1 Introduction
Many historical sources, including Homer's Iliad, tell the story of the capture of Troy by a large expeditionary force led by Agamemnon.
Homer hints that Philoctetes, left behind on Lemnos, will later be summoned to Troy. [1]
The tragic poet Sophocles, who came after Homer, specifically tells an anecdote about Philoctetes.
In other words, there was a story about the Trojan expedition before Homer, and it is presumed that this story survived at least until the time of Sophocles.
The story of the Trojan expedition, like that of the Argonauts and the Calydonian Boar Hunt, featured many of the heroes of the time.
In Greek folklore, the history of the Kingdom of Troy is only vaguely visible, but when combined with information obtained from Hittite texts, the history of the battle becomes clear.
The Hittites, who do not appear in Greek ancient historical sources, were heavily involved in that battle.
The cause of the battle was that Ilus, the son of Tros, had succeeded as king of Wilusa, a Hittite vassal, and had moved to Ilium, causing a conflict between him and Assaracus, the son of Tros, who lived in Dardanus.
Let's consider the Trojan War as a historical fact.
2 Settlement of Greeks to northwestern Anatolia
2.1 Settlement to Troad
In 1435 BC, a group of settlers led by Teucrus, son of Ida (or Idothea), migrated from Crete to the Troad and founded Teucrus (later Dardanus) near Hellespont. [2]
The people who settled with Teucrus were the first Greeks to settle in the northwestern part of the Anatolia Peninsula.
At that time, the area that would later become Ilium was inhabited by the Wilusa, a Hittite vassal.
In 1425 BC, Agenor's son Cilix migrated from Egypt via Sidon to near Mount Ida and founded Thebe. [3]
In 1420 BC, Dardanus, son of Electra, migrated from Arcadia via Samothrace to Troad, where he lived with Teucrus. [4]
In 1390 BC, Minos, son of Europa, migrated from Cnossus in Crete to the Troad. [5]
2.2 Hittite response
Troad, where the Greeks settled, and the surrounding area were owned by Wilusa, a vassal state of the Hittites, and it is presumed that there was a dispute between the two.
Wilusa and the Hittites have been friends since the 17th century BC. [6]
Naturally, the Hittites should also respond to foreign ethnic groups that invade their vassal territory.
However, at the time, the Hittites were in the final stages of the Middle Kingdom, and were in turmoil due to internal conflicts.
The conflict between Wilusa and the Greeks appears to have been small-scale.
2.3 Settlement around Troad
In 1390 BC, Archander's son Belus led a group of immigrants from Egypt to settle near the mouth of the Aesepus River, just before Cyzicus. The Belus settlement was called Ethiopia. [7]
The race of Belus was the Achaeans, who migrated from Argos to Egypt, led by Archander, son of Achaeus. [8]
Phineus, son of Belus, married Idaea, daughter of Dardanus. [9]
In 1380 BC, Phineus moved to the southwestern coast of the Black Sea and founded Salmydessus. [Ten]
In 1350 BC, the sons of Phineus migrated from Salmydessus to the Anatolia peninsula as follows:
1) Bithynus migrated to Bithynia. [11]
2) Thynus migrated to Phrygia. [12]
3) Mariandynus migrated near what later became Heracleia. [13]
4) Paphlagon (or Paphlagonus) migrated to Paphlagonia. [14]
3 Expansion to the Black Sea
In 1390 BC, Sisyphus' son Aeetes migrated from Ephyraea (later Corinth) to Colchis on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. [15]
In 1380 BC, Belus' son Phineus migrated from Ethiopia to the southwestern coast of the Black Sea and founded Salmydessus. [16]
In 1360 BC, Asterios, son of Minos, son of Europa, migrated from Troad to Colchis. [17]
In 1360 BC, Cytissorus, son of Aeetes' son-in-law Phrixus, migrated from Colchis to the southern coast of the Black Sea and founded Cytorus. [19]
In 1345 BC, the sons of Phineus, Clytius and Polymedes (or Plexippus, Pandion) migrated from Salmydessus to Tauric Chersonese. [18]
4 Age of Ilus, son of Tros
4.1 Succession of King Wilusa of Ilus
In the 100 years since Teucrus first settled the Troad in 1435 BC, many towns were built and Greeks settled there and on the Black Sea coast.
Alarmed, King Wilusa married his daughter to Ilus, son of Tros, son of Erichthonius, son of Dardanus. [20]
Ilus usurped the throne of Wilusa upon the death of his wife's father. [21]
It is also in the lineage of Hittite kings that a son-in-law inherits the throne, and it seems that the Hittites recognized Ilus as King Wilusa.
