The Trojan War

For ancient Greece and Rome, the Trojan War provided a powerful mythic history. In this single source, these two great civilizations were able to find two sets of heroes, two distinct sets of virtues, and two eternal poets: Homer and Vergil. In this broad and varied account, the reader will have the opportunity to investigate the shadowy historical foundation that underlay the poetic environment of Achilles and Aeneas, as well as to examine how the poetic experience altered the understanding of the Trojan War for the many cultures and civilizations that were touched by its narrative and mythic power. Designed as an accessible introduction to this critical element in the Western tradition, The Trojan War offers an engaging mixture of descriptive chapters, biographical sketches, and annotated primary documents. An overview of Troy and the world of the late Bronze Age is presented in the first chapter, and is followed by sections on: finding Troy and the Trojan War; Homer and the epic tradition; the force of legend; and Troy in the twenty-first century. An annotated bibliography and index are also included in this work.