According to Greek Mythology, the Trojan War actually began when Paris was selected to choose one of three goddesses as the most beautiful. Paris selected Aphrodite. Aphrodite was so grateful to be chosen as the most beautiful that she made Helen, also a beautiful woman, fall in love with Paris because Paris was in love with Helen. The only problem with this is that Helen was married to Menelaus. Both Menelaus and Helen are Spartans from Sparta. Paris is from Troy making him a Trojan.
After Helen fell in love with Paris, he then took Helen to Troy. Helen’s brother-in-law started a ten-year war with Troy while searching for Helen.
During the war, Helen became disillusioned with Paris and his brother Hector. Both of the brothers died in the war. The Spartans defeated the Trojans when the Spartans snuck into Troy with the Trojan Horse. After the Trojans were defeated, Helen went home with her husband Menelaus.
As for a historical reason for the Trojan War, debate exists regarding whether a real Trojan War occurred. Currently there is a settlement in Turkey that is being excavated that archaeological experts regard as the city of Troy (Korfmann). The excavation site shows that the city of Troy was decimated in 1180 B.C. (Korfmann). The excavation also shows that several wars occurred in Troy (Korfmann). Troy was a very large city (Korfmann).
Archaeological experts think that the “Trojan War Myth” is based on several wars that occurred in Troy, not just one significant war (Korfmann)
Works Cited
Helen of Troy. Wikipedia. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2011.
Korfmann, Manfred. “Was There a Trojan War?” Archaelogy. Vol. 57, Number 3. (May/June
2004). Archaeological Institute of America. Web. 16 Oct. 2011.
Trojan War. Wikipeda. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2011.
