"Zeus plans with Themis to bring about the Trojan war. Strife arrives while the gods are feasting at the marriage of Peleus and
starts a dispute between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite as to which of them is fairest. The three are led by Hermes at the command
of Zeus to Alexandrus on Mount Ida for his decision, and Alexandrus, lured by his promised marriage with Helen, decides in
favour of Aphrodite."
- The Cypria
I chose the Trojan War because it is a favorite of mine. There have been many versions of what occurred, from both Greek and Roman scholars. This storybook is dedicated to this timeless tale of love, betrayal, manipulation, heroes, and tragedy. I have chosen to tell the story from Zeus' point of view.
He is the God of
Gods. He is the most feared, and most respected of all. Zeus
obtained his crown by overthrowing his own father and he feared
that the same would happen to him. He was not the most
faithful husband to Hera. He had fathered many children with
mortal
women, including Apollo, Artemis, and Hercules. He sent his
mortal sons
to war and to their death. And even though he ordered the other gods
and goddesses not to interfere in the war, he couldn't help but take
sides, just as the other gods had done. The gods of Olympus will
play
a big part in the whole story. Even though the humans are the
players
in the story, they are highly influenced and manipulated by the gods.
According to Greek Mythology Link, the cause of the war had many reasons, from Zeus wishing Helen to cause a conflict to Paris abusing Menelaus' hospitality to a plan devised by the gods to lessen the number of demi-gods, children born to human mothers with divine fathers, much like the sons of Zeus.
According to Greek Mythology Link, the cause of the war had many reasons, from Zeus wishing Helen to cause a conflict to Paris abusing Menelaus' hospitality to a plan devised by the gods to lessen the number of demi-gods, children born to human mothers with divine fathers, much like the sons of Zeus.
Regardless of the
reason, many stories begin with a
golden apple, labeled "To the Fairest," which was claimed by three
goddesses, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Zeus chose Prince Paris
of Troy to decide which goddess would receive the apple. In order
to sway his decision, Aphrodite promised him the love of the most
beautiful woman
in the world, Helen. Little did Paris know that Helen was
already
married and that his pursuit and capture of Helen would unleash a
thousand ships on his homeland.
I have chosen four
stories that cover major events of the war, beginning with the
Judgment of Paris where Paris is promised the most beautiful woman in
the world after awarding the "Apple of Discord" to Aphrodite.
The second story will
cover the death of
Prince Hector, Hero of Troy and Zeus' favorite. Hector's
death is a turning point in the war for the people of Troy who relied
on Hector to bring them to glory.
The third story covers the death of Achilles. Achilles was the hero of the
Greeks.
He was of divine descent,
like Hercules. He is also the man who killed Hector. To bring the
story
to full circle, Paris is the one who kills Achilles.
And I will end it all
with the Trojan Horse. The Trojans
found the horse and were told that it was an offering to the
gods. Not wanting to upset the gods, they took the horse inside
the city, which is exactly what the Greeks had hoped the Trojans would
do.
There are many sources
for these stories in both Greek and Roman mythology. I have
chosen
to use several and each will be listed with the stories. I hope
that you enjoy the tale from Zeus' perspective of the Trojan War.