The kingdom of Troy became an ally with the Hittites, although they were obliged to pay tribute to them. [22]
King Wilusa's sons were killed by Ilus, their clan was banished from Ilium, and many inhabitants of Dardanus migrated to Ilium.
Dardanus was succeeded by Tros' son Assaracus (or Asarakos) after his death. [23]
It is estimated that Ilus usurped the throne of Wilusa in 1330 BC. The country that had previously been divided into Wilusa and Troy became one.
4.2 Territorial expansion to the east
With the strong backing of the Hittites, Ilus expanded his territory to the east.
In 1325 BC, Ilus expelled Tantalus, who lived on the north side of Mount Ida. [24]
In 1300 BC, Ilus attacked Ethiopia near the mouth of the Aesepus River and brought it under Troy's control. [25]
Afterwards, Ilus expanded his power by advancing further east into Mysia of Olympene and fighting Byzos of Bebryces. [26]
5 Sparks of Trojan War
5.1 Battle for succession to the throne
In 1296 BC, Ilus died and his son Laomedon succeeded to the throne. [27]
In Hittite texts, Ilus appears as Kukkunni and Laomedon as Alaksandu.
In 1295 BC, Laomedon was exiled from Ilium by his brother Phaenodamas (or Hippotes). [28]
Laomedon attacked Ilium with the support of the Hittite army and the armies of Hittite vassals. [29]
Phaenodamas, defeated in battle, was killed along with his sons. [30]
The remaining three daughters of Phaenodamas fled to Sicily. [31]
In Sicily a son, Aegestus (or Acestes), was born to Egesta, the daughter of Phaenodamas. [32]
5.2 Conflict between Ilium and Dardanus
After Ilus usurped the throne of Wilusa and passed from Dardanus to Ilium, Dardanus was succeeded by Assaracus, son of Tros. [33]
Priam, the son of Laomedon, son of Ilus, had forty-seven sons. [34]
Antenor, a contemporary of Priam, had 19 sons. [35]
However, only Laomedon is the son of Ilus, and only Capys is the son of Assaracus. [36]
In the struggle for the succession of Ilium, the sons of Assaracus of Dardanus assisted Phaenodamas in a fierce battle, in which many of their sons appear to have died.
6 Increase in ships using Hellespont
6.1 Jason's Expedition
There is a story about the expedition of the Argonauts, in which many heroes took part. [37]
In the story, Aeson's son Jason leads an expedition of Argonauts. However, when creating a genealogy, the story of the Argonauts' expedition dates to 1248 BC, but Jason's marriage to Medea, daughter of Aeetes, occurred 20 years earlier.
In 1268 BC, Jason traveled with the Minyans of Iolcus in Thessaly to Colchis on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and married Medea. [38]
After this expedition, trade between Thessaly and the Black Sea region flourished.
The following people from Thessaly appear to have joined Jason on his voyage:
1) Autolycus, son of Deimachus of Tricca
2) Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus of Phylace
3) Philoctetes, son of Poeas of Magnesia
6.2 Contact with Achaeans and Trojans
6.2.1 Emigration from Thessaly to Sinope
In 1260 BC, Autolycus, son of Deimachus, was driven from Tricca in Thessaly by Ischys of Lapiths and migrated to Sinope on the southern coast of the Black Sea. [39]
Those who migrated from near Dotium to Tricca following Autolycus' wife Mestra may also have taken part in the migration to Sinope. [40]
6.2.2 Protesilaus of Phylace
Mestra's father Erysichthon (or Aethon) lived near Dotium in Thessaly. [41]
The wife of Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus, who lived in Phylace near Dotium, was Laodamia, daughter of Acastus of Iolcus, where the Minyans lived who knew the route to the Black Sea. [42]
Clymene, the mother of Iphiclus, was the daughter of Minyas, and Phylace was also home to the Minyans who immigrated with Clymene. [43]
It is assumed that Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus, passed through Hellespont and traded with the Black Sea region.
6.2.3 Philoctetes of Magnesia
It is also assumed that Philoctetes, son of Poeas, who lived in Meliboea of Magnesia facing the Aegean Sea, also used Hellespontus for trade. [44]
The 1st century BC poet Lucretius tells us that Meliboea was a source of purple-dyed shellfish. [45]
Meliboea is thought to have been trading with various places since ancient times.
