The Final Days of the war
Our most reliable and understandably trustworthy sources for the history surrounding the final day of the Trojan war is 'The Aeneid,' a text written by Virgil, a Roman, who tells us the story of the final days of the war from the perspective of the losers,i.e. the Trojans, who ultimately went on to found the Roman Empire.
The Iliad, written by greek poet Homer gives us an account of the battles themselves, from the perspective of the winners - the Greeks.
Aeneas, quite willing to tell his story, begins. He tells of the Trojan horse that the Greeks finally used (with Pallas’s help) to trick the Trojans. (Aeneid, BkII:298-354) Hiding men in the horse’s belly, the rest of the ship fleet made for a nearby harbor to hide. Many warned against bringing the horse into the city. They didn’t trust the Greek treachery. One of the Greeks had purposely let himself be captured by some Trojan shepherds, and was dragged before Priam. He seemingly begs for pity, claims he will tell the truth no matter what. Supposedly angered by the unfair death of Greek Palamedes, this prisoner was hated by Ulysses who he persisted in threatening. Saying that the Greeks were tired of the long war, but were unable to because of some reason or another every time they tried to make sail (wind, storm, etc.). Trying to figure out how to leave Troy, the Trojans were told that blood from a virgin (Iphigenia) had brought them to Troy, and blood would need to be sacrificed to leave. Therefore, this prisoner had been chosen to be sacrificed, and instead, had run from that fate, after which he was captured. Priam, in pity, says that the prisoner can make a new home among the Trojans. At this point, a snake monster from the ocean comes in and attacks Laocoon, dragging him to the citadel of Pallas. People said he deserved it having thrown a spear at the great horse earlier, and made a cry out to bring the horse into the walls. Even though they heard arms within the horse, they ignored the sounds, so overcome with joyous celebration.
Cassandra, a prophetess blessed with the true gift of sight, but cursed to never be believed, warned the people of the treachery, but went unbelieved as normal. While the Trojans slumbered, the Greek fleet came back. The doors, which had been opened during the celebration and wheeling in of the horse (and never reclosed), posed no problem to the now invading Greek army. Aeneas, sleeping, dreamt of Hector, torn and killed from being drug behind Achilles cart. Hector tells him to escape the city, and warns that the Greeks are invading even as Aeneas sleeps. He is told to bring the Troy’s household gods with him. Hector brought with him the chaplets of Vesta and her undying fire. Aeneas wakes. A priest of Apollo runs up with holy relics, and tells Aeneas that the battle is already lost, and Troy has no hope. A Greek stupidly approaches Aeneas, thinking he is Greek as well. He is killed. Stealing uniforms of Greeks, Aeneas and some comrades start fighting the Greeks, and killing them in this guise. Sneaking into the palace, and witness the chaos therein. Proud of his king, Aeneas says that no matter the age of Priam, when the moment came, and it was obvious Troy was falling, he honourably put on armour, and went to fight. Aeneas witnessed the death of Priam at Pyrrhus’s hands. He pictures such a death for his own father, Anchises, and is shaken. At this point he sees Helen hiding at Vesta’s shrine. At his father’s house, Anchises refuses to leave, not wanting to live through Troy’s defeat. Aeneas refuses to leave him to die. Aeneas says if his father refuses to leave, then he does as well, and will instead go to battle. Creusa, his wife, begs him to stay and protect the family.
"Helen, close to Vesta’s portal, hiding silently
in the secret shrine: the bright flames gave me light,
as I wandered, gazing everywhere, randomly.
Afraid of Trojans angered at the fall of Troy,
Greek vengeance, and the fury of a husband she deserted,
she, the mutual curse of Troy and her own country,
had concealed herself and crouched, a hated thing, by the altars."
(The Aeneid, Book II lines 567-574)
At this point, unquenchable flames start to lick at Anchises’s hair, who takes the flames as a sign, and asks for a sign to “ratify the omen” from Jupiter. This request is quickly answered by a loud roll of thunder and a shooting star. At this, Anchises finally agrees to leave. Due to his father’s old age, Aeneas takes him on his shoulders to carry him out of the city. Anchises is to carry the holy relics and household gods in his arms, since Aeneas’s hands are dirtied with blood from battle. At a point of confusion when it seems some Greeks are following, Aeneas turns off the path, and Creusa is lost. She was never seen again. Trying to find her, Aeneas went back, but could not find her. Going back to his house hoping to see her, he saw the Greeks setting fire to the house. Then he saw a “shadow” of her. She tells him that the gods have not willed it for her to leave with him. She says that a new kingdom awaits him where he will have a new royal wife. She points out that if nothing else, she has been saved from being taken as a slave woman back to Greece with the Greek fleet, and that she is being kept by Cybele. She finishes by telling him to love their son. At this, Aeneas reaches for her three times, and each time her image fled his reach. Returning to his comrades, he was surprised to see how many had joined them, looking to him as the leader. Finally giving up the city, they sought the hills for protection.
