Sources of Trojan War events

[johnsemlak]

I haven't seen Troy yet, but it's pretty well known now that the movie stiches together many events/myths from the Iliad and a number of other sources. I'm not sure exactly which events are recounted in the Movie (I see it tomorrow hopefully). However, could some scholars help me compile a list of sources of the Trojan myth, and which events are described in each?

The Iliad recounts Achilles relationship with Patroclaus, Patroclaus' death, the rage of Achilles, the battle wiht Hector.

The Aeneid gives us the end of the Trojan War, and the Trojan horse story. Is that the only extant source for that story?

What are the (extant) sources for the events concerning the beginning of the war and other events during the war, such as the Judgement of Paris or the slaying of Achilles by Paris?

 

[shilsen]

A few other sources:

The Odyssey by Homer relates a number of events from the War though it mainly provides info about the travails of the returning Greeks.

de Excidio Troiae Historia by Dares the Phrygian is written as an "eyewitness" account of the War. Differs in many substantial ways from Homer. Basically excises the gods from the story. Pro-Trojan account (Dares claims to be a Trojan)

Ephemeridos Belli Troiani by Dictys of Crete. Also claims to be an "eyewitness" account. Pro-Greek account.

 

[NeoSamurai]

Herodotus' Histories talks about the mindset of the Greeks during that period and the social atmosphere that led to Paris taking of Helen. It also comments on Homer's works in reference to the Trojan conflict.

 

[CCamfield]

There were originally a number of other poems in the "epic cycle" which described events leading up to the war, the war itself, and after. Most of these are lost, but fragments do exist, and there are works collecting them if you're REALLY serious. e.g. http://omega.cohums.ohio-state.edu/mailing_lists/BMCR-L/2004/0178.php

Now that I've learned about that book, I want to get it... And maybe this book too... *sigh*

http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title_pages/2874.html

Anyhow, The Library of Apollodorus contains a summary of the Trojan War, in about 9 pages in the translation I have.

Oh, and about the Iliad: it really doesn't focus on Achilles and Patroclus. They're mostly in the background after Achilles withdraws from the fighting; instead most of the book is about the rest of the Greeks and the Trojans and various episodes, like a duel between Paris and Menelaus, and Diomedes receiving Athena's aid and covering himself with glory, etc etc.

Oops, forgot to mention something else: the Athenian tragedians of the 5th century used mythology, including the Trojan War, as the basis for their plays. From this we get focussed accounts, with the playwright's particular spin, on particular situations in the war, such as Ajax going insane (in Ajax), the fate of the Trojan Women (also Andromache and Hecuba), the Greek heroes trying to recruit Philoctetes, what happened to Agamemnon on his return. Again, there were more, but we don't have complete versions of them.

 

[Agemegos]

The Posthomerica of Quintus of Smyra gives the story from the end of the Iliad to the state of play at the beginning of the Odyssey. Arrival of the amazons, Achilles killing Penthesilea. Death of Achilles at the hands of Paris. Odysseus winning Achilles' armour at Achilles' funereal games. Trojan horse. Sack of Troy. Death of Priam and Hector's son at the hands of Achilles' son Neoptolemus.

And I think Ovid's Metamorphoses gives a complete outline from the marriage of Thetis and Peleus.

Speaking of the marriage of Thetis and Peleus, how did their son Achilles come to be old enough to fight in the war, considering that it started at their wedding. Worse, how did his son get in on the act?

 

[demiurge1138]

The details about the Trojan War itself given in The Odyssey include:
The Trojan Horse, as it is recounted in Odysseus' exploits.
The death of Achilles, as told by his shade in Hades.
The death of Agamemmnon, as told by his shade in Hades (although he did die post-war, slain by his wife in the bath).

Demiurge out.

 

[CCamfield]

I don't know if the myths actually say whether the beauty contest happened immediately or if some time passed. But yeah, mythical time doesn't always make sense.

I think there's a version of the myth in which the Greeks try to sail from Aulis but can't, and end up waiting 10 years there. Which would help get Achilles a little more plausibly older, but not enough. And that + 10 years at war + 10 years wandering makes Odysseus quite the older man by the time he gets home.

But... Neoptelemus? That's a very good point, Agemegos. ISTR a tale about how the heroes found Achilles where he'd been put in hiding with some women, and he was definitely still young. So where'd this son of his come from...

 

[johnsemlak]

Too bad the creators of Greek myths were never confronted with Star Trek-type fans who seek to catalog, date, and define every event, person, and ship

Yup, time isn't always so consistant; heck, Greek myths aren't all that consistant.

Seeing the movie today; My expectiations have been lowered by the reviews so far, but still looking forward to it.

 

[shilsen]

Speaking of the marriage of Thetis and Peleus, how did their son Achilles come to be old enough to fight in the war, considering that it started at their wedding. Worse, how did his son get in on the act?

He isn't old enough. Neither is Neoptolemus. But since the Greek mythologists aren't concerned about things like realistic chronology it doesn't matter.

 

[Particle_Man]

Maybe mythic hero-types age faster. Heck, once the gods get involved, anything can happen.

(hey, on Xena, the evil daughter of Xena's companion aged pretty darn fast).