The Trojan War

The Trojan War is one of the most famous stories from the ancient world. It tells of a great war between the Greeks and the city of Troy. According to the legends, the war lasted ten years. The story was told in a long poem called the Iliad, written by a Greek poet named Homer. Some historians think the war may have been based on a real event around 1200 BCE.

How the War Began

The story says the war started because of a beautiful woman named Helen. She was married to a Greek king. But a prince of Troy named Paris took her away to his city. The Greek kings were angry. They gathered a huge army and sailed across the sea to get Helen back. For ten years, the Greeks fought outside the walls of Troy but could not get inside.

The Trojan Horse

The Greeks came up with a clever trick. They built a giant wooden horse and hid soldiers inside it. Then they pretended to sail away. The Trojans thought the horse was a gift and brought it inside the city walls. That night, the Greek soldiers climbed out of the horse and opened the gates. The Greek army rushed in and won the war. This is where the saying 'Beware of Greeks bearing gifts' comes from.

Fun Facts

• The hero Achilles was said to be impossible to hurt, except for his heel.
• The poet Homer may have been blind, according to ancient stories.
• Archaeologists found the ruins of a real city in Turkey that may have been ancient Troy.

Did You Know?

The word 'Trojan' is used today in computers. A 'Trojan horse' virus is a harmful program that pretends to be something safe, just like the wooden horse trick!