Troy in the Ancient Sources: 97 Passages in Greek & English

Apollodorus (7)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome E.3.1–35Paris and Helen; the muster at Aulis and the landing at TroyParis judges the contest of the three goddesses, carries off Helen, and Menelaus and Agamemnon call the Greek kings to arms; Odysseus's feigned madness is exposed and Palamedes is framed. The section gives the catalogue of the Greek fleet at Aulis, the omen of the snake and sparrows, the failed first landing in Mysia and the healing of Telephus, and the sacrifice of Iphigenia. After Tenedos and the abandonment of Philoctetes, Protesilaus is the first to die at Troy, Achilles takes many nearby cities, and the Trojan allies are listed.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome E.5.1–23The death of Achilles, the Wooden Horse and the fall of TroyPenthesilea and then Memnon come to Troy's aid and are killed by Achilles, who is himself shot by Paris and Apollo. The contest for Achilles' arms drives Ajax to madness and suicide. Troy falls after Philoctetes shoots Paris, Helenus reveals the three conditions, Neoptolemus joins the army and Odysseus steals the Palladium, and the Greeks take the city with the Wooden Horse, Sinon and the beacon at Tenedos; the section closes with the sack, the deaths of Astyanax and Polyxena, and the division of the captives.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome E.6.1–29The returns from Troy: Nauplius, Agamemnon's murder and OrestesThe Greeks quarrel at an assembly over whether to leave at once, and the section follows the returns: Calchas and Mopsus at Colophon, the storm at Tenos in which Ajax dies, Nauplius's false beacon at Caphereus, Neoptolemus in Molossia, and the fates of Demophon and Phyllis, Podalirius and the Locrian maidens. Agamemnon is murdered by Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, and Orestes avenges him, is tried at Athens, and brings the image of Artemis from the Taurians. The section ends with Menelaus's wanderings and his return to Sparta.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.12.1–7Dardanus, Priam and the royal house of TroyElectra's son Dardanus founds the line of the Trojan kings through Erichthonius and Tros, to Ganymede, Anchises and Ilus. Ilus founds Ilium on the spot where the cow lies down and receives the Palladium, and Laomedon and Priam follow him, with Tithonus and Memnon among Laomedon's line. The section lists Priam's children, including Hecuba's dream before Paris's birth, Cassandra's gift, and Paris and Oenone, and ends with the sons of Aeacus, Peleus and Telamon, the murder of Phocus and the birth of Ajax and Teucer.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.5.7–10The Labours of Heracles (7-10): the Cretan Bull to Geryon's CattleHeracles brings the Cretan bull to Mycenae and takes the man-eating mares of Diomedes of Thrace, founding Abdera. For the belt of Hippolyte he sails to the Amazons, kills her after Hera stirs up trouble, and on the way home saves Hesione from the sea monster at Troy, which Laomedon will not pay for. For the tenth labour he crosses to Erytheia, kills Geryon and his herdsman and dog, and drives the cattle home through Italy and Sicily, wrestling Eryx and enduring Hera's gadfly.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.6.1–4Heracles, Iphitus and OmphaleAfter the labours Heracles wins the archery contest for Iole but is refused, and later, in a fresh fit of madness, throws Iphitus from the walls of Tiryns. Struck with disease, he tries to carry off the Delphic tripod, and is told to be sold into slavery for three years; he serves Omphale of Lydia, binds the Cercopes and kills Syleus. Afterwards he sails against Troy, sacks it and kills Laomedon, and Telamon gets Hesione, whose brother Podarces is ransomed and renamed Priam.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.13.1–8Peleus, Thetis and the youth of AchillesPeleus flees to Phthia and is purified, kills Eurytion by accident in the Calydonian hunt, and escapes the plots of Astydamia, wife of Acastus. With help from Chiron he wins Thetis, who tries to make their son Achilles immortal in the fire. When Calchas declares that Troy cannot be taken without Achilles, Thetis hides him among the daughters of Lycomedes, where Odysseus finds him; Phoenix and Patroclus join him.

