The Trojan War Finally Explained

The Trojan War is one of the most famous conflicts in human history, but it resides somewhere within the space between fact and fiction. The myth is just as much a part of the tale as the actual history. So keep watching as we dive deep into the truth behind the Trojan War.

The story of the Trojan War has been told and retold countless times, most famously by Homer in The Iliad. But its historical authenticity wasn't always accepted as fact. In the 17th century, Blaise Pascal wrote,

"Homer produced a story, which he offered as such and was accepted as such: for no one doubted that Troy and Agamemnon had existed any more than the golden apple. He did not think he was making a history of it, merely an entertainment."

But it turns out that there's more truth to Homer's tale than initially thought. In the 19th century, a Prussian businessman named Heinrich Schliemann went to what is now Turkey in an attempt to find the location of the Trojan War. In his excavations, he found numerous archaeological treasures that corresponded to the correct location, if not necessarily the correct time period, of Troy. Modern archaeologists later confirmed that these findings correlated with the existence of a city as well as its destruction. So despite Homer's embellishments, he knew his history.

Watch the video for more about The Trojan War Finally Explained!

#TrojanWar #TrojanHorse

Historical accuracy | 0:00
Foreboding beauty contest | 1:16
Nine years of siege | 2:09
The rage of war | 3:52
The Trojan Horse | 5:00

[Ian_KH]

"The Trojan War Finally Explained" - At last!
People have been waiting for 3000 years and it's not until now that someone has tried to explain this tale.

[allisonv]

Straight men explaining Achilles and Patroclus: and they were roommates

[GrungeHQ]

Who is your favorite figure from mythology?
Correction: The Odyssey depicted the 10 year journey of Odysseus going back home after the Trojan War.

[julianmarsh]

This was....bad. So many mistakes it is not worth addressing them. Well, okay; just one. Odysseus did not embark on a 20-year odyssey. He spent ten years fighting at Troy and then it took him 10 years to sail home. This tidbit shows that the writer and narrator do not know the story they are

[Aizaaaaaaaaaa]

"Finally explained"
*Proceds to tell a story that's been around for literally 3000 years but butchering it so much that you can write an entire thesis about the mistakes.*

[dinos]

Odysseys' return voyage was a 10-year not 20 year one. He had spent 10 years besieging Troy along with the other Achaean kings under the command of high-king Agamemnon and then another 10 years trying to return home only to be delayed by the Gods. Eventually Athena felt sorry for him and guided him back and helped him regain his palace from the aristocrats courting his wife (not for romantic reasons but for inheriting his throne).

[heroesgrantorino]

Hopefully some day they will make an accurate film of this. No cgi no american accents and a cast that can actually act rather than pout...

[Yasmin-gwbw]

Patroclus and Achilles more than likely weren't just 'friends'

[charlespring]

How is briefly summarising the story the same as "finally explaining" the mysteries of the Trojan war? Plus Odysseus' journey home took 10 years not 20

[interstellarlapisthecccp]

I don't think anyone asked this but in case some people are wondering, the Mycenaean Empire or the Greeks that attacked Troy were definitely a much stronger power, they just couldn't defeat the Trojans due to their fortifications and strategic knowledge of the land; also the Trojans were very rich and well connected with regards to other kingdoms due to their strategic position nearby the Hellespont, allowing them to control trade between the Black sea and Mediterranean.The Greeks were also a lot more disorganized due to the fact that the men technically served under warlords first, who in turn were loyal to Agamemnon. The men ultimately answered and were directed by their respective warlords, though, and in cases like Achilles they would clash with central command so to speak and leave the battle if their warlord told them to. This was definitely a more democratic empire when it came to control of the army, something which didn't exist to the same extent in other empires like the Persian or Alexanders army. (though to an extent, there still were factions and warlords/generals in all armies). I don't know if the story of the Trojan horse is true or if the walls fell due to an earthquake, but another fact people may not know is that the city of Troy was conquered and sacked multiple times before this war occurred. There are even references to the city in the recollections of the life of Herakles, who apparently also sacked the city a few decades before the war.

[rael]

The goddess of discord isn't invited to a wedding (because she's the goddess of discord), so naturally she creates discord

[jontyarnold]

Yep, that’s right, the whole world was utterly confused and bewildered about this whole this video “explained” it all to us silly people. We are so grateful....

[thomasaquinas]

Wonderful presentation at a breakneck speed. As an historian, it's hard to accept an account as history where the 'gods' make up about 1/2 of the narrative. Interesting to note that the great horse was accepted by the men of Troy whereas all the female accounts indicate they were skeptical with some literally asking people to look a gift horse in the mouth. If they actually made a great horse, there in the middle of nowhere, that alone was a great feat of carpentry and engineering.

[etiennenobel]

Gee Wizz At last!!! Now I understand Homer and the Trojan war perfectly! LOL.

[jennyvinyl]

I do not find merit in the courage of Achilles who knew himself invulnerable.

[UrsulaDaSeaWishh]

Ok I NEED TO KNOW where that animation that showed when you were talking about Eris came from. I’ve never seen it but it was gorgeous, and I wanna know what it’s from. The animation style reminded me of Dreamworks

[simonestreeter]

Patroclus is Achilles' "friend?" Come on, dude, we're all not that dumb these days. They were still manly Ok?

[emmanuelfiolakis]

People have to be careful, gifts like that are still given in different ways!

[ActionJackson]

I didn't know that the Trojan Horse was a legend from The Illiad tbh. I thought it was history the we were sure of, not just a story. Interesting, it makes sense though honestly. I always thought that it was very strange that a plan like that would work, like, they wouldn't find a door or opening, and find them inside? Why would they leave a present for the enemy after retreating? It didnt make sense when I learned about it, and finding out that it is tied to old legends, and The Illiad makes sense 🤷🏻‍♂️💯

[appleass]

3:32 don't pretend they were friends...