"If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you."
— Jimmy Soul
Who says there isn't wisdom is 1960s rock 'n' roll? King Menelaus of Sparta and Paris, prince of Troy, are examples of how true these words can be. Here is the story of Helen of Troy, according to the Greek poet Homer, author of "The Iliad":
An apple with the inscription "for the most beautiful" arrives at the wedding feast of King Peleus, of Thessaly. The guest list includes three goddesses — Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, all of whom lay claim to the prize. Paris is chosen to judge the dispute.
His reward for choosing Aphrodite is the promise of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. One problem: Helen is already married to Menelaus. Paris steals Helen on a visit to Sparta. Menelaus vows to get her back and assembles the heroes of Greece, with the help of his brother Agamemnon, to recover her. This, according to legend, is the start of the Trojan War.
The seige of Troy lasts for 10 years. Heroes on both sides fall, including Hector and Achilles. Ultimately, the Greeks are unable to take the city. In desperation they come up with a plan to build a huge wooden horse. The fleet pretends to sail away while a Greek prisoner, Sinon, persuades the Trojans to drag the horse into the city. By nightfall, the people of Troy are exhausted after celebrating their deliverance from destruction, and a small band of Greeks, led by Odysseus, emerges from the horse and opens the gates to the city. The fleet secretly returns, and the army burns the city and kills most of the Trojans. Helen is returned to Menelaus.
Legend has it that a Trojan warrior, Aeneas, escapes with a small band and starts what will become Rome.
The real Troy
In 1870 German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann found the remains of Troy among the ruins of nine cities that had been constructed on top of each other. The seventh is believed to be Troy. The actual cause of the Trojan War is unknown. Scholars believe Troy fell about 1184 B.C.
The Greeks
Achilles: The greatest Greek warrior. A son of Zeus. His mother dipped him in the river Styx as an infant to make him invulnerable, except for one heel. Killed the Trojan hero Hector. Achilles was later killed by Paris, with an arrow that struck his one vunerable spot — his heel.
Agamemnon: Commander of the Greek troops and brother-in-law to Helen. Killed by his wife Clytemnestra for sacrificing his daughter to Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt.
Odysseus: King of Ithaca. Known for his inventiveness. Came up with the idea for the Trojan horse, which won the war for the Greeks. Subject of "The Odyssey," Homer's poem of Odysseus' 10-year struggle to get home after the war.
The hoplite warrior
The soldiers of the Greek city states were called hoplites, which means "heavy battle gear." Because wars were frequent, a strong citizen army was a necessity. Hoplites were required to provide their own equipment. Wealthy soldiers were outfitted in full armor, while poor soldiers became archers or used slings.
Spartan hoplite: A Spartan boy was taken from his mother at age 7. Tough physical conditioning and weapon training were a daily part of life. Throughout a hoplite's life, strong male bonding was encouraged with older men who mentored new recruits. A minimum amount of food was provided, and stealing to subsidize the meager diet was encouraged. This sharpened foraging skills that would be needed later during a campaign. At age 20, hoplite status was awarded. A soldier was 30 before he could live at home with his family. Spartans were renowned for their esprit de corps and fighting ability. A hoplite could expect to be in military service until age 62.
Warship (trireme)
170 men rowed in unison to the beat of pipers. A complement of 10 hoplites and four archers accompanied each ship. The object during an engagement was not to board but to disable a vessel by ramming.
The phalanx
A close formation armed with shields and long spears. The first three ranks would collide with the enemy while rear ranks pushed forward. The application of the phalanx usually caused panic in enemy ranks. Most battles were so physically draining that they lasted only about 30 minutes.
SOURCES: "The Wars of the Ancient Greeks"; "Classical Greece, Ancient Greece"; "Time Frame 600-400 BC: A Soaring Spirit"; World Book Encyclopedia