6.2.4 Friendship between Thessaly and Dardania
Protesilaus and Philoctetes, who lived in Thessaly, may have had friendly relations with Antenor's father Aesyetes, who ruled Dardania on the Hellespont. [46]
7 Overview of the Trojan War in which Achaeans participated
There are likely to have been many battles fought on Ilium, but at least three in which Achaeans took part.
1) In 1244 BC, Priam was exiled by the Anchises with the help of the Achaeans and recaptured Ilium with the help of the Hittites.
2) In 1188 BC, Hector was exiled by the sons of Antenor and attempted to retake Ilium with the help of the Achaeans, but was unsuccessful.
3) In 1170 BC, the sons of Hector, with the help of the Achaeans, recaptured Ilium, which had been occupied by the sons of Antenor.
8 First Trojan War (1244 BC)
8.1 Banishing Priam
In 1244 BC, Laomedon, son of Ilus, died and his son Priam (or Podarces) inherited the kingdom of Troy. [47]
In Hittite texts, Priam appears as Walmu.
Anchises and Aesyetes, the sons of Capys, son of Assaracus, son of Tros, exiled Priam and usurped the king of Troy. [48]
Assaracus was left in Dardanus with his father Tros when his brother Ilus usurped the throne of Wilusa and moved to Ilium. [49]
Strabo reports that Antenor held Dardania. [50]
From this it appears that Antenor's father, Aesyetes, was the son of Capys, son of Assaracus, who lived in Dardania, and was a brother of Anchises.
Anchises and Aesyetes summoned from Sicily Aegestus, the grandson of Phaenodamas, who was presumed to be the son of King Ilus of Wilusa. They expelled Priam from Ilium, asking for help from Protesilaus and Philoctetes. [51]
8.2 Priam's Exile
Priam fled to Miletus with the help of his sister Hesione, who was married to Miletus. [52]
The Hittite king asked Hesione's husband to hand over Priam to the Hittites so that he could be made king of Wilusa. [53]
At that time, Miletus was a vassal state of the Hittites, and Priam was handed over to the Hittites as requested by the Hittite king. Priam marched on Ilium with the Hittite army to retake the throne. [54]
8.3 Return of Priam
Ilium was attacked by the forces of Hittite and Hittite vassals.
In this battle, Aesyetes was killed while attempting to intercept Priam's army on a plain about 1 km south of Ilium. [55]
Antenor, the son of Aesyetes, Anchises, Aegestus and Protesilaus and Philoctetes fled from Ilium, and Priam recaptured Ilium.
8.4 Whereabouts of the Losers
8.4.1 Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus
Protesilaus was killed in battle while crossing from the Troad to the Thracian Chersonesus, and was buried at Elaesus (or Eleus) at the southern tip of the peninsula. [56]
Protesilaus appears in the story as a participant in Agamemnon's expedition to Troy.
However, Protesilaus was the son of Iphiclus, brother of Jason's mother Alcimede, and was a contemporary of Jason. [57]
Ilus, son of Mermerus, son of Jason, was a contemporary of Odysseus. [58]
In other words, Agamemnon was a contemporary of the grandson of Protesilaus. The battle in which Protesilaus took part was the First Trojan War, not the Second Trojan War, during the time of Agamemnon.
8.4.2 Philoctetes, son of Poeas
Philoctetes returned to Meliboea, but a rebellion broke out, and he set out with Anchises and Aegestus to find a place to settle. [59]
The Philoctetes separated from them in the southern part of the Italian peninsula and settled at Macalla in Croton. [60]
Like Protesilaus, Philoctetes also appears in the story as a participant in Agamemnon's expedition to Troy.
However, in the story, Philoctetes was working with his enemy, the Trojan Aegestus. [61]
8.4.3 Capys, son of Anchises
Anchises returned to Sicily with Aegestus. [62]
Aegestus and Anchises were accompanied by many people from the Scamander River Valley. [63]
At this time, Aeneas, son of Anchises, who appears in Homer's Iliad, was not yet born.
Born in Sicily, Aeneas never set foot on the soil of the Troad.
8.4.4 Antenor, son of Aesyetes
Legend has it that Antenor founded Patavium (later Padua) deep in the Adriatic Sea. [64]
However, Antenor is presumed to have migrated to Paeonia with Mygdon for the following reasons.
It is assumed that the father of Cisseus, the father of Antenor's wife Theano, was Mygdon, who lived in Mysia of Olympene. [65]
Cisseus' grandson Iphidamas lived in Macedonia. [66]
When creating the genealogy, Antenor was in his thirties and his sons were still young boys.
