1 Introduction
1.1 Troy Expedition Story
There are many legends about the siege of Troy by a large expeditionary force led by Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae.
Homer implies that Philoctetes, who was left behind on the island of Lemnos, was later summoned to Troy. [1]
The tragic poet Sophocles, who lived later than Homer, specifically relates an anecdote about Philoctetes.
In other words, there was a story about the Troy Expedition before Homer, and it seems that this story remained at least until the time of Sophocles in the 5th century BC.
According to Greek legend, the kingdom of Troy began with Dardanus, the son-in-law of Teuclus, and was inherited from father to son, and the Trojan War occurred during the time of Priam, the son of Laomedon.
However, when I compare the information obtained from the Hittite texts with Greek legend, I can see that there were many battles in the process of the establishment and development of the kingdom of Troy.
The Hittites, who do not appear in Greek legends, were heavily involved in this battle.
The cause of the battle was a conflict between Ilus, the son of Tros, who had succeeded to the throne of Wilusa, a vassal state of Hittites, and moved to Ilium, where he lived. This conflict arose between Ilus and Assaracus (or Asarakos), the son of Tros, who lived in Dardanus.
A careful examination of Greek legends reveals that there were four battles that took place in Ilium, and from the second battle onwards, the Achaeans also participated.
1.2 Summary of the Trojan War in which the Achaeans participated
There were at least three battles in which the Achaeans participated in the siege of Ilium.
1) In 1244 BC, Priam, son of Laomedon, was expelled from Ilium by the descendants of Assaracus, son of Tros, who had the cooperation of the Achaeans. Priam recaptured Ilium with the help of the Hittites.
2) In 1188 BC, Priam's son Hector was expelled by the sons of Antenor. Hector tried to recapture Ilium with the cooperation of the Achaeans, but failed.
3) In 1170 BC, the sons of Hector, with the cooperation of the Achaeans, recaptured Ilium from the possession of the sons of Antenor.
2 Situation before the Battle
2.1 Settlement on the Troad
The Greeks first settled in the northwestern part of Anatolia in the 15th century BC.
In 1435 BC, a group of immigrants led by Teuclus (or Teucer), son of Idaea (or Ida, Idothea), migrated from Crete to the Troad and founded Teuclus (later Dardanus) near the Hellespont. [2]
At that time, the hills that would later become Ilium were inhabited by the people of Wilusa, a Hittite vassal state.
In 1425 BC, Cilix, son of Agenor, migrated from Egypt via Sidon to the vicinity of Mount Ida and founded Thebe. [3]
In 1420 BC, Dardanus, son of Electra, migrated from Arcadia via the island of Samothrace to the Troad and lived with Teuclus. [4]
In 1390 BC, Minos, son of Europa, emigrated from Cnossus in Crete to the Troad. [5]
2.2 Settlement around the Troad
In 1390 BC, Belus, son of Archander, led a group of immigrants from Egypt and settled near the mouth of the Aesepus River near Cyzicus. Belus' settlement was called Ethiopia. [6]
Belus' tribe was the Achaeans, who had migrated from Argos to Egypt under Archander, son of Achaeus. [7]
Phineus, son of Belus, married Idaea, daughter of Dardanus. [8]
In 1380 BC, Phineus migrated to the southwestern shore of the Black Sea and founded Salmydessus. [9]
In 1350 BC, the sons of Phineus migrated from Salmydessus to the Anatolian peninsula as follows:
1) Bithynus migrated to Bithynia. [10]
2) Thynus migrated to Phrygia. [11]
3) Mariandynus migrated near what is now Heracleia. [12]
4) Paphlagon (or Paphlagonus) migrated to Paphlagonia. [13]
2.3 Hittite response
The Troad and its surrounding area, where the Greeks settled, were owned by the Hittite vassal state of Wilusa, and it is assumed that there was conflict between the two.
Wilusa and Hittite had been on friendly terms since the 17th century BC. [14]
Naturally, the Hittites would have responded to foreign tribes that invaded their vassal state's territory.
However, Hittites at that time were in turmoil due to ongoing internal conflicts, as they were in the late Middle Kingdom.
The conflict between Wilusa and the Greeks is believed to have been small-scale.
2.4 Settlement around the Black Sea
In 1390 BC, Aeetes, the son of Sisyphus, emigrated from Ephyraea (later Corinth) to Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. [15]
In 1380 BC, Phineus, the son of Belus, emigrated from Ethiopia to the southwestern shore of the Black Sea and founded Salmydessus. [16]
In 1360 BC, Asterios, son of Minos, son of Europa, migrated from the Troad to Colchis. [17]
In 1360 BC, Cytissorus, son of Phrixus, son-in-law of Aeetes, migrated from Colchis to the southern Black Sea coast and founded Cytorus. [18]
In 1345 BC, the sons of Phineus, Clytius and Polymedes (or Plexippus, Pandion), migrated from Salmydessus to Tauric Chersonese (now Crimea). [19]
2.5 The emergence of conflict
In the 100 years since Teuclus first settled in the Troad in 1435 BC, many towns were built on the Troad and the Black Sea coast, and many Greeks settled there.
King Wilusa, who felt a growing sense of crisis, married his daughter to Ilus, the son of Tros, the son of Erichthonius, the son of Dardanus. [20]
When his wife's father died, Ilus inherited the throne of Wilusa and moved to Ilium. [21]
Daughter-in-laws succeeding to the throne was also in the lineage of King Hittite, and Hittite recognized Ilus as King Wilusa.
