Let me start this post by telling you the story of the Trojan War. Three goddesses, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite quarreled over which of them is the fairest. Their judge, Paris, the handsome son of the Trojan King Priam, decided in favor of Aphrodite and as a reward, was promised the most beautiful of women, Helen of Troy. After Helen’s abduction, Menelaos, called upon Helen’s former suitors to come to his aid and 1,186 ships and more than 100,000 men from 22 different states and principalities set out against Troy under the command of Menelaos’s brother Agamemnon, King of Mycenae. The siege on Troy was ten years of which at the end the Trojan hero, Hector, was slain by Achilles, the most glorious hero of the Greeks.
How is the Trojan War relevant to women today? There are conversations of loyalty, betrayal and the consequences of war on women, which resonate in today’s discussions about gender and power. The Trojan War often is used to critique historical representations of women and to reclaim their voices.
Contemporary media will emphasize women’s perspectives about the Trojan War and showcase the strength and resilience of women. The themes of this war are also relevant when we discuss women’s rights, violence and the impact of conflict on women. So I think we could argue that the significance of the Trojan War may help us understand women’s roles and experience.
Just to finish the story about the Trojan War, you may know that the Trojan Horse was ultimately used to breach the walls of Troy. They used intelligence over brute force as they brought the horse into Troy thinking it was a peace offering. Many also say that the Trojan Horse can serve as a cautionary tale about the danger of naivety and the importance of remaining vigilant.
