Previously Balladeer’s Blog examined three of the neglected tales from the Epic Cycle which dealt with the Trojan War. First came Cypria, then after skipping The Iliad because of how well-known it is I moved on to Aethiopis and then most recently I examined Iliad Minor.
SACK OF TROY aka Sack of Ilion is credited to Arktinos of Miletos in the 770’s BCE. The previous epic Iliad Minor wrapped up with the Greek warriors springing out of the Trojan Horse and at last triumphing over King Priam and his Trojans. Sack of Troy rehashes a few story elements, backing up to cover the construction of the Trojan Horse and the Trojans ignoring the prophet Cassandra’s warnings about the Horse. New elements are the arguments the Trojans have about possibly burning the Horse or rolling it off a cliff into the sea before deciding to take it inside the city gates.
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During the celebrations for what the Trojans think is their victory over the Greeks two serpents bit and killed the priest of Apollo named Laocoon and one of his sons. The Trojans called an end to the feast and retired for the evening, their spirits dampened. The Greek soldiers emerged from the Trojan Horse after most of the Trojans were asleep and started slaying the Trojans, taking time out to allow their returned comrades to enter Troy to bring their numbers up.
Much pride was taken over which Greek warrior killed which Trojan and also, given the time period, which Trojan woman or women they took as sex-toys. Taking Trojan women who had been aristocrats was a particular sign of status. To name just a few Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, killed King Priam and Odysseus killed Astyanax (Hector’s son) by throwing him from the top of the city walls to his death. Neoptolemus then seized Astyanax’s wife Andromache. Continue reading
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