Ilus became an ally of the Hittites, although he was obligated to pay tribute to them. [22]
After the death of Tros, Dardanus was succeeded by his son Assaracus. [23]
After Ilus succeeded to the throne of Wilusa, conflict arose between Assaracus and Ilus, i.e., Dardanus and Ilium.
Ilus probably succeeded to the throne of Wilusa in 1330 BC.
Kukkunni, the Wilusa king mentioned in the Hittite texts, was probably the father of Ilus' wife.
2.6 Expansion to the East
Ilus expanded his territory to the east with the strong backing of the Hittites.
In 1325 BC, Ilus expelled Tantalus, who lived near Mount Ida. [24]
In 1320 BC, Ilus expanded further east into Mysia of Olympene, where he fought against Byzos of Bebryces and expanded his power. [25]
3 First Trojan War (1295 BC)
3.1 Succession struggle
In 1296 BC, Ilus died and Laomedon succeeded him to the throne. [26]
Laomedon was the son of Ilus and the daughter of King Wilusa, and it is assumed that Alaksandu, mentioned in Hittite texts, was Laomedon. [27]
In 1295 BC, Laomedon was expelled from Ilium by Phaenodamas (or Hippotes). [28]
Phaenodamas was the son of Ilus and Eurydice, daughter of Adrastus, and is assumed to be Laomedon's half-brother. [29]
Laomedon recaptured Ilium with the help of Hittites and Hittite vassals. [30]
Phaenodamas and his sons were defeated and killed by Laomedon. [31]
Phaenodamas' three daughters fled to Sicily. [32]
In Sicily, Egesta, daughter of Phaenodamas, had a son named Aegestus (or Acestes).[33]
3.2 Traces of a fierce battle
After Ilus succeeded the kingship of Wilusa and moved from Dardanus to Ilium, Dardanus was succeeded by Assaracus, Ilus' half-brother. [34]
Priam, the son of Laomedon, the son of Ilus, had 47 sons. [35]
Antenor, who was the same generation as Priam, had 19 sons. [36]
However, only Laomedon appears in Ilus and Capys in Assaracus as their sons in the lore. [37]
It is presumed that there was a fierce battle with Laomedon over the succession of Ilus, with the sons of Assaracus, who lived in Dardanus and supported Phaenodamas.
3.3 Minos' involvement
Minos, son of Lycastus, descendant of Europa's son Minos, lived in the Troad. [38]
Minos had contact with Tros and his sons. [39]
In 1297 BC, Minos married Pasiphae, daughter of Perseis, from Tauric Chersonese.
In 1294 BC, Minos' brother Sarpedon traveled from Miletus in Crete to Asia Minor and helped Miletus, son of Aria, to build Miletus. [40]
Between these two events, the Minos brothers migrated from the Troad to Crete, presumably due to a dispute over the succession to the throne of Wilusa.
The Minos brothers fought against Laomedon on the side of Tros' son Assaracus, but were defeated in battle and migrated to Crete. [41]
Minos was accompanied by the descendants of those who had migrated from Crete with Minos, son of Europa, as well as the Leleges, who lived on the Troad. [42]
Miletus, whom Sarpedon assisted, was the leader of the Leleges. [43]
Miletus' mother Aria's father Cleochus was presumably the son of Anax, son of Ancaeus.
Ancaeus was king of the Leleges. [44]
3.4 Involvement of Ethiopians
The Ethiopians, led by Perses, son of Perseus, fought against Laomedon on the side of Assaracus, son of Tros, but were defeated in battle.
Laomedon attacked Ethiopia near the mouth of the Aesepus River and brought it under Troy's control. [45]
Thereafter, the Ethiopians were ruled by Tithonus, son of Laomedon, and Memnon, son of Tithonus. [46]
4 Second Trojan War (1244 BC)
4.1 Expulsion of Priam
In 1244 BC, Laomedon, son of Ilus, died and his son Priam (or Podarces) succeeded Wilusa (Troy). [47]
In Hittite texts, Priam appears as Walmu. [48]
The descendants of Assaracus, son of Tros, expelled Priam and occupied Ilium. [49]
They installed as king Aegestus, grandson of Phaenodamas, whom they had called from Sicily. [50]
4.2 People who occupied Ilium
The following people expelled Priam and occupied Ilium:
4.2.1 Descendants of Assaracus
1) Aesyetes and his sons, Antenor and Alcathous
Assaracus was left behind in Dardanus with his father Tros when his half-brother Ilus succeeded him as king of Wilusa and moved to Ilium. [51]
Antenor, the son of Assaracus, ruled in Dardania. [52]
Assaracus had only one child, Capys. [53]
From the above, it is assumed that Aesyetes was the son of Capys, the son of Assaracus, who lived in Dardania.
2) Anchises, the son of Capys
Anchises was the grandson of Assaracus and lived in Dardania. [Apo.3.12.2, Dictys.4.22
Diod.4.75.5, Ovid.4.19]
3) Laocoon, son of Capys, and his sons, Antiphantes and Thymbraeus
Laocoon was a priest of Apollo. [54]
4.2.2 Achaeans
The Achaeans also cooperated with the descendants of Assaracus who occupied Ilium.
After the First Trojan War, the Achaeans began to use the Hellespont more and became close with the descendants of Assaracus who lived in Dardania.
The Achaeans' active use of the Hellespont was due to the following events:
4.2.2.1 Jason's expedition to Colchis
There is a story about the expedition of the Argonauts, in which many heroes participated. [55]
In the story, Jason, son of Aeson, married Medea, daughter of Aeetes, whom he met during the expedition. [56]
However, if I make a genealogy, I can see that the story of the expedition of the Argonauts is set in 1248 BC, but Jason's marriage to Medea, daughter of Aeetes, occurred 20 years earlier.
