June 11: Troy is burned and destroyed in 1184 BC, according to the calculations of Eratosthenes.

This map shows the proximity of Troy to the Greeks, based on the myths.

The Trojan War had its origins in Greek mythology when the dispute broke out between the goddesses Aphrodite, Athena and Hera. So was the goddess of the dispute, given a golden apple, marked for "the most beautiful". Thus became the saying of the "Apple of Discord". But Zeus said that Aphrodite was to receive the apple and she gave it to Helen to make her the most beautiful woman in the world and marry her to Menelaus of Sparta.

The most beautiful woman on earth at that time was Helen, wife of Menelaos of Sparta

Agamemnon was king of Mycenae and brother of Menelaus, King of Sparta. Both sailed to Troy to recover Helen. After ten years of fighting, the city of Troy was flanked by the famous "Trojan horse" full of Greek soldiers who looted, burned and destroyed the city.

Triumphant Achilles dragging Hector's body around Troy, from a panoramic fresco of the Achilleion Palace

The most beautiful woman of the time was Helen, daughter of Zeus and Leda. Helen married old Menelaus, King of Sparta.

Trojans allowed the horse in the city and started celebrating for their victory. During night though, when everyone was drunk and tired, Greeks came out from the horse and slaughtered Trojans, desecrated the temples and stole the gold and gifts from this rich city.

But when Prince Paris, son of Priam, king of Troy, came to visit Sparta, Helen had just had a daughter, whom they named Hermione. Paris paid his hospitality kidnapping beautiful Helen and seducing her to escape to Troy. “In the legends, it all started after Paris of Troy stole the stunning Helen from her husband the King of Sparta, Menelaus.”

Map of the Troad, including the site of Troy

The Greeks built a huge wooden horse with which would fit many soldiers in his belly which access was by a ladder. They also sent the message that the Trojans were going to abandon the struggle and sent them a gift which, Trojans naively opened the doors. At dusk, the Greeks left the horse and joined other Greeks who arrived by boat and that was the Trojan War.

The Burning of Troy (1759/62), oil painting by Johann Georg Trautmann