Alternatively, after moving to Paeonia with Mygdon, Antenor may have married Mygdon's granddaughter Theano.
Antenor had 19 sons. [67]
Afterwards, one of Antenor's sons, Hypsipylus, migrated to Lesbos. [68]
8.5 Involvement of Mygdon
Mygdon, who lived in Mysia of Olympene, was driven from his home by Antenor and moved to Paeonia. [69]
Mygdon is presumed to have been the father of Cisseus, the father of Antenor's wife Theano. [70]
Later, the descendants of Mygdon rush to Troy as reinforcements, but to support the sons of Antenor. [71]
8.6 Involvement of Heracles
Many historical sources tell of Heracles' expedition to Troy. [72]
Legend has it that Heracles returned to Tiryns from Omphale in Lydia and captured Ilium before attacking Elis. [73]
That is, between 1246 BC and 1243 BC.
This coincides with the time when there was a dispute over Priam's succession to the throne.
Ethiopia, ruled by Laomedon's father Ilus, was the birthplace of Perseus' wife Andromeda and the home of Perseus' son Perses. [74]
Perses was the brother of Alcaeus, the father of Amphitryon, the father of Heracles. [75]
Heracles had every reason to join Protesilaus and Philoctetes on the expedition.
However, Heracles and their reasons for the expedition are different, and it seems likely that Heracles did not participate.
9 Second Trojan War (1188 - 1186 BC)
According to legend, the Achaeans, led by Agamemnon, occupied Troy, and Neoptolemus moved to the land of the Molossians, taking with him Helenus, son of Priam, and the sons of Hector. [76]
However, from the following historical sources, it seems that the Achaeans were unable to capture Troy.
1) The theologian Jerome of the 5th century AD writes, "After the children of Antenor were exiled, the sons of Hector recaptured Ilium, and Helenus assisted them." [77]
2) Dictys of Crete, who experienced the Trojan War firsthand, writes at the end of Volume 5 of his personal account that it was Antenor who ultimately took control of Ilium. [78]
3) Herodotus writes that an event comparable to the Persian invasion of Greece occurred 20 generations before Darius. [79]
Herodotus calculates 3 generations as 100 years, so it happened 667 years ago. [80]
Based on Darius' accession to the throne in 522 BC, this tragic event would have taken place around 1189 BC.
Taking all of the above into account, it is assumed that Neoptolemus fought on Hector's side, but was defeated.
Hector died, and his wife and sons were taken away by his brothers Helenus and Neoptolemus.
And the opponents Neoptolemus fought were not the sons of Priam, but the sons of Antenor.
9.1 Ruler of Hellespont
After Ilus, son of Tros, moved to Ilium, Assaracus lived in Dardanus. [81]
In the time of Laomedon, Antenor lived in Dardanus of Dardania and ruled Hellespont. [82]
However, with Laomedon's death and a struggle for succession to the throne, Dardania, without Antenor's family, came under the control of Ilium, where Priam lived. [83]
The town near Hellespont was ruled by the Priam clan as follows:
1) Abydus was ruled by Democoon, son of Priam. [84]
2) Arisbe, Practius, and Sestus of the Thracian Chersonesus, opposite Abydus, were ruled by Asius, son of Arisbe, the wife of Priam. [85]
3) Percote was ruled by Melanippus, son of Hicetaon, brother of Priam. [86]
4) Thracian Chersonesus was ruled by Polymestor (or Polymnestor), husband of Priam's daughter Iliona. [87]
Dardanus' name does not appear in Homer's works. Dardanus was probably defeated in a battle with Priam in 1244 BC. However, Dardanus was then rebuilt. [88]
In Priam's time, the ruler of Hellespont was Priam, not Antenor.
9.2 Battle of Ilium
After Priam's death in 1188 BC, Antenor's sons captured Ilium and usurped the throne.
Around this time, the Hittites, who had assisted Priam in his struggle for the throne, were on the verge of extinction.
Priam's eldest son Hector, who was driven out of Ilium, asked for reinforcements from the Achaeans, whom he had befriended through the use of the Hellespont.
The Achaeans organized an expeditionary force to support Hector and marched against Troy.
The commander-in-chief of the Achaeans was Achilles, son of Peleus, and the main force of the army was the troops of Thessaly and Boeotia.
9.3 Results of the battle
In this battle Hector, Achilles, Patroclus, son of Menoetius, Ajax, son of Oileus, Ajax, son of Telamon, Antilochus, son of Nestor, and Machaon, son of Asclepius were killed.