In 1268 BC, Jason, together with Minyans, who lived in Iolcus in Thessaly, went on an expedition to Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, where he married Medea. [57]
After this expedition, trade between Thessaly and the Black Sea region flourished.
The following people from Thessaly participated in Jason's voyage:
1) Autolycus, son of Deimachus of Tricca.
2) Protesilaus and Podarces, two sons of Iphiclus of Phylace.
3) Philoctetes, son of Poeas of Magnesia.
4.2.2.2 Autolycus' migration to Sinope
In 1260 BC, Autolycus, son of Deimachus, was driven out of Tricca in Thessaly by Ischys of Lapiths and migrated to Sinope on the southern coast of the Black Sea. [58]
The people who followed Mestra, Autolycus' wife, from near Dotium to Tricca also joined the migration to Sinope. [59]
4.2.2.3 The Achaeans' expedition to Ilium
4.2.2.3.1 Protesilaus and Podarces
Mestra's father Erysichthon (or Aethon) lived near Dotium in Thessaly. [60]
The wife of Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus of Phylace near Dotium, was Laodamia, daughter of Acastus of Iolcus, where the Minyans lived. [61]
The Minyans knew the route to the Black Sea.
Iphiclus' mother, Clymene, was the daughter of Minyas, and the Minyans who migrated with Clymene also lived in Phylace. [62]
Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus, and his brother Podarces are believed to have traded with the Black Sea coast through the Hellespont.
4.2.2.3.2 Philoctetes, son of Poeas
It is also assumed that Philoctetes, who lived in Meliboea in Magnesia facing the Aegean Sea, also used the Hellespontus for trade. [63]
Meliboea is a source of purple dye shells, and Philoctetes is also assumed to have used the Hellespont. [64]
4.2.2.3.3 Heracles, son of Amphitryon
There are many legends about Heracles' expedition to Troy. [65]
It is said that Heracles captured Ilium between his return from Lydia to Tiryns and his attack on Elis. [66]
In other words, Heracles' expedition to Troy took place between 1246 BC and 1243 BC.
This coincides with the time when there was a struggle for the succession of Priam.
Laomedon ruled Ethiopia, the birthplace of Andromeda, wife of Perseus, and the home of Perses, son of Perseus. [67]
Perses was the brother of Alcaeus, father of Amphitryon, father of Heracles. [68]
Heracles is presumed to have marched against Troy with the Achaeans of Thessaly.
Apollodoros writes that Priam became king after Heracles captured Ilium, so Heracles' march against Troy occurred around the time of Laomedon's death and Priam's accession to the throne. [69]
4.2.2.3.4 Telamon, son of Aeacus
Telamon appears in the legend of Heracles' expedition to Troy. [70]
Telamon lived on the island of Salamis.
Telamon's son Teucer emigrated to Cyprus to mine or trade copper. [71]
The Salaminians were better navigators than the Athenians at the time. [72]
Telamon is thought to have had contact with the descendants of Assaracus who lived in Dardania.
4.2.2.3.5 Oecles, son of Mantius
Oecles appears in the legend of Heracles' expedition to Troy. [73]
Oecles had just returned to Argos from his exile in Aetolia. [74]
Eurystheus of Mycenae is thought to have assisted Oecles in his return, and later Oecles participated in the attack on Elis ordered by Eurystheus to Heracles. [75]
Oecles is presumed to have participated in the expedition due to his relationship with Eurystheus and Heracles.
4.2.2.3.6 Peleus, son of Aeacus
Peleus appears in the legend of Heracles' expedition to Troy. [76]
It is assumed that Peleus also participated in the Troy expedition because of the following:
1) Phylace, where Protesilaus and Podarces lived, was near Phthia, where Peleus lived.
2) Achilles, son of Peleus, participated in the next Troy expedition.
3) Peleus was the brother of Telamon, who participated in the expedition from Salamis.
Since Autolycus, son of Deimachus, emigrated from Tricca in Thessaly to Sinope on the southern coast of the Black Sea in 1260 BC, the number of ships passing through the Hellespont has increased. [77]
Autolycus' wife was Mestra, daughter of Erysichthon, son of Myrmidon, who lived in Phthia. [78]
The people who accompanied Mestra to Tricca from Phthia migrated to Sinope with Autolycus. It seems that there was trade between Phthia and Sinope.
4.2.2.3.7 Nestor, son of Neleus
Nestor appears in the legend of Heracles' expedition to Troy. [79]
It is assumed that Nestor also participated in the expedition to Troy from the following reasons:
1) Minyans, who accompanied Neleus' wife Chloris, lived near Nestor. [80]
The Minyans were people who knew the sea routes to the Black Sea.
2) Nestor's son Antilochus participated in the next expedition to Troy.
3) Neleus was from Iolcus, which traded with the Black Sea.
4.3 Priam's Exile
Priam fled to Miletus, relying on his sister Hesione, who had married Miletus. [81]
The Hittite king asked Hesione's husband to hand Priam over to the Hittites so that he could be made king of Wilusa. [82]
At the time, Miletus was a Hittite vassal state, and as requested by the Hittite king, Priam was handed over to the Hittites. Priam marched with a Hittite army to Ilium to reclaim the throne.[83]
4.4 Return of Priam
Ilium was attacked by the Hittites and their vassals.
Antenor, son of Aesyetes, Anchises, and Aegestus, as well as Protesilaus and Philoctetes, fled Ilium, and Priam recaptured it.