Aeschylus (12)

Aeschylus, Agamemnon 355–474First stasimon: Zeus, Paris and HelenThe Chorus thank Zeus and Night for the net in which Troy was caught, and say that Zeus punishes those who offend against the laws of hospitality, as Paris did. They sing of Helen's flight, the grief that she left behind in the house of Menelaus, and the ashes of the war dead returned from Troy. They end with the anger of the people against the sons of Atreus and their own fear of excessive glory.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 810–913Third episode: Agamemnon arrives and Clytaemestra's welcomeAgamemnon arrives in his chariot with the captive Cassandra and greets Argos and its gods, saying that the gods have punished Troy and that he will deal with the affairs of the city in assembly. Clytaemestra then speaks before the citizens of her long loneliness, her fears for her husband and the reports of his death, and tells how she sent their son Orestes away for safety. She greets him with a string of images and tells her servants to strew purple cloths for his path.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 475–582Second episode: the Herald arrives from TroyThe elders doubt Clytaemestra's news, saying that it is like a woman to trust good tidings too quickly. A Herald from the army then arrives, greets his native Argos and the gods, and confirms that Troy has fallen and that Agamemnon is coming home. The Chorus tell him that they feared for the army while it was away, and he describes the hardships of the siege.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1–39Prologue: the Watchman sees the beaconA Watchman on the palace roof at Argos says that he has been looking for a year for the beacon that will announce the fall of Troy. He sees the signal fire at last and cries out for joy, calling the queen to raise a shout of triumph. He hints that all is not well in the house, but says that he will keep silent about it.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 40–175Parodos (1): the army sails and the omen of the eaglesThe Chorus of old men of Argos recall that it is now the tenth year since Menelaus and Agamemnon sailed against Troy, and say that they are too old to fight and wait at home. They ask Clytaemestra why sacrifices are burning on every altar, then tell of the omen seen as the army set out, two eagles devouring a pregnant hare. They tell how the seer Calchas read it as the capture of Troy and warned that Artemis was angry, and they pray that she will not hold back the fleet with contrary winds.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 264–354First episode: Clytaemestra announces the fall of TroyClytaemestra comes from the palace and tells the Chorus that the Argives have taken Priam's city. When the elders cannot believe it, she describes the chain of beacon fires that carried the message from Mount Ida by way of Lemnos and Athos to the roof of the palace. She then describes the capture of the city as she imagines it, and the Chorus accept her proof and turn to thanksgiving.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 583–680Second episode (cont.): Clytaemestra's message and the loss of MenelausThe Chorus admit that Clytaemestra has proved them wrong, and she says that she raised a cry of triumph when the beacon came. She sends the Herald to tell her husband that she has been faithful. The Chorus ask about Menelaus, and the Herald tells how a storm sent by the gods wrecked the fleet and that Menelaus has not come back and is not known to be alive.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 681–809Second stasimon: Helen, the lion cub and HubrisThe Chorus ask what spirit gave Helen her name, which they take to mean ruin of ships, men and cities. They tell of a man who brought up a lion cub in his house, which was gentle at first but later showed its nature, and compare it to Helen. They say that it is not wealth but the impious act that brings ruin, and that Justice honours the poor man's house; in the last lines the Chorus leader begins to greet the returning king.
Aeschylus, Libation Bearers 306–422Kommos (1): the lament at the tombOrestes, Electra and the Chorus sing together to call up the dead Agamemnon from below. Orestes wishes that his father had died at Troy, and Electra wishes instead that his murderers had been killed by their own kin. They call on Zeus, on the Fates and on the powers below to grant that blood be paid for blood.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1448–1576Kommos: the lament for Agamemnon and the Fiend of the houseThe Chorus mourn the king and blame Helen for the deaths at Troy, and Clytaemestra says that the Fiend of the house, which has fed on the family of Tantalus, has done the deed through her. The elders ask who will bury Agamemnon, and she says that she will not allow them to mourn him, and that Iphigenia will meet him at the river of sorrows. The Chorus say that they are in doubt, and that the blow will be repaid with a blow.
Aeschylus, Eumenides 397–489Athena arrives and hears both sidesAthena arrives from the Scamander and is astonished at the strange group. The Furies tell her who they are and what their function is, and she says that only half of the case has been heard. Orestes tells her who he is, and says that he killed his mother by Apollo's command. Athena says that the case is too great for any single mortal, and decides to appoint judges from the citizens to try it.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1035–1177Fourth episode: Clytaemestra and Cassandra's first criesClytaemestra comes out and tells Cassandra to come inside, but Cassandra does not answer, and the Chorus tell her to obey. Clytaemestra gives up, and then Cassandra cries out to Apollo and begins to speak of the house of Atreus, its butchery and the murdered children, and of a bath and a net, while the Chorus do not understand her. She ends by lamenting the fall of Troy.