The Iliad, written by greek poet Homer gives us an account of the battles themselves, from the perspective of the winners - the Greeks.
Aeneas, quite willing to tell his story, begins. He tells of the Trojan horse that the Greeks finally used (with Pallas’s help) to trick the Trojans. (Aeneid, BkII:298-354) Hiding men in the horse’s belly, the rest of the ship fleet made for a nearby harbor to hide. Many warned against bringing the horse into the city. They didn’t trust the Greek treachery. One of the Greeks had purposely let himself be captured by some Trojan shepherds, and was dragged before Priam. He seemingly begs for pity, claims he will tell the truth no matter what. Supposedly angered by the unfair death of Greek Palamedes, this prisoner was hated by Ulysses who he persisted in threatening. Saying that the Greeks were tired of the long war, but were unable to because of some reason or another every time they tried to make sail (wind, storm, etc.). Trying to figure out how to leave Troy, the Trojans were told that blood from a virgin (Iphigenia) had brought them to Troy, and blood would need to be sacrificed to leave. Therefore, this prisoner had been chosen to be sacrificed, and instead, had run from that fate, after which he was captured. Priam, in pity, says that the prisoner can make a new home among the Trojans. At this point, a snake monster from the ocean comes in and attacks Laocoon, dragging him to the citadel of Pallas. People said he deserved it having thrown a spear at the great horse earlier, and made a cry out to bring the horse into the walls. Even though they heard arms within the horse, they ignored the sounds, so overcome with joyous celebration.
Cassandra, a prophetess blessed with the true gift of sight, but cursed to never be believed, warned the people of the treachery, but went unbelieved as normal. While the Trojans slumbered, the Greek fleet came back. The doors, which had been opened during the celebration and wheeling in of the horse (and never reclosed), posed no problem to the now invading Greek army. Aeneas, sleeping, dreamt of Hector, torn and killed from being drug behind Achilles cart. Hector tells him to escape the city, and warns that the Greeks are invading even as Aeneas sleeps. He is told to bring the Troy’s household gods with him. Hector brought with him the chaplets of Vesta and her undying fire. Aeneas wakes. A priest of Apollo runs up with holy relics, and tells Aeneas that the battle is already lost, and Troy has no hope. A Greek stupidly approaches Aeneas, thinking he is Greek as well. He is killed. Stealing uniforms of Greeks, Aeneas and some comrades start fighting the Greeks, and killing them in this guise. Sneaking into the palace, and witness the chaos therein. Proud of his king, Aeneas says that no matter the age of Priam, when the moment came, and it was obvious Troy was falling, he honourably put on armour, and went to fight. Aeneas witnessed the death of Priam at Pyrrhus’s hands. He pictures such a death for his own father, Anchises, and is shaken. At this point he sees Helen hiding at Vesta’s shrine. At his father’s house, Anchises refuses to leave, not wanting to live through Troy’s defeat. Aeneas refuses to leave him to die. Aeneas says if his father refuses to leave, then he does as well, and will instead go to battle. Creusa, his wife, begs him to stay and protect the family.
"Helen, close to Vesta’s portal, hiding silently
in the secret shrine: the bright flames gave me light,
as I wandered, gazing everywhere, randomly.
Afraid of Trojans angered at the fall of Troy,
Greek vengeance, and the fury of a husband she deserted,
she, the mutual curse of Troy and her own country,
had concealed herself and crouched, a hated thing, by the altars."
(The Aeneid, Book II lines 567-574)
At this point, unquenchable flames start to lick at Anchises’s hair, who takes the flames as a sign, and asks for a sign to “ratify the omen” from Jupiter. This request is quickly answered by a loud roll of thunder and a shooting star. At this, Anchises finally agrees to leave. Due to his father’s old age, Aeneas takes him on his shoulders to carry him out of the city. Anchises is to carry the holy relics and household gods in his arms, since Aeneas’s hands are dirtied with blood from battle. At a point of confusion when it seems some Greeks are following, Aeneas turns off the path, and Creusa is lost. She was never seen again. Trying to find her, Aeneas went back, but could not find her. Going back to his house hoping to see her, he saw the Greeks setting fire to the house. Then he saw a “shadow” of her. She tells him that the gods have not willed it for her to leave with him. She says that a new kingdom awaits him where he will have a new royal wife. She points out that if nothing else, she has been saved from being taken as a slave woman back to Greece with the Greek fleet, and that she is being kept by Cybele. She finishes by telling him to love their son. At this, Aeneas reaches for her three times, and each time her image fled his reach. Returning to his comrades, he was surprised to see how many had joined them, looking to him as the leader. Finally giving up the city, they sought the hills for protection.