Greek tradition tells us that Hesione rescued Priam, who was called Podarces. [84]
Priam also took control of Dardania, where Antenor lived. [85]
The region called Troy, named after Tros, was thus identified with Wilusa.
4.5 Disappearances of the Losers
4.5.1 Aegestus, son of Egesta
Aegestus returned to Sicily. [86]
Aegestus was accompanied by Anchises, son of Capys, and Elymus, son of Anchises. [87]
4.5.2 Aesyetes, son of Capys
Aesyetes was killed in battle at Priam on the plains about 1 km south of Ilium. [88]
Aesyetes was the eldest son of Capys and was probably the commander-in-chief.
The sons of Aesyetes' son Antenor played leading roles in subsequent battles. [89]
4.5.3 Antenor, son of Aesyetes
Antenor's wife Theano was the daughter of Cisseus, son of Mygdon who lived in Mysia of Olympene. [90]
During the Trojan War, Antenor and Theano's son Iphidamas lived in Macedonia. [91]
Tradition has it that Antenor founded Patavium (later Padua) deep in the Adriatic Sea. [92]
However, it is assumed that Antenor emigrated to Paeonia with his wife's grandfather Mygdon.
4.5.4 Anchises, son of Capys
Anchises fled to Sicily with his son Elymus and Aegestus. [93]
Aegestus and Anchises were accompanied by many people from the Scamander River. [94]
At this time, Aeneas, son of Anchises, one of the main characters in Homer's "Iliad", had not yet been born. [95]
Aeneas, born in Sicily, never set foot on the soil of the Troad.
4.5.5 Elymus, son of Anchises
Elymus, along with Philoctetes and Aegestus, set out from the Troad to Sicily. [96]
On the way, Elymus and Philoctetes settled in southern Italy. [97]
The people who followed Elymus became known as Elymians. [98]
In 1240 BC, Elymus migrated to Sicily, driven by the Oenotrians, who had long lived in southern Italy. [99]
Elymus founded Elyma (or Eryx) in the northwest of Sicily. [100]
4.5.6 Laocoon, son of Capys
Laocoon, son of Capys, is presumed to have died fighting Priam with his sons Antiphantes and Thymbraeus. [101]
4.5.7 Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus
Protesilaus was killed in battle and buried in Elaesus (or Eleus) in Thracian Chersonesus. [102]
In legend, Protesilaus campaigned with Agamemnon against Troy.
However, Protesilaus was the son of Iphiclus, the brother of Jason's mother Alcimede, and was a contemporary of Jason. [103]
Ilus, the son of Mermerus, the son of Jason, was a contemporary of Odysseus. [104]
In other words, Agamemnon was of the same generation as Protesilaus' grandson. The battle in which Protesilaus participated was not the third Trojan War in Agamemnon's time, but the second Trojan War.
4.5.8 Philoctetes, son of Poeas
Philoctetes was guided by Aegestus to Sicily with Anchises. [105]
The Philoctetes settled in Macalla in Croton, separating from them in the southern part of the Italy peninsula. [106]
Philoctetes founded Petelia near Croton. [107]
In the legend, Philoctetes, like Protesilaus, campaigned with Agamemnon against Troy.
However, Philoctetes was working with Aegestus, who was supposed to be the enemy in the story. [108]
4.5.9 Mygdon, son of Otreus
Mygdon, who lived in the Mysia of Olympene, sided with Antenor and was driven from his home and moved to Paeonia. [109]
Mygdon was the father of Cisseus, the father of Theano, wife of Antenor.[110]
5 Third Trojan War (1188 - 1186 BC)
According to legends, the Achaeans under Agamemnon captured Troy, and Neoptolemus, along with Priam's son Helenus and the sons of Hector, emigrated to the land of the Molossians. [111]
However, the following sources suggest that the Achaeans were unable to capture Troy.
1) The 5th century AD theologian Jerome wrote that "The sons of Hector recaptured Ilium, after the progeny of Antenor had been expelled, Helenus bringing help to them." [112]
2) Dictys of Crete, who experienced the Trojan War first-hand, wrote at the end of the fifth book that it was Antenor who finally seized Ilium. [113]
3) Herodotus wrote that a disastrous event comparable to the Persian invasion of Greece occurred twenty generations before Darius. [114]
Herodotus calculates three generations as 100 years, so this event occurred 667 years ago. [115]
If we take Darius' accession to the throne in 522 BC as the base year, the tragic event would have occurred around 1189 BC.
Taking all of this into account, we can assume that Neoptolemus fought on Hector's side but was defeated.
Hector died, and his wife and sons fled with his brother Helenus and Neoptolemus.
And Neoptolemus fought against the sons of Antenor, not the sons of Priam.
5.1 Change in the Ruler of the Hellespont
After Ilus, son of Tros, moved to Ilium, Dardanus was inhabited by Assaracus, Ilus's half-brother. [116]
During the time of Laomedon, Antenor lived in Dardanus of Dardania and ruled the Hellespont. [117]
However, after Laomedon's death, a dispute arose over the throne, and Dardania, without Antenor's family, came under the rule of Ilium, where Priam lived. [118]
The towns near the Hellespont were ruled by Priam's family as follows:
1) Abydus was ruled by Democoon, son of Priam. [119]
2) Arisbe, Practius, and Sestus in Thracian Chersonesus, across from Abydus, were ruled by Asius, son of Arisbe, wife of Priam. [120]
3) Percote was ruled by Melanippus, son of Priam's brother Hicetaon. [121]
4) Thracian Chersonesus was ruled by Polymestor (or Polymnestor), husband of Priam's daughter Iliona. [122]
The name Dardanus does not appear in Homer's works. It is likely that Dardanus was destroyed in a battle with Priam in 1244 BC, but was later rebuilt. [123]
In Priam's time, the ruler of the Hellespont was Priam, not Antenor.