Euripides (66)

Euripides, Hecuba 1–58Prologue: the ghost of Polydorus announces Hecuba's sorrowsThe ghost of Polydorus, a son of Hecuba, says that he has come from the house of the dead. His father Priam, fearing the fall of Troy, sent him with gold to Polymestor, king of the Thracian Chersonese, who killed him for the gold when Troy fell and threw his body into the sea. He tells that the Greeks are held at the Chersonese by the ghost of Achilles, who demands the sacrifice of Polyxena, and that his mother will see two corpses on this day.
Euripides, Andromache 319–365Second episode: Andromache answers MenelausAndromache tells Menelaus that fame has raised many men of no account, and accuses him of the sack of Troy for the sake of a bad wife, and of being a mere pretender. She says that she has never harmed Hermione, and that she is not the cause of her barrenness, and the Chorus tells her that she has spoken too freely for a woman speaking to men.
Euripides, Hecuba 1132–1182Exodos: Polymestor accuses Hecuba and the Trojan womenPolymestor says that Hecuba, helped by the captive women, has blinded him, and tells his story: Priam sent him his youngest son, Polydorus, to bring up, and he killed him for fear that the boy would one day repeople Troy and bring the Greeks back to harry Thrace. He says that Hecuba lured him into the tent with a tale of hidden treasure, and that the women stabbed his children and seized him, and that this is his reward for slaying an enemy of Agamemnon.
Euripides, Andromache 1009–1069Third choral song; Peleus learns that Hermione has fledThe Chorus calls on Apollo and Poseidon, who built the walls of Troy, and asks why they have forgotten, and sings of the vengeance that has overtaken the sons of Agamemnon. Peleus then comes and asks if the rumour is true that Hermione has fled; the Chorus says that she has, and that she fears the anger of her husband.
Euripides, Hecuba 905–952Third choral song: the fall of IliumThe Chorus sings that Ilium will no longer be counted among the cities never sacked, since a cloud of Greek troops now surrounds her and the city has been shorn of its towers. It recalls the night of the sack, when it was dancing and the Greeks surprised them, and prays that Helen may never return home.
Euripides, Electra 1–53Prologue: the Peasant tells of Electra's marriageA Peasant of Argos tells how Agamemnon sailed from the plain of Inachus to Troy and was killed on his return by Aegisthus, who took his wife Clytemnestra. Aegisthus gave Electra, the daughter of Agamemnon, in marriage to the Peasant, who, being poor, has kept his respect for her and has never touched her, and he tells how she works with him in the fields.
Euripides, Helen 476–514Third episode: Menelaus puzzles over two Helens and resolves to waitThe Old Woman says that Helen was here before the Achaeans went to Troy, and again tells him to go. Menelaus, bewildered by two wives of the same name, reasons that the same names may belong to many people. He decides to wait for the king, since, as the saying goes, nothing is stronger than necessity.
Euripides, Helen 761–807Fourth episode: Menelaus' seven years at sea; Helen warns him of the kingHelen asks how Menelaus escaped from Troy, and he says that he spent seven years sailing after the ten at Troy. She warns him to flee, since Theoclymenus lives here and wishes to marry her. Helen tells him that she has kept herself untouched and has taken refuge at the tomb.
Euripides, Rhesus 882–949Exodos: the Muse mourns her son RhesusThe Chorus wonders why fate changes and brings Troy again to mourning, and sees the corpse of Rhesus being carried in. The Muse, his mother, appears, laments her son, and curses the son of Oeneus and the son of Laertes. She tells how she bore Rhesus by the river Strymon and gave him to the fountain nymphs to rear, and she blames Athena for his death.
Euripides, Andromache 274–318First choral song on Paris; Menelaus brings Andromache's sonThe Chorus sings of the judgment of Paris and of the three goddesses who came to Ida, and of the ruin that came to Troy and to Greece from it. Menelaus then arrives with the son of Andromache, whom he has caught, and tells her that she must leave the altar or her son will be killed.
Euripides, Hecuba 59–153Parodos: Hecuba's dream and the Greek decision to sacrifice PolyxenaHecuba, an old slave, is helped out of the tent by her women, and tells of a terrible dream of a fawn torn from her knees by a wolf and of the ghost of Achilles on his tomb, and prays that her daughter and her son may be spared. The Chorus of captive Trojan women comes in to tell her that the Greeks have decided in assembly to sacrifice Polyxena on the grave of Achilles.
Euripides, Hecuba 986–1022Fourth episode: Hecuba lures Polymestor into the tentHecuba asks Polymestor about her son Polydorus, and he says that the boy is alive and well, and that she still has a share of fortune. She tells him that there is gold left from Troy hidden for the boy, and asks him to come into the tent, where there are no Achaeans, since the Argives are about to sail; he goes in with his children.