In 1186 BC, word reached the Achaeans that Thessaly had been captured by the Thesprotians. The Achaeans, who had previously lost their commander-in-chief Achilles, gave up on capturing Ilium. [89]
10 Achaeans who participated in the 2nd Trojan War
10.1 Participants from Thessaly
10.1.1 Achilles, son of Peleus
Achilles was born in Phthia of Thessaly. [90]
Since Autolycus, son of Deimachus, migrated from Tricca in Thessaly to Sinope on the southern coast of the Black Sea in 1260 BC, the number of ships passing through Hellespont increased. [91]
Autolycus' wife was Mestra, daughter of Erysichthon son of Myrmidon, who lived in Phthia. [92]
There seems to have been trade between Phthia and the descendants of those who accompanied Mestra to Sinope from Phthia via Tricca.
Achilles was the ruler of Phthia and is presumed to have been in charge of trade with the Black Sea coast.
10.1.1.1 Commander-in-chief Achilles
Iolcus, ruled by Pelias, son of Cretheus, famous for the story of the Argonaut expeditions, was a prosperous town that traded with the Black Sea region. [93]
Iolcus was destroyed by the Minyans, and Peleus, son of Aeacus, who drove out the Minyans, inherited the trade that Iolcus had conducted. [94]
After Iolcus was destroyed, the Lapiths rose in power, but were weakened after the battle with Heracles. [95]
Achilles inherited trade with the Black Sea region from his father Peleus and controlled Phthia, Dolopia, and the area around the Maliac Gulf. [96]
During the Troy expedition, Thessaly was invaded and occupied by the Thesprotians. [97]
In other words, so many people participated in Achilles' expedition that Thessaly was stretched thin.
Achilles was the most powerful man in Thessaly and led the largest group of Achaeans on the expedition.
10.1.2 Neoptolemus, son of Achilles
A genealogy shows that Neoptolemus was 24 years old when the expedition began.
Neoptolemus went on an expedition to Troy with his father Achilles.
Neoptolemus fled from Troad, taking with him Helenus, the son of Priam, Andromache, the wife of Hector, and Hector's sons, and emigrated to the land of the Molossians. [98]
10.1.3 Phoenix, foster parent of Achilles
Phoenix, son of Amyntor, led the Dolopians on an expedition. [99]
Phoenix died near Thermopylae while en route to the land of the Molossians with Neoptolemus. [100]
10.1.4 Polypoetes, son of Peirithous
Polypoetes took part in the Trojan expedition from Gyrton. [101]
Polypoetes fled from the Troad to Ionia and settled in Colophon. [102]
10.1.5 Leonteus, son of Coronus
Leonteus took part in the Trojan expedition from Argisa. [103]
Leonteus fled from the Troad to Ionia and settled in Colophon. [104]
10.1.6 Eurypylus, son of Euaemon
Eurypylus took part in the Trojan expedition from Ormenion. [105]
Eurypylus fled from Troad to Achaia and settled in Patrae. [106]
10.1.7 Machaon and Podalirus (or Podalirius), two sons of Asclepius (or Aesculapius)
Machaon and Podalirus joined the Troy expedition from Tricca. [107]
Machaon was killed in action at Troy. [108]
Podalirus fled from Troad to Caria and founded Syrnus. [109]
10.1.8 Magnesians
The Magnesians of Thessaly fled from the Troad to Delphi and settled there.
In 1173 BC, the Magnesians, along with the Delphians, migrated to Lydia and founded Magnesia. [110]
10.2 Participants from Boeotia
10.2.1 Arcesilaus, son of Archilycus
Arcesilaus led the Boeotians on an expedition from Boeotia to Troy. [111]
Leitus, son of Lacritus, brought back the remains of Arcesilaus and buried them in Lebadeia. [112]
The Boeotians, through Arne of Thessaly, were related to Achilles and took part in the expedition.
10.2.2 Ialmenus, son of Astyoche (or Pernis)
Ialmenus of Orchomenus led the Orchomenians and Aspledonians in the expedition to Troy. Ialmenus migrated from Troad to Sauromatae on the northern coast of the Black Sea. [113]
Orchomenus is a town inhabited by the Minyans, who have been in contact with the Colchis on the eastern coast of the Black Sea since ancient times. [114]
Astyoche, the mother of Ialmenus, was the daughter of Actor, son of Azeus, son of Clymenus, son of Presbon. [115]
Presbon was born in Colchis and moved to Boeotia to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather Athamas. [116]
Perses and Aeetes, two sons of Perseis (or Perse), granddaughter of Presbon's father Phrixus, were rulers of Tauric Chersonese (now Crimea) and Colchis. [117]
The husband of Circe, the daughter of Perses' daughter Hecate (or Idyia), was the ruler of the Sauromatians. [118]
From the above, it seems that Ialmenus had a friendship with the sons of Priam even before his expedition, using Hellespont to trade with the Black Sea.