5.2 Base of rebellion
The base of the rebellion of the sons of Antenor was Paeonia and Macedonia.
The descendants of Antenor and Mygdon, who were driven out of the Trood 56 years ago, lived there.
The story of the Troy expedition tells of the following people from Paeonia and Macedonia who marched against Troy.
1) Iphidamas, son of Antenor [124]
2) Pyraechmes, son of Axius, son of Mygdon [125]
3) Asteropaeus, son of Pelegon, son of Axius, son of Mygdon [126]
4) Rhesus, son of Eioneus (or Eion), son of Bisaltes, son of Mygdon [127]
According to legends, they marched against Troy as reinforcements for Hector, son of Priam, but in reality, Hector was their enemy.
5.3 Offense and defense of Ilium
After Priam's death in 1188 BC, the sons of Antenor occupied Ilium and usurped the throne.
At this time, Hittite, which had assisted Priam in his struggle for the throne, was on the verge of destruction. [128]
Priam's eldest son Hector, who had been driven out of Ilium, sought reinforcements from the Achaeans, who had been friendly to him through the use of the Hellespont.
The Achaeans organized an expeditionary force to support Hector and marched to Troy.
The commander-in-chief of the Achaeans was Achilles, son of Peleus, and the main force of the army was troops from Thessaly and Boeotia.
5.4 Results of the battles
Hector, Achilles, Patroclus son of Menoetius, Ajax son of Oileus, Ajax son of Telamon, and Antilochus son of Nestor were killed in the battle.
In 1186 BC the Achaeans received news that Thessaly had been taken by the Thesprotians. Having lost their commander-in-chief, Achilles, the Achaeans had given up on their quest for Ilium.[129]
5.5 Achaeans who participated in the Trojan Expedition
5.5.1 Achilles, son of Peleus
Achilles was born in Phthia in Thessaly. [130]
Achilles ruled from Thessaly to Trachis near Mount Oeta. [131]
Achilles attacked Poemander, son of Stratonice of Tanagra, who refused to join the expedition. [132]
Achilles also had influence in Boeotia through the Boeotians of Arne in Thessaly.
Achilles is presumed to have controlled the trade of the Achaeans with the Black Sea coast.
Iolcus, ruled by Pelias, son of Cretheus, famous for the story of the expedition of the Argonauts, was a prosperous town due to trade with the Black Sea coast. [133]
Iolcus was destroyed by the Minyans, and Peleus, son of Aeacus, who drove them out, inherited the trade that Iolcus had been conducting. [134]
After the destruction of Iolcus, the Lapiths gained power, but were weakened after their battle with Heracles. [135]
Achilles inherited trade with the Black Sea coast from his father Peleus, and controlled Phthia, Dolopia, and the area around the Maliac Gulf. [136]
During the campaign against Troy, Thessaly was invaded and occupied by the Thesprotians. [137]
So many people must have joined Achilles' campaign, leaving Thessaly vulnerable.
Achilles was the most powerful man in Thessaly, and led the largest number of Achaeans who participated in the campaign.
Achilles was killed in battle against the sons of Antenor and was buried in Sigeion.[138]
5.5.2 Neoptolemus, son of Achilles
When the genealogy is made, Neoptolemus was 24 years old at the beginning of the expedition.
Neoptolemus went on the expedition to Troy with his father Achilles.
Neoptolemus escaped from the Troad with Helenus, son of Priam, Andromache, wife of Hector, and Hector's sons, and settled in the land of the Molossians. [139]
5.5.3 Phoenix, son of Amyntor
Phoenix led the Dolopians in the expedition. [140]
Phoenix was the foster father of Achilles. [141]
Phoenix died near Thermopylae on the way to the land of the Molossians with Neoptolemus. [142]
5.5.4 Polypoetes, son of Peirithous
Polypoetes joined the Trojan expedition from Gyrton. [143]
Polypoetes fled from the Troad to Ionia and settled in Colophon. [144]
5.5.5 Leonteus, son of Coronus
Leonteus joined the Trojan expedition from Argis. [145]
Leonteus fled from the Troad to Ionia and settled in Colophon. [146]
5.5.6 Eurypylus, son of Euaemon
Eurypylus joined the Trojan expedition from Ormenion. [147]
Eurypylus fled from the Troad to Achaia and settled in Patrae. [148]
5.5.7 Podalirus, son of Asclepius
Podalirus (or Podalirius) joined the Trojan expedition from Tricca. [149]
Podalirus fled from the Troad to Caria and founded Syrnus. [150]
In the Trojan expedition story, Podalirus' brother Machaon appears. [151]
However, it seems that Machaon did not participate in the expedition because of the following:
1) The person who killed Machaon differs depending on the legend. [152]
2) It is said that Nestor brought Machaon's remains, but it is unlikely that Nestor would have brought Machaon's remains without also bringing back the remains of his own son Antilochus. [153]
3) Podalirus' children are unknown, but Machaon had five sons alone.
5.5.8 Arcesilaus, son of Archilycus
Arcesilaus led the Boeotians in an expedition from Boeotia to Troy. [154]
Leitus, son of Lacritus, brought back Arcesilaus's remains and buried them in Lebadeia. [155]
Arcesilaus was related to Achilles through Arne of Thessaly.
