April 24, 1184 BC - It is traditionally held that city of Troy fell on this date after a ten year siege by the armies of Greece. According to legend, the Greeks, unable to break through the city's walls, turned to trickery to achieve their goal. A plan was devised where the Greeks would withdrawal from view behind the nearby island of Tenedos leaving a giant wooden horse (right) as a "gift" for the Trojans. The horse was to be full of Greek soldiers who would open the gates once it had been brought into the city.
The horse was constructed by Epeius and manned with soldiers commanded by Odysseus. Following the plan, the Greeks burned their camp and sailed to Tenedos, fooling the Trojans into thinking they had departed. After some internal debate, the Trojans brought the horse into the city and proceeded to celebrate the Greek's retreat. Once the city was asleep, Odysseus and his men killed the guards, opened the gates, and signaled the Greeks to return. The Greek soldiers flooded through the city, pillaging, enslaving the populace, and burning the city.
Photograph Courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org
Comments
I do not understand how there can exist a date such as “April 24, 1184 BC”. I thought this was some kind of a joke, but reading further makes me believe it is not. Could somebody please enlighten me on how such a date could happen?
This is one of several “traditional” dates for the fall of Troy. The precise dates for the conflict are open to debate.
I wonder if something in my previous comment was not clear. My point is: BC is a period before the Gregorian calendar started. I have only heard points in time in that era specified as 134 BC, or nnn BC – i.e. just a number of years BC. How does “April 24″ make sense in 1184 BC, when the Gregorian calendar was not yet created? “April 24″, as a date, can exist only in an AD year, can’t it?
Or am I really stupid and maybe, living in an alternate universe?