Origin of the term `Trojan Horse'
The Trojan War was triggered off when
Paris of Troy carried away Melenaus' beautiful wife, Helen along with most of
the latter's treasures.
Melenaus, the king of Sparta, garnered popular support against this act of
treachery and marched to the shores of Troy under the leadership of Agamemnon.
On reaching Troy, they (the Greek forces) asked the king to return the treasures
along with Helen, but when he refused the Greek forces launched an offensive.
During the first nine years of war, the Greeks fought against Troy and her
neighbouring countries. They managed to regain most of their plundered wealth
and also managed to loot Troy. However Greek victory was limited as they could
not enter the impregnable city of Troy. One day the Trojans saw Greek ships
leaving their shores. Assuming this to be the final victory they ran to the
coast and saw that the Greeks had left behind a large wooden horse. Thinking
that the horse would bring them good luck they dragged it inside the city
(against the wise counsel of Laocoon and Cassandra). That night the Greeks (who
had hidden in the belly of the wooden horse) sneaked out and destroyed the city,
killing its king, prince and other gentry. Hence was born the legendary term --
Trojan horse!