5.5.9 Ialmenus, son of Astyoche
Ialmenus, son of Astyoche (or Pernis) of Orchomenus, led the Minyans and Aspledonians in an expedition to Troy. [156]
Ialmenus fled from the Troad to the north shore of the Black Sea and settled in Sauromatae. [157]
The Minyans had ancient connections with Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. [158]
Ialmenus' mother, Astyoche, was the daughter of Actor, the son of Azeus, the son of Clymenus, the son of Presbon. [159]
Presbon was born in Colchis and emigrated to Boeotia, where he succeeded his grandfather Athamas. [160]
Perses and Aeetes, the two sons of Perseis (or Perse), granddaughter of Presbon's father Phrixus, ruled the Tauric Chersonese and Colchis. [161]
The husband of Circe, the daughter of Perses' daughter Hecate (or Idyia), was the ruler of the Sauromatians. [162]
From the above, it can be assumed that Ialmenus had been on friendly terms with the sons of Priam, using the Hellespont to trade with the Black Sea before the campaign.
Homer ranks the wealth of Orchomenus alongside that of Thebes in Egypt, and it is likely that its source of wealth also came from trade with the Black Sea region.[163]
5.5.10 Ajax, son of Telamon
Ajax joined the expedition to Troy from Megara. [164]
Telamon was the brother of Achilles' father Peleus, and Ajax was Achilles' cousin. [165]
Ajax probably joined the expedition not only because of his relationship with Achilles, but also because he had been acquainted with the sons of Priam through his use of the Hellespont.
The Salamians, who served under Ajax, were skilled in navigation. [166]
Ajax had two sons born to women taken prisoner during the expedition.
1) Aeantides
Aeantides was the son of Ajax and Glauce, daughter of Cycnus (or Cygnus), who was taken prisoner in a battle with Cycnus at Colonae, south of Ilium. [167]
Aeantides later became the ancestor of Aeantis, and lived near Marathon. [168]
2) Eurysaces
Ajax fought against Teuthras in Phrygia and captured his daughter Tecmessa. [169]
Ajax and Tecmessa had a son, Eurysaces. [170]
Eurysaces lived in Melite in Attica, where there was a shrine to Eurysaces. [171]
Ajax died in Troy, was cremated, and his remains were buried in Sigeion. [172]
Strabo states that Ajax's tomb was in Rhoeteium, 11 km from Sigeion. [173]
It is assumed that Ajax was buried in Sigeion, where the tombs of Achilles, Patroclus, and Antilochus were also located. [174]
5.5.11 Teucer, son of Telamon
Teucer, son of Telamon, emigrated to Cyprus before the Trojan War. [175]
Teucer married Eune, daughter of Cinyras of Palaepaphos. [176]
The reason for Teucer's migration was to trade in the precious minerals of Amathus in Cyprus. Cinyras' mother was Amathus' godmother. [177]
Teucer left Cyprus to join his brother Ajax in Ilium, but only after Ajax's death and the battle was decided. [178]
Teucer returned to Cyprus with the Trojans who had wished to emigrate, and founded Salamis. [179]
5.5.12 Calchas, son of Thestor
Calchas lived in Megara and accompanied King Ajax of Megara on his campaign against Troy. [180]
Calchas fled from the Troad to Pamphylia and founded Selge. [181]
In the 4th century BC, the inhabitants of Selge became trusted allies of Alexander the Great. [182]
Strabo also states that the Lacedaemonians founded Selge after Calchas. [183]
At that time, Sparta was an enemy of Alexander the Great, and many in Selge were likely connected to Calchas' ancestral city of Argos.
5.5.13 Ajax, son of Oileus
Pausanias has written a tradition related to the island of Leuce (modern Zmiinyi, Snake Island) in the Black Sea. [184]
In addition to Achilles and Ajax, son of Telamon, Ajax, son of Oileus, Patroclus, and Antilochus, son of Nestor, are mentioned in the tradition.
All of them, except Ajax, son of Oileus, have graves in the Troad. [185]
The tradition states that Ajax, son of Oileus, was drowned near Delos. [186]
In fact, Ajax, son of Oileus, also died in Troy and was probably connected with the trade with the Black Sea coast, just like Achilles.
Ajax, son of Oileus, lived in Narycus in the Epicnemidian Locris and ruled over the Opuntians. [187]
5.5.14 Patroclus, son of Menoetius
Patroclus lived in Opus, Epicnemidian Locris, under the rule of Ajax, son of Oileus. [188]
Patroclus accompanied Ajax, son of Oileus, on his campaign against Troy.
Patroclus died at Troy and was buried in Sigeion. [189]
5.5.15 Antilochus, son of Nestor
When Neleus married Chloris, daughter of Amphion of Orchomenus, many Minyans migrated with Chloris. [190]
Nestor, son of Neleus, also married Eurydice (or Anaxibia), daughter of Clymenus, from Orchomenus, and Minyans lived in Pylus. [191]
The Minyans knew the sea route to Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, and it is assumed that Pylus also traded with the Black Sea coast.
Antilochus, son of Nestor, died in Troy. [192]
Antilochus' tomb was near the tombs of Achilles and Patroclus in Sigeion. [193]
According to legend, Nestor also participated in the expedition to Troy and brought back the remains of Machaon, the son of Asclepius, who died there. [194]
However, it is unlikely that Nestor would have brought back Machaon's remains without bringing back the remains of his own son Antilochus, so it is believed that Nestor did not go to Troy.
A genealogy suggests that Nestor was 74 years old at the time.
After the death of Alexander the Great, there is a case where Antipater, about 80 years old, traveled back and forth between Macedonia and Egypt on horseback. However, considering the average life expectancy at the time, it is believed that Nestor did not survive.
