What started the Trojan War? Why does Zeus support the Trojans?
Answer (1)
The Trojan War is a legendary conflict in Greek mythology that has fascinated historians and storytellers for centuries. Here's a step-by-step explanation of what started the Trojan War and why Zeus supported the Trojans:
The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis : The origins of the Trojan War trace back to the wedding of Peleus, a mortal, and Thetis, a sea goddess. All gods were invited except for Eris, the goddess of discord. In anger, Eris threw a golden apple among the guests with the inscription "for the fairest."
The Judgment of Paris : The apple was claimed by three goddesses: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. They turned to Paris, a prince of Troy, to decide who was the fairest among them. Each goddess attempted to bribe him: Hera offered power, Athena offered wisdom and victory in battle, and Aphrodite promised the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.
Abduction of Helen : Paris awarded the apple to Aphrodite, who helped him abduct Helen, the most beautiful woman and the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. This act of abduction was the catalyst that led the Greeks to sail to Troy and spark the war to retrieve Helen.
Zeus's Support for the Trojans : As for Zeus's support of the Trojans, it is rooted in multiple mythological narratives. Zeus initially maintained a neutral stance because gods were generally divided in support of either the Greeks or Trojans. However, Zeus's support for the Trojans in some stories may stem from factors like his desire to reduce the human population (as stated in some myths) or his favoritism towards certain Trojan heroes like Hector.
The Trojan War stretched over a decade, with various Greek heroes, such as Achilles and Odysseus, playing vital roles. The conflict ended with the famous tale of the Trojan Horse, leading to the downfall of Troy. These events are most famously recounted in Homer's epic poems, the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey.'