54 more passages of Euripides that name Troy

Diodorus Siculus (6)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.71.1–4.75.6Asclepius, Aeacus, Pelops and the kings of TroyThe historian gives the birth and healing art of Asclepius and the descendants of Asopus' daughters, including Aeacus and his sons Peleus and Telamon. He then tells of Oenomaüs and the chariot race by which Pelops wins Hippodameia, and of Tantalus, and ends with the first kings of Troy, from Teucrus and Dardanus down to Priam.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.31.1–4.33.12Heracles: servitude, Troy, Elis and SpartaAfter his labours Heracles gives Megara to Iolaüs and asks for Iole, daughter of Eurytus; he is refused, falls ill, and is told by Apollo to be sold as a slave to pay the sons of Iphitus. He then makes war on Laomedon at Troy and gives the kingdom to Priam, fights Augeas and the Eleans, and defeats the sons of Hippocoön at Sparta, restoring Tyndareüs. The section ends with Augê's secret child.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.45.1–4.49.8The Argonauts II: Colchis, Medea and the golden fleeceThe historian explains the custom of the Colchi of killing strangers by the story of Aeëtes and his brother Perses, and gives the traditions about Medea and about Phrixus and the ram with the golden fleece. With Medea's help the Argonauts take the fleece; the king of the Colchi falls in the fighting, and the chiefs sail home by way of Byzantium and Troy.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.67.1–4.70.4Aeolus and Boeotus, Salmoneus and Neleus, the Lapiths and CentaursAfter the Epigoni return home, Teiresias dies at Tilphossaeum and the Cadmeans leave it, and the historian gives the story of Arne, Aeolus and Boeotus. He then follows Salmoneus, Tyro and their descendants as far as Nestor, and turns to the Lapiths and Centaurs: the sons of Peneius, Ixion's crime against Eïoneus, and the origin of the Centaurs.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 5.50.1–5.54.4Naxos, Syme, Calydna and NisyrosThe first settlers of Naxos are Thracians led by Butes; their dealings with the sons of Aloeus and with Dionysus, who is said to have been reared there, are told in turn. The historian then briefly gives the settlement of Syme, with its king Nireus, and of Calydna and Nisyros.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 5.78.1–5.80.4Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon; the peoples of CreteMinos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon are sons of Zeus and Europa; Rhadamanthys is the most just of men and rules many islands and a stretch of the Asian coast. Minos' descendants include Idomeneus and Meriones, and the historian lists the peoples who later mixed with the Cretans.

