The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-03-13
THE STORY OF TROY

har0lng the IOIIS VI Tic Doiu"@
and landing parties are fighting with
the Turks near the ancient city OF
Troy, the old story of the siege and
capture of Troy takes on a renewed
interest. Only the other day a land
ing party drove the Turks from a
bridge which probably crossed the
ancient river Skamander, which in
Homer's Had is represented as hav-
ing fought with Achilles. In those
DAYS the gods could make even the
rivers go to war. The tale of Troy
and of its capture by the ruse of the
wooden horse is given in the follow
ing summary:
We should know the meaning OF the
word .'Iliad" before We can lister 5othe
story. 1t is the English form Of a Greek
word that means "about Ilium." and
Uium was the name of . town that
stood on the coast Of Asia Minor. 1t is
usually referred to in English IS Troy.
and it was the capital city Of Troja;
but it was known to the Greeks as linn.
It's inhabitants were called Trojans.
The ''Iliad." which Was composed by
Homer, q Greek poet, nearly 5000 years
ago, tells of q great war carried on by
the Greeks against the Trojans. but
what is true in it and what is the fancy
Of the poet we cannot very well say. a.
fact and fiction are mingled together.
The king of Troy wal named Prism.
and the name Of his wife was Hecuba.
OF their many sons, Hector was famed
for his bravery and Paris for his good
looks. 1t happened that Paris was sent
on an embassy to Menelaus, king OF
Sparta, in Greece. This king was mar
ried to Helen, q woman so fair that she
was thought to be the most beautiful
woman in all Greece. When Paris ar
rived in Sparta, the king was away and
Paris was false to him. He made Helen
a captive and carried her off to Troy
Greece. which is q land Of many islands.
was not then united under one king.
but had many independent rulers and
princes. So when the king of Sparta
fodnd that his queen had been stolen
away, he called together a great meet
ing of the princes. and his W brother.
Agamemnon, was elected sovereign
lord of all the Greeks" to lead them in
a war against the Trojans for the re.
oovery of Helen. At the marriage OF
Helen and Menelaus the Greek princes
had promised to defend the beautiful
Helen if any need arose.
The story then goes on to tell rs how
the Greeks made preparations for the
war, how the army was reviewed. and
how the boats for carrying the soldiers
were got ready.
1t tells also of the many famous war
riors who were to take part in the war
Chief among these was Achilles. the
bravest Of the Greeks; then there wa
Ulysses, the wisest; while Nestor was
the Oldest Ind most experienced Of them
all. When all was ready. the mighty
army set sail for Troy, and. landing
on the shore, soon laid siege to the CITY
For ten long years the siege continued
battle after battle was fought and alsC
single combats between the leaders. bu
M 1aciaivo victorv Uan wou
Thus nine of the years had worn away
when trouble began among the Greek
themselves. A great quarrel arose be
tween Agememnon and Achilles over q
very little matter-a slave who had beer
given to Achilles having been taker
away by Agamemuon. As a result o
this quarrel, Achilles withdrew to hi
tent. and would not support Agamen
non in any of the next skirmishes tina
took place between the Trojans and thu
Greeks. Growing bold, because th'
mighty Achilles fought no more. tn
Trojans now began to press the be
seigers. Fearing that the Trojan
mikub oNcu bCuEo q NiCtoIys u HOui'
Greek. Patroclus. the dearest friend o
Achilles, dressed himself in the armol
Of that powerful warrior. and led tn,
Greeks once more against the Trojans
He drove them back into their city, bu
fell. mortally wounded.
Achilles had now more reason thar
before to make Wal against the euem,
that had killed his well. beloved friend
Arrayed in a new armor made for hiu
by Vulcan, he goes forth to aveng'
Patroclus. and is met by Hector. tn,
finest fighter of all Troy. Now take
place tho greatest battle Of the Ions
war. Hector o falls before AchilleI
in his wrath. and the body OF the Tro
jan prince is dragged three times aroun,
the city at the chariot of his conquerol
before il is given to Hector's father
Priam. who bears il pack within tn,
walls of Troy. where the dead hero il