athena is dispatched by Hera to break the truce by convincing Pandarus, an archer, to fire an arrow at Menelaus, which narrowly misses. -
8
The Trojans Push Back
Zeus orders the gods on the Greek side away from the battlefield, honoring a promise to Thetis. The Trojans are able to push the Greeks all the way back to their landing ships on the shore. Hera seduces Zeus to distract him from the war, allowing Poseidon to fight for the Greeks. Hector is nearly killed, but Zeus is able to see past his lust and orders Poseidon from the fight. Nearly lost, Patroclus borrows and wears Achille's armor, and the Trojans, fearing Achille's return, retreat away. -
9
The Trojan Horse
A great horse of wood was constructed with a hollow belly to conceal many Greek soldiers. Under the cover of night, the horse, was brought to Troy, and soldiers climbed inside. The remaining Greeks burnt their camps and sailed away. In the morning, the Trojans found the horse and the Greeks gone, and they brought the horse inside the city walls. The next night, soldiers left the horse, opened the city gates, and let the Greek army in, killing many. -
10
The End of the War
The Greeks successfully sack Troy, and the Greeks attempt to return home, although many are blown off course by a storm. The Odyssey begins. -
11
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