While watching Troy (which I admit was a pretty good movie) I found myself wondering about its accuracy in regards to the stories and myths that the movie is based on. Exactly how closely does it follow the stories? I've read some of them several years ago, but my mind is fuzzy on details. Some of the things that happened in the movie I don't remember ever reading about, but of course I'm sure there are many on this board who are a lot more knowledgable than I.
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Troy's Accuracy?
- Thread starter Caliber
- Start date
Andrew D. Gable
First Post
Well, I think some people said that it was really based on more stories other than the Iliad. I caught at least a nod to the Aeneid.
Agamemnon's death, for instance, didn't happen during Troy, he was killed by Clytemnestra, his wife, upon his return to Greece.
Agamemnon's death, for instance, didn't happen during Troy, he was killed by Clytemnestra, his wife, upon his return to Greece.
Dragonblade
Adventurer
I haven't seen it yet but they shortened the Trojan War into like a 3 day battle. The real Trojan War (according to the Illiad) went on for like 10 years.
I'm also disappointed that they didn't include more supernatural elements ala the Illiad. I think it would have been cool to have the gods fighting with their powers (sort of like ancient world super heroes) and stuff and have Achilles truly be invincible, etc.
I'm also disappointed that they didn't include more supernatural elements ala the Illiad. I think it would have been cool to have the gods fighting with their powers (sort of like ancient world super heroes) and stuff and have Achilles truly be invincible, etc.
SPOILERS GALORE (no, I don't like the spoiler tags)
It's been years since I've read the Illiad, but off the top of my head:
1. The gods don't make an appearance at all, whereas in the original story, the war is entirely their doing and full of their meddling.
2. There is no attempt made to suggest that 10 years have passed... The war is over so quickly, the cuts and bruises of a girl taken captive on the first day of the fighting don't even heal by the end of it, and Hector's son remains an infant throughout.
3. Achilles, for all we know, might not even be invulnerable. He suggests he's not, anyway, and his death in the film is done in such a way that the arrow striking his heel is merely what sets him up for more deadly blows, not his death-wound... But it's the only arrow he doesn't pull out, presumably leaving the people who find his body to draw their own, incorrect, conclusions.
4. As mentioned, Agamemmnon dies at the wrong time. So does Ajax, who barely even gets any screen time despite being a hero of Achilles' and Hector's caliber.
5. A love story between Achilles and Briseis is invented, when in the book (IIRC) she's nothing more than a posession Achilles wants back, out of pride, not love.
6. No mention of the sacrifice of Agamemmnon's daughter in exchange for favorable winds, which is strange, because they do everything else to make him into a monster...
There's tons of other stuff... It'd probably be easier to list what things in Troy actually match the Illiad.
It's been years since I've read the Illiad, but off the top of my head:
1. The gods don't make an appearance at all, whereas in the original story, the war is entirely their doing and full of their meddling.
2. There is no attempt made to suggest that 10 years have passed... The war is over so quickly, the cuts and bruises of a girl taken captive on the first day of the fighting don't even heal by the end of it, and Hector's son remains an infant throughout.
3. Achilles, for all we know, might not even be invulnerable. He suggests he's not, anyway, and his death in the film is done in such a way that the arrow striking his heel is merely what sets him up for more deadly blows, not his death-wound... But it's the only arrow he doesn't pull out, presumably leaving the people who find his body to draw their own, incorrect, conclusions.
4. As mentioned, Agamemmnon dies at the wrong time. So does Ajax, who barely even gets any screen time despite being a hero of Achilles' and Hector's caliber.
5. A love story between Achilles and Briseis is invented, when in the book (IIRC) she's nothing more than a posession Achilles wants back, out of pride, not love.
6. No mention of the sacrifice of Agamemmnon's daughter in exchange for favorable winds, which is strange, because they do everything else to make him into a monster...
There's tons of other stuff... It'd probably be easier to list what things in Troy actually match the Illiad.
Andrew D. Gable
First Post
mmu1 said:
Which guy was Ajax? I had thought he was totally left out of the movie, which I thought was odd.
Wombat
First Post
I always feel sorry for Achilles -- in the modern world he is seen as a selfish pouter, which was not the point to the original story at all, if interpreted within the light of the culture.
I don't really expect Troy to be the Iliad -- all I would expect is an adventure/war flick. There are no gods, no 10 years, and numerous other changes. If it is a decent action flick, I will be happy with it as that, but as no more than that. It shall not be the Trojan War. There is no Apple of Discord, no To The Fairest, so it is merely a tale of ancient warfare.
I don't really expect Troy to be the Iliad -- all I would expect is an adventure/war flick. There are no gods, no 10 years, and numerous other changes. If it is a decent action flick, I will be happy with it as that, but as no more than that. It shall not be the Trojan War. There is no Apple of Discord, no To The Fairest, so it is merely a tale of ancient warfare.
Well, to be quite blunt the movie only coincides with the legends and previous fiction based on the legends (a) in broadest outline, (b) in a few superficial details, and (c) in using some of the same names for characters. The legends and previous fictions are by no means consistent with one another (nor even within themselves: there is a paradox in the Iliad involving the duration of the war and the relationship between Hector and Paris, and a general paradox concerning the age of Achilles), but I think I can safely say that Troy is way outside the range of the legends and previous fictions.
Dig out a primer on Greek myths and legends. Any of them ought to give you an account of the Trojan War.
Dig out a primer on Greek myths and legends. Any of them ought to give you an account of the Trojan War.
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