Troija

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1. Homer’s Epics

1.1. Homer and the Background of the Epics

1.2. Iliad and Odyssey

2. History of the Stories

3. Odysseus in the North

4. Troy in Kisko, Finland

Achilles bandages the arm of his friend Patroclus.

Iliad and Odyssey

In order to understand the background of Felice Vinci’s theory and its relevance to the little village of Toija in southwestern Finland it is good to have a brief glimpse at the two epic of Homer, in which Troy is mentioned.

The Iliad

Many are familiar with the story of Troy and its destruction. Homer’s Iliad does deal with the war of Troy, but only a period of ca. 50 days towards the end of the actual events of the war. The Iliad does, however, give us some indication about the background of the war.

Everything starts at the wedding of king Peleus and the goddess Thetis, where the goddess of dispute, upset for not having been invited, throws a golden apple addressed to the fairest woman. Three contenders step up wanting the apple, and Zeus gives the task of choosing the most beautiful woman to the Trojan prince Paris, who lives as a shepherd unaware of his royal descent.

Paris has to choose between Hera, Zeus’ wife, Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Each offers a reward for a favorable verdict. Paris chooses Aphrodite, whose promise is that the most beautiful woman in the world will fall in love with him.

Helen, the wife of king Menelaus of Sparta is considered to be the most beautiful woman of all. After finding out that he is the Prince of Troy, Paris goes on a mission to Sparta and falls in love with Helen. He abducts Helen - in some versions they elope - and returns to Troy.

King Menelaus gathers allies to fight against Troy in order to get his wife back. Among these allies are Odysseus, king of Ithaca and Achilles, who both first try to evade being drafted in the mission.

The war on Troy lasts for years and the Iliad gives only a glimpse of the events which lead to the deaths of Achilles and Hector, among many others.

The Roman poet Virgil adds to the war of Troy the plot of the horse of Troy, invented by Odysseus. The large horse in which warriors hide finally brings victory to Menelaus and his troops. Troy is defeated and utterly destroyed.

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