Trojan horse | Story & Facts - Encyclopedia Britannica

Trojan horse, huge hollow wooden horse constructed by the Greeks to gain entrance into Troy during the Trojan War. The horse was built by Epeius, a master ... Trojanhorse TableofContents Introduction FastFacts RelatedContent More MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Philosophy&Religion AncientReligions&Mythology Trojanhorse Greekmythology Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Trojan-horse More GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites KidipedeHistoryforKids-TrojanHorse By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica • EditHistory Trojanhorse,hugehollowwoodenhorseconstructedbytheGreekstogainentranceintoTroyduringtheTrojanWar.ThehorsewasbuiltbyEpeius,amastercarpenterandpugilist.TheGreeks,pretendingtodesertthewar,sailedtothenearbyislandofTenedos,leavingbehindSinon,whopersuadedtheTrojansthatthehorsewasanofferingtoAthena(goddessofwar)thatwouldmakeTroyimpregnable.DespitethewarningsofLaocoönandCassandra,thehorsewastakeninsidethecitygates.ThatnightGreekwarriorsemergedfromitandopenedthegatestoletinthereturnedGreekarmy.ThestoryistoldatlengthinBookIIoftheAeneidandistoucheduponintheOdyssey.ThetermTrojanhorsehascometorefertosubversionintroducedfromtheoutside.Beginninginthelate20thcentury,thename“Trojanhorse”wasappliedtodeceptivelybenigncomputercodesthatseemlikelegitimateapplicationsbutarewrittentodamageordisruptacomputer’sprogrammingortostealpersonalinformation. ThisarticlewasmostrecentlyrevisedandupdatedbyAdamAugustyn.