5.5.16 Diomedes, son of Tydeus
Pausanias reports that Diomedes led the Argives in an expedition to Troy, in place of Cyanippus, son of Aegialeus, who was not yet grown up. [195]
Cyanippus was the son of Diomedes' sister Comaetho and Diomedes' nephew. [196]
This is probably based on historical fact, rather than the author of the Trojan expedition adding Diomedes as a famous person of the time.
After returning from Troad to Argos, Diomedes migrated to the Italian peninsula via Aetolia. [197]
5.5.17 Sthenelus and Euryalus
In Homer's Iliad, the leaders of the Argives were, in addition to Diomedes, Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, and Euryalus, son of Mecisteus. [198]
Sthenelus belonged to the Anaxagoridae, while Euryalus and Diomedes belonged to the Biantidae.
The other of the three royal families of Argos, the Melampodidae, did not participate in the Trojan campaign.
The names of the Argives' leaders reflect the real situation in Argos at the time and are probably based on historical fact.
The Melampodidae, led by Amphilochus, son of Amphiaraus, migrated to northwestern Greece and did not live in Argos during the Trojan War. [199]
5.5.18 Palamedes, son of Nauplius
The 3rd century AD writer Philostratus reports that there was a tomb of Palamedes in Methymna on the island of Lesbos. [200]
Methymna was inhabited by Hypsipylus, son of Antenor, who was killed in battle with Achilles. [201]
Palamedes is presumed to have participated in the Trojan campaign, attacked Methymna with Achilles, and died in battle with Hypsipylus. [202]
5.5.19 Meges, son of Phyleus
In Homer's Iliad, Meges is listed as participating in the campaign from Echinades. [203]
Meges' subordinate was Otus, who commanded the Epeans who lived in Cyllene in Eleia. [204]
Meges' father, Phyleus, was the son of Augeas of Elis, so it is not surprising that Epeans of Cyllene was under Meges' command.
This is consistent with the actual situation at the time, and Meges' participation in the Trojan expedition seems to be based on historical fact.
5.5.20 Agapenor, son of Ancaeus
Tradition has it that Agapenor, leader of the Arcadians, went from the Troad to Cyprus and founded Paphos. [205]
Alternatively, Agapenor went to Cyprus to mine copper. [206]
Laodice, the mother of Pereus, father of Neaera, mother of Lycurgus, father of Agapenor's father Ancaeus, was the daughter of Cinyras, founder of Palaepaphos in Cyprus. [207]
Cinyras, father of Eune, wife of Teucer, son of Telamon, was a wealthy man who was ranked with King Midas. [208]
Cinyras's wealth was the copper produced in the city named after his mother Amathus. [209]
Agapenor is believed to have led the Arcadians to Cyprus, where they had long had trade relations, after fighting in the Achaean campaign against Troy.
The Mantineans, who had participated in the campaign as part of the Arcadians, fled from the Troad to Bithynia and settled near Bithynium. [210]
5.5.21 Athenians
In legend, Menestheus, king of Athens, led the Athenians in an expedition to Troy. [211]
However, as with Agamemnon of Mycenae, Athens' rule was not secure.
Menestheus was in danger of being attacked by the sons of Theseus, whose throne he had usurped. In fact, Menestheus's kingship of the Athenians was usurped by Theseus' son Demophon, who returned from Euboea.
The return of Theseus' sons was aided by Elephenor, son of Chalcodon, who is believed to have died in battle with Menestheus. [212]
Menestheus fled from Athens to the island of Melos, where he died. [213]
Menestheus himself did not take part in the expedition to Troy, but some of the Athenians probably did.
There was a sea route from Sinope on the southern Black Sea coast to Prasiae in Attica. This route was one of the routes used to bring first fruits from the Hyperboreans to Delos. [214]
The Athenians also traded with the Black Sea coast, and it is believed that they made friends with the sons of Priam through the Hellespont.
When Menestheus was driven out of Athens, some of the Athenians who could not return to Athens fled to the southern part of the Italian peninsula and settled in Scylletium. [215]
Some of the Athenians also fled to Mysia and settled in Elaea. [216]
Mysia was inhabited by Arcadians who had migrated from Arcadia. [217]
5.5.22 Mycenaeans
Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, is not likely to have campaigned against Troy for the following reasons:
1) There are major contradictions in the traditions.
Agamemnon's reign is said to have been 30 or 35 years, and the Trojan War ended in his 18th year of reign. This is in stark contrast to the tradition that Agamemnon was killed immediately after returning from Troy. [218]
2) A long campaign was not possible.
After the death of Eurystheus, the Heracleidae tried to return to Peloponnesus twice. The Heracleidae continued to look for an opportunity to invade Peloponnesus. [219]
In fact, in the year of Agamemnon's death, Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, led the Dorians in an attack on Mycenae and destroyed the city.
Under these circumstances, it was impossible for Agamemnon to lead a long campaign from Mycenae.
Pausanias writes that Agamemnon populated Tenea (or Genea) in Argolis with the inhabitants of Tenedos on the Troad. [220]
It is likely that Agamemnon did not campaign against Troy, but some Mycenaeans did. It is possible that the Mycenaeans brought the inhabitants of Tenedos to Peloponnesus when they fled the Troad, and Agamemnon gave them Tenea.
5.5.23 Magnesians
The Magnesians of Thessaly fled from the Troad to Phocis and settled in Delphi. [221]
In 1173 BC, the Magnesians moved with the Delphians to Lydia and founded Magnesia. [222]
6 Fourth Trojan War (1170 BC)
There are two important accounts that suggest the fourth Trojan War.