Homer cites the wealth of Orchomenus alongside the wealth of Egyptian Thebes, but it is likely that the source of that wealth was income from trade with the Black Sea. [119]
10.3 Participants from other regions
10.3.1 Athenians
10.3.1.1 Return of the Sons of Theseus
According to legend, Menestheus, king of Athens, also led the Athenians on an expedition to Troy. [120]
However, as in the case of Agamemnon of Mycenae, Athens' rule was not solid.
Menestheus was in a situation where he did not know when he would be attacked by the sons of Theseus, who had usurped the throne. Menestheus is presumed to have been exiled from Athens by Theseus' two sons, Demophon and Acamas, who returned from Euboea.
The return of the sons of Theseus was aided by Elephenor, son of Chalcodon, who apparently died in battle with Menestheus. [121]
Menestheus moved to the island of Melos, where he died. [122]
10.3.1.1 Expedition participation by Athenians
Although Menestheus himself did not campaign against Troy, Athenian troops appear to have taken part in the campaign.
There was a route from Sinope on the southern coast of the Black Sea to Prasiae in Attica. The route was included in the route that carried the first fruits from the land of the Hyperboreans to Delos. [123]
It is assumed that the Athenians also used this route to trade with the Black Sea coast, and that they used Hellespont to form friendships with the sons of Priam.
After Menestheus was chased out of Athens, some of the Arcadians, who had no place to return to, migrated to Scylletium in the southern part of the Italian peninsula. [124]
Some of the Arcadians also migrated to Elaea in Mysia. [125]
Mysia was inhabited by Arcadians who migrated from Arcadia. [126]
10.3.2 Ajax, son of Telamon
Ajax took part in the Troy expedition from Megara. [127]
Telamon was the brother of Achilles' father Peleus, and Ajax was Achilles' cousin. [128]
It seems likely that Ajax participated in the expedition not only because of his relationship with Achilles, but also because of his friendship with Priam's sons through his use of Hellespont.
The Salamians, who were under Ajax, were excellent steersmen and steered the ships that brought tribute from Athens to Crete. [129]
Ajax died at Troy and was buried in Rhoeteium, northeast of Ilium. [130]
10.3.2.1 Sons with captives and Ajax
Ajax had two sons born to prisoners of war during the expedition.
1) Aeantides
Aeantides was the son of Glauce, the daughter of Cycnus, whom Ajax had captured in a battle with Cycnus (or Cygnus) of Colonae, south of Ilium. [131]
Aeantides, who later became the progenitor of Aeantis, lived near Marathon. [132]
2) Eurysaces
Ajax fought Teuthras of Phrygia and took his daughter Tecmessa captive. [133]
A son, Eurysaces, was born to Ajax and Tecmessa. [134]
Eurysaces lived in Melite of Attica, where there was a sanctuary for Eurysaces. [135]
10.3.2.2 Teucer, brother of Ajax
Teucer, son of Telamon, had migrated to Cyprus before the Trojan War. [136]
Teucer married Eune, daughter of Cinyras of Palaepaphos. [137]
The purpose of Teucer's migration seems to have been to trade in the valuable ore produced at Amathus in Cyprus. Cinyras' mother was Amathus' godmother. [138]
Teucer rushes from Cyprus to Ilium to join his brother Ajax, but only after Ajax is dead and the Achaeans defeated. [139]
Teucer returned to Cyprus with the Trojans who wished to emigrate and founded Salamis. [140]
10.3.3 Calchas, son of Thestor
Calchas lived in Megara and followed Megara's king Ajax on an expedition to Troy. [141]
Calchas migrated from Troad to Pamphylia and founded Selge. [142]
10.3.4 Mantineans
The Mantineans of Arcadia migrated from the Troad to Bithynia and settled near Bithynium. [143]
The reason for the Mantineans' participation in the expedition is unknown.
10.3.5 Ajax, son of Oileus
Pausanias describes a legend associated with Leuce (modern Zmiinyi, Snake Island) in the Black Sea. [144]
In addition to Achilles and Ajax, the son of Telamon, Ajax, the son of Oileus, Patroclus, and Antilochus, the son of Nestor, appear in the legend.