Bacchylides (2)

Bacchylides, Epinicians (Odes of Victory) 12.1–14.23Odes 12–14: Pytheas of Aegina and the Aeacidae; Cleoptolemus of ThessalyOde 12 asks Cleio to guide the poet to Aegina and to a wrestler's victory at Nemea, but only its opening survives. Ode 13, for Pytheas of Aegina, shows Heracles, the descendant of Perseus, mastering the Nemean lion, praises Aegina and her heroes Peleus, Telamon, Achilles and Ajax, and tells how Achilles' anger let the Trojans drive the Greeks to their ships until Ajax stopped Hector. It ends with praise of the trainer Menander and of the host Lampon. Ode 14 reflects that fortune can crush or exalt a man before honouring Cleoptolemus of Thessaly and the domain of Poseidon Petraios.
Bacchylides, Dithyrambs 15.1–16.35Dithyrambs 15–16: the sons of Antenor; Heracles and DeianeiraTheano, priestess of Athena, opens the temple doors to the Greek envoys Odysseus and Menelaus, and the sons of Antenor lead them to the Trojan assembly, where Menelaus speaks of Insolence and Justice. In the next song the poet prays to Apollo, and sings how Heracles, after burning Oechalia, sacrifices at the cape of Cenaean Zeus. A god then weaves a cruel device for Deianeira when she learns that Iole is to come to the house as a bride, and she takes the fatal gift of Nessus.

Epic Cycle (4)

Epic Cycle, Summaries and Fragments 5.1–38CypriaProclus' summary of the Cypria opens with Zeus planning the Trojan War with Themis, the quarrel of the three goddesses, Alexandrus, Helen and the gathering of the Greeks at Aulis. The fragments cover the earth burdened by men, the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Helen's birth to Nemesis, Castor and Polydeuces, and Alexandrus carrying Helen to Ilium.
Epic Cycle, Summaries and Fragments 7.1–26Little IliadProclus' summary of the Little Iliad begins with the judging of the arms of Achilles, which Odysseus wins, and the madness and death of Aias. Philoctetes is brought from Lemnos, Eurypylus is killed by Neoptolemus and Epeius builds the wooden horse. The fragments give the girls' quarrel over Aias and Odysseus, Achilles at Scyros, the golden vine given to Laomedon for Ganymedes, and the death of Astyanax.
Epic Cycle, Summaries and Fragments 8.1–8Sack of IliumProclus' summary tells how the Trojans debated what to do with the wooden horse, some wishing to hurl it from the rocks, some to burn it and some to dedicate it to Athena. The fragments say that one Palladium was given to Dardanus, that Astyanax was hurled from the wall, and that Agamemnon gave gifts to the sons of Theseus. One fragment describes the gifts of the Earth-Shaker to Machaon and Podaleirius.
Epic Cycle, Summaries and Fragments 9.1–10.2Returns and TelegonyProclus' summary of the Returns begins with Athena causing a quarrel between Agamemnon and Menelaus about the voyage from Troy. The fragments mention Medea and Aeson, Heracles at Themiscyra, and Telemachus marrying Circe. The Telegony, in two books, has Odysseus sailing to Elis after the suitors are buried, and the author says that Odysseus had a son Telegonus by Calypso.

Troy in the ancient sources

Apollodorus (7)

Aeschylus (12)

Euripides (66)

Diodorus Siculus (6)

Bacchylides (2)

Epic Cycle (4)