What is Cassandra best known for in Greek Mythology?
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was a Trojan princess endowed with the gift of prophecy by Apollo. However, after spurning his advances, she was cursed to foretell the future accurately but...
Here are some commonly asked questions about the Trojan War, followed by their answers:
The Trojan War was a legendary ten-year conflict between the city of Troy and the Achaeans (Greeks). It is best known from the epics “Iliad” and “Odyssey” by Homer.
The war’s primary cause is usually attributed to the abduction of Helen, the wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta, by Paris, a prince of Troy. However, this was likely the culmination of political, economic, and historical factors.
Major figures include Achilles, Hector, Agamemnon, Paris, Helen, Priam, Menelaus, Ajax the Great, Ajax the Lesser, and Odysseus, among others.
The gods were actively involved, taking sides and directly influencing the war’s events. For example, Athena supported the Greeks, while Aphrodite favored the Trojans.
The Greeks eventually won by deceiving the Trojans with the famous Trojan Horse. Using this subterfuge, they managed to enter the heavily fortified city and destroy it.
While the “Iliad” and “Odyssey” are works of literature, archaeological evidence suggests there was a historical basis for the war, although its exact nature and scale remain a matter of debate.
Achilles was invulnerable except for his heel, as he was dipped into the River Styx by his mother Thetis, holding him by his heel. He died from a mortal wound to this heel, hence the term “Achilles’ heel” refers to a single vulnerability in an otherwise strong or invulnerable system or person.
Achilles is often considered the most illustrious Greek hero of the Trojan War, known for his unmatched prowess in battle and his central role in the “Iliad.”
Hector was killed by Achilles in revenge for Hector killing Patroclus, Achilles’ dear friend and companion.
The Trojan Horse was a large wooden horse used as a trick by the Greeks to gain entrance into Troy. The Trojans brought the horse into their city, thinking it was an offering to Athena. At night, Greek soldiers emerged from the horse and opened the city gates, allowing the Greek army to enter and capture Troy.
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was a Trojan princess endowed with the gift of prophecy by Apollo. However, after spurning his advances, she was cursed to foretell the future accurately but...
The term “Cassandra Syndrome” or “Cassandra Complex” derives from the story of Cassandra in Greek mythology, whom I previously described. This syndrome refers to a situation where an individual’s valid...
Born to Greek mythical figures Achilles and Deidamia, Neoptolemus is famed for being one of the warriors of the Trojan War. He was part of the Greek troops that covertly...
Legend has it that Dido, who was a princess of Tyre, fled her home to establish her own city named Carthage (in modern-day Tunisia) around 814/3 BC. Apart from being...
In the Iliad, a work by ancient Greek poet Homer, Sarpedon is described as the warrior and son of Zeus and Laodamia. Sarpedon’s father Zeus is the chief of the...