All but Ajax, son of Oileus, have their tombs at Troad. [145]
According to legend, Ajax, son of Oileus, drowned near Delos. [146]
In fact, Ajax, son of Oileus, also died at Troy, and like Achilles may have been involved in trade with the Black Sea coast.
Ajax, son of Oileus, lived in Narycus in the Epicnemidian Locris and ruled over the Opuntians. [147]
10.3.6 Patroclus, son of Menoetius
Patroclus lived in Opus of the Epicnemidian Locris, which was under the rule of Ajax, son of Oileus. [148]
Patroclus followed Ajax, son of Oileus, on an expedition to Troy.
Patroclus died at Troy and was buried at Sigeium. [149]
10.3.7 Antilochus, son of Nestor
10.3.7.1 Relationship between Pylus and the Black Sea
At the time of Neleus' marriage to Chloris, daughter of Amphion of Orchomenus, many Minyans emigrated with Chloris. [150]
Nestor, son of Neleus, also took Eurydice (or Anaxibia), daughter of Clymenus, as his wife from Orchomenus, and there were also Minyans living in Pylus. [151]
The Minyans knew the sea route to Colchis on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, and it is assumed that Pylus also traded with the Black Sea coastal regions.
10.3.7.2 Tomb of Antilochus
Antilochus, son of Nestor, died at Troy. [152]
The tomb of Antilochus was near the tombs of Achilles and Patroclus in Sigeium, northwest of Ilium. [153]
10.3.7.3 The truth about Nestor's participation in the expedition
According to legend, Nestor brought back the remains of Machaon, who had died in Troy, and buried them in Gerenia. [154]
However, since Nestor did not bring back his own son's remains, it is inconceivable that he brought back someone else's remains, and it seems likely that Nestor did not go to Troy.
Based on the genealogy, Nestor is estimated to have been 74 years old at the time.
After the death of Alexander the Great, there is an example of Antipater, who was about 80 years old, riding back and forth between Macedonia and Egypt on horseback. However, given the average life expectancy at the time, it seems unlikely that Nestor would have lived.
10.3.8 Argives
Some of the Argives' participation in the Troy expedition narrative appears to be based on historical facts, and it is presumed that the Argives also participated in the Troy expedition.
10.3.8.1 Diomedes, son of Tydeus
Pausanias tells us that Diomedes led the Argives on an expedition to Troy in place of Cyanippus, son of Aegialeus, who was still a minor. [154-1]
Cyanippus was the son of Diomedes' sister Comaetho and nephew of Diomedes. [154-2]
This seems to be based on historical fact, rather than the author of the Troy Expedition story adding Diomedes to the cast of characters, as he was a famous figure of the time.
10.3.8.2 Leaders of the Argives
In Homer's Iliad, besides Diomedes, the Argives were led by Sthenelus son of Capaneus and Euryalus son of Mecisteus. [154-3]
Sthenelus belonged to the Anaxagoridae, while Euryalus and Diomedes belonged to the Biantidae.
Melampodidae, another of the three royal families of Argos, did not participate in the Troy expedition.
This reflects the reality of Argos at that time and seems to be based on historical facts.
The Melampodidae, led by Amphilochus, son of Amphiaraus, migrated to the northwestern Greece and did not live in Argos during the Trojan War period. [154-4]
11 Troy Expedition of Agamemnon
Agamemnon of Mycenae does not seem to have made an expedition to Troy for the following reasons.
11.1 The control of Mycenae was not solid.
Mycenae was succeeded by Pelops' son Thyestes after the death of Eurystheus, who was exiled by his brother Atreus. [155]
After Atreus' death, Thyestes recaptured Mycenae, and Atreus' two grandsons, Agamemnon and Menelaus, fled to Sparta. [156]
Menelaus married Tyndareus' daughter Helen and succeeded Tyndareus as king of Lacedaemon. [157]
Agamemnon led the Lacedaemonians to retake Mycenae and imprison Thyestes and his son Aegisthus in Cythera near the Gulf of Laconia. [158]
Later, according to legend, Agamemnon departed on an expedition to Troy, and Aegisthus escaped from the island and took control of Mycenae, where Agamemnon was absent.
Furthermore, after the death of Eurystheus, the Heracleidae attempted to return to Peloponnesus twice, waiting for an opportunity to invade Peloponnesus.
In fact, after Agamemnon died, Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, led the Dorians against Mycenae and destroyed the city. [159]
Under these circumstances, it is inconceivable that Agamemnon would have led an army from Mycenae on a long expedition.