1) The 5th century AD theologian Jerome states that "The sons of Hector recaptured Ilium, after the progeny of Antenor had been expelled, Helenus bringing help to them." [223]
2) The 12th century AD English cleric Geoffrey of Monmouth states that "After the descendants of Antenor were banished, the sons of Hector ruled Troy." [224]
6.1 Sons of Hector
In 1188 BC, Ilium was taken by the sons of Antenor. Priam's sons and grandsons were unable to recapture Ilium and fled to various places. [225]
The sons of Hector, who died in a battle with the children of Antenor, fled to the land of the Molossians (later Epirus) accompanied by Neoptolemus and Helenus. [226]
Neoptolemus married Hector's wife Andromache and gave Hector's sons to Helenus. [227]
Hector had three sons, Scamandrius (or Astyanax), Laodamas, and Saperneios. [228]
The genealogy shows that there was a large age difference between Hector and Andromache, and it is assumed that Hector had many sons from other wives.
6.2 Recapture of Ilium
When Hector's sons reached adulthood, Helenus gave them an army to attack Ilium. [229]
The core of the army was the Trojans, led by the sons of Hector, but the Achaeans, including the Myrmidons under Neoptolemus, also participated in the expedition.
The sons of Hector, aided by the scattered descendants of Priam, recaptured Ilium, which had been occupied by the sons of Antenor. [230]
6.3 Year of recapture
Hector's sons were boys when they fled to the land of the Molossians in 1188 BC. [231]
In 1175 BC, Neoptolemus sacked Delphi and was killed in battle against the Delphians led by Daetas' son Machaereus. [232]
After Neoptolemus' death, Helenus inherited the kingship of Epirus. [233]
Later, Helenus passed the kingship to Neoptolemus' son Molossus, not to his own son Cestrinus. [234]
In other words, Hector's sons recaptured Ilium between the death of Neoptolemus and the death of Helenus.
It is estimated that Hector's sons recaptured Ilium around 1170 BC, when they reached adulthood.
6.4 Orestes' participation in the expedition
Agamemnon's son Orestes is believed to have participated in the expedition of Hector's sons.
At the same time, Orestes began colonizing. [235]
Orestes, together with Peisander of Amyclae, expeditioned to colonize the island of Tenedos. [236]
The Orestes colony probably included Trojans who fled from Tenedos to Tenea during Agamemnon's time.
It is also believed that the Orestes colony included people from Amyclae and Epidaurus whose lands had been devastated by the invasion of the Dorians led by Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, in 1173 BC. [237]
6.5 Andromache's Return
When Hector's sons recaptured Ilium, their mother Andromache did not accompany them to Ilium.
Andromache and Helenus had a son, Cestrinus. [238]
In 1156 BC, Andromache emigrated to Asia Minor with Pergamus, her son with Neoptolemus, after Helenus' death. Pergamus founded Pergamon in Mysia. [239]
Pergamon was close to Thebe, where Andromache was born.
7 The story of Trojan Expedition
As mentioned at the beginning, there was a story about the Achaeans' expedition to Troy led by Agamemnon before Homer's Iliad.
Homer is said to have copied the writings of Sisyphus of Cos or Cretan Dictys who participated in the Trojan War. [240]
However, the Iliad does include a genealogy of the Trojan royal family. Information about the Trojan royal family is not available in Sisyphus or Dictys.
It is assumed that the original author of the Iliad had direct access to members of the Trojan royal family.
7.1 Author of story
In Homer's Odyssey, Demodocus recites how the Achaeans captured Troy with a wooden horse. [241]
Demodocus is presumed to be the original author of Homer's Iliad because of the following:
1) Demodocus was born in Laconia. [242]
2) Demodocus was a student of Automedes and Perimedes of Argos. [243]
3) Demodocus was a talented poet who won a prize at the Pythian contest. [244]
4) Demodocus was employed by Agamemnon of Mycenae. [245]
5) Demodocus was employed by Alcinous of Corcyra. [246]
6) Helenus, son of Priam, and Andromache, wife of Hector, lived in Buthroutum, near Corcyra. [247]
7) Demodocus wrote The Destruction of Troy. [248]
In other words, it is presumed that Demodocus heard about the battle at Ilium from Helenus and Andromache and created a story featuring Agamemnon, whom he had served in the past.
7.2 Date of Creation
In 1186 BC, Helenus, son of Priam, and Neoptolemus fled the Troad and settled in Hellopia, north of Dodona. [249]
Helenus then moved to the opposite shore of Corcyra and founded Buthroutum. [250]
Nausicaa, daughter of Alcinous, Demodocus's employer, was the wife of Telemachus, son of Odysseus, and Demodocus was of the same generation as Odysseus. [251]
Demodocus wrote The Destruction of Troy, and is thought to have known about the recapture of Ilium by Hector's sons in 1170 BC. [252]
Homer's Iliad also contains a genealogy of the Trojan royal family during the Trojan War.
Demodocus, the first author of the Iliad, is thought to have learned the genealogy of their ancestors and relatives from those of the Trojan royal lineage, namely Helenus and Andromache.
The Iliad features Aeneas, son of Anchises, who was born in Sicily and never set foot on the Troad in his life.
It is assumed that Demodocus incorporated Aeneas, who had ties to the Troad, into the story.
It was only after Aeneas' death in 1179 BC that Demodocus heard of Aeneas. [253]
It is therefore likely that Demodocus had completed the story that became the basis of the Iliad before 1156 BC, when Helenus died and Andromache left for Asia Minor.
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