TROY - ANCIENT CITY OF ASIA MINOR

Did Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey poetry about the ancient city of Troy hold some truth? Did Paris of Troy, the son of King Priam really spirit away the beautiful Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta and lay siege the city of Troy for revenge? He appointed Agamemnon as commander in chief, with Odysseus (Ulysses in Latin), Ajax; Achilles; and Nestor and crossed the Aegean Sea with l00,000 soldiers, and 1200 war galleys. After a 10 year siege (1194-1184) Achilles slew Hector, King Priam’s valiant son and dragged him around the city at the tail of his chariot.

Remember the story about the huge wooden horse built by the Greeks who filled its huge body with armed men. That night the men withdrew to their ships and left one, Sinon, who was taken prisoner. But the Greeks didn’t sail far and waited in the wings. Sinon told the Trojans that the horse was an offering to the goddess Minerva and they could win her good will if they brought the horse in. With much rejoicing for this trophy of war they took the horse into the city. During the night the armed men came out of the wooden horse and opened the gates to the city. The Greeks quickly sailed back and destroyed Troy.

The Homeric poetry (1194-1184) remained a legend to scholars until 1870. In that year Heinrich Schliemann began excavations at the site and new light shone on the Homeric poems. Nine distinct layers, the remains of nine cities – one under the other remained. It was decided that Homer’s Troy was VII, the first phase of the seventh settlement. It was destroyed by fire about the time of the Trojan War. The Persian account as told by Edgar Cayce detailed a flourishing society. When “peace breaks out” in that now volatile land, research will continue, likely around 2012 or 2013.
Menelaus would not see his Queen Helen or his son again. By seeking revenge, he caused 10 years of misery and lost everything.