11.2 Years of Reign of Agamemnon
According to legend, Agamemnon was killed shortly after his return from Troy. [160]
However, other traditions say that Agamemnon ruled Mycenae for 30 (or 35) years, until Troy fell in the 18th year of his reign. [161]
Agamemnon lived for over 12 years after the fall of Troy.
12 Third Trojan War (1170 BC)
The theologian Jerome of the 5th century AD writes, "After the children of Antenor were exiled, the sons of Hector recaptured Ilium, and Helenus assisted them." [162]
Also, the 12th century AD English cleric Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote, "After the descendants of Antenor were expelled, the sons of Hector ruled Troy." [163]
12.1 Whereabouts of Hector's sons
In 1188 BC, Ilium was captured by the sons of Antenor, and Priam's sons and grandsons were unable to retake Ilium and migrated elsewhere. [164]
Hector's sons migrated to the land of the Molossians, accompanied by Neoptolemus and Helenus. [165]
12.2 Recapture Ilium
In 1175 BC, Neoptolemus sacked Delphi and was killed in battle with the Delphians led by Machaereus, son of Daetas. [166]
Hector's wife Andromache was married to Neoptolemus, but she remarried Helenus. [167]
Hector had at least three sons.
Namely, Scamandrius (or Astyanax), Laodamas, and Saperneios. [168]
A genealogical tree reveals a large age difference between Hector and Andromache, and it is assumed that Hector had many sons by different wives.
In 1170 BC, when Hector's sons came of age, Helenus gave them an army to attack Ilium. The core of the army was the Trojans, led by Hector's sons; the Achaeans, including the Myrmidons under the command of Achilles and Neoptolemus, also joined the expedition. The sons of Hector gathered together the scattered descendants of Priam and added them to their fighting force to retake Ilium from the sons of Antenor. [169]
12.3 Return of Andromache
At this time, their mother Andromache did not go with them to Ilium.
Andromache and Helenus had a son, Cestrinus. [170]
After the death of Helenus, in 1156 BC, Andromache migrated to Asia Minor accompanied by her son Pergamus with Neoptolemus. Pergamus founded Pergamon. [171]
Thebe, where Andromache was born, was very near Pergamon.
13 Troy Expedition Story
As mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, Homer's Iliad was preceded by the story of an expedition to Troy by the Achaeans led by Agamemnon.
Homer is also said to have copied the writings of Sisyphus of Cos and Dictys of Crete, both of whom participated in the Trojan War. [172]
However, the Iliad tells of the royal lineage of Troy, something that Sisyphus and Dictys do not provide.
It is assumed that the author of the original version of the Iliad was someone who had direct access to members of the royal family of Troy.
13.1 Author of the story
In Homer's Odyssey, Demodocus says that the Achaeans captured Troy by trickery using wooden horse. [173]
Demodocus is presumed to be the original author of Homer's Iliad, based on the following circumstances:
1) Demodocus was born in Laconia. [174]
2) Demodocus was a disciple of Automedes and Perimedes of Argos. [175]
3) Demodocus was an excellent poet who won prizes in Pythian competitions. [176]
4) Demodocus was hired by Agamemnon of Mycenae. [177]
5) Demodocus was hired by Alcinous of Corcyra. [178]
6) Helenus, son of Priam, who fled from Troy, lived in Butrotum, near Corcyra. [179]
7) Demodocus wrote The Destruction of Troy. [180]
In other words, it is assumed that Demodocus heard about the battle at Ilium from Helenus and created a story with Agamemnon as the main character.
13.2 Time of completion of the story
In 1186 BC, Helenus, son of Priam, who had escaped from Troad, settled with Neoptolemus in Hellopia, north of Dodona. [181]
Later, Helenus moved to the opposite shore of Corcyra and founded Buthrotum. [182]
Nausicaa, the daughter of Alcinous, the employer of Demodocus, was the wife of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, and Demodocus was a contemporary of Odysseus. [183]
Demodocus wrote The Destruction of Troy and may have been aware of Ilium's retaking by the sons of Hector in 1170 BC. [184]
Also, Homer's Iliad describes the genealogy of the royal family of Troy during the Trojan War.
Demodocus, the original author of the Iliad, seems to have learned the lineage of their ancestors and relatives from members of the Trojan royal lineage, namely Helenus and Andromache.
Therefore, it is assumed that Demodocus had completed the story that became the prototype for the Iliad before 1156 BC, when Helenus died and Andromache passed to Asia Minor.
End
