How accurate is Troy: Fall of a City? Episode 8 - Historiai

Deiphobus is killed in the sack of Troy but, according to myth, he had been married to Helen after Paris died. Like I said earlier, Helen ... Skiptocontent Finally,wearehere,thelightattheendofthetunnelinsight!It’sbeenabumpyridesofar:therehavebeenafewprettydecentmomentsintheshow,butoverall,intermsofhistoricalandmythologicalaccuracy,it’samess.IfitwerepossibletosomehowhookHomer’sbodytosomesortofturbinefromhisgrave,I’msurehisspinningwouldproduceenoughpowersolvetheglobalenergycrisis.Thislastepisode,however,isnotreallybasedonHomerbecausethe Iliadendsbeforethisepisodeseventskickoff(thoughtherearelittlebitsandpiecesreferencedinTheOdysseywhichdocropupthisepisode).Onthewholehowever,theeventsarebasedonotherwell-knownmythsthatform“TheEpicCycle”.So,forthelasttime,let’sseehowaccurateitallis. It’sahorse.AtTroy.LikeaTrojanHorse.Ah,getit?!IT’SSYMBOLISM!IT’SSUBTLE!DOYOUGETIT?! WeopenwithOdysseusstaringatahorseonthebeach(foreshadowingthatissoonthenosethatitgenuinelymademesneeze),beforebeingwhiskedawaytotalktoXanthiusandhisdog.Imustsay,I’dcompletelyforgottenaboutthisdog.WhenitwasshowninEpisode3asbeingabletoruninandoutofthecity,IthoughtitmightcarrymessagestoOdysseus,maybeaboutfoodrunninglow,orontheTrojantacticsorsomething.Butno,thedogjustranoutonce“whenthetimewasright”andwaspromptlyforgottenabout. Starvingtodeathintwoweeksisnoexcusetoforgetpropergroomingandmakeup. OverinTroy,ParisandtheotherTrojanleadersarediscussingthesituationandthey’reapparentlystillrunningoutoffood!Again,theyweremeanttoberunningoutoffoodinEpisode3,that’swhywehadthewholetunnelescapade–butthetunnelplandidn’twork.BasedoffofAndromache’spregnancythatwasatleast9monthsago!SotheTrojanshavespentanawfullylongtime“runningoutoffood”;maybetheyunderestimatedhowmuchtheyhadinEpisode3.Also,gladtonoticethat,despitethecitystarving,there’sstillenoughfoodfortheprincestomaintaintheirbuffguyphysiquesandlooksopretty. Someonemakestheverysensiblesuggestionthat,withAchillesdeadandtheGreeksdisheartened,theTrojansshouldtryandnegotiateapeacedeal.Parisishavingnoneofthisthoughdespiteitjustbeingestablishedthattheywillbestarvingintwoweeks,andthattheirmenaresohungrythatthey’reinnoconditiontofightproperly.Inreality,itwouldbewiseunderthesecircumstancestoseekapeacedeal,buttheshowhasneverhadmuchtimeforrealism. AndromacheisstillaccusingHelenofbeingatraitorinthecityandbeingtheonethathelpXanthiusescape.I’mgoingtoleavethisfornow,becausethemythologicalportrayalofHelenduringthefallofTroyvariesalotfrommythtomyth,sowe’lldiveintothatabitmorelater.Fornow,sufficetosaythatXanthiusdoesn’tappearinmythsandsothissubplothasbasicallynogroundinginanykindofaccuracy. ParisthendecidesthattheywillleadanattackagainsttheGreeksbecause,astheydecidedearlieron“thisisourchance,wehavetotakeit”.SotheygatherthewholeTrojanarmyforalastdesperateattack…ohno,waittheydon’tdothat.Infact,theyplannedtoattackwithjust3men,Paris,DeiphobusandAeneas,whowillthensendasignaltotheotherTrojanstocatchupwiththem.Theshowhasnomadeattemptatshowinghowclosethebeachistothecity,however,basedoffsomeoftheestablishingshotswe’vebeenshown,it’spresumablyaheftydistanceaway.SoifParis’plangoesawrythenhe(thecommander)andtwoofTroy’stoplieutenantswouldbestuckfightingofftheentireGreekarmywhilewaitingfortheotherTrojanstocatchuptothem.Youdon’tneedtobeAlexandertheGreattoworkoutwhythisisacrapplan.Ifyouwanttoscoutoutanenemy,usescouts,notyourmostvaluablecommanders.Ifthey’recaughtandkilled,yourarmyisscrewed. Unfortunately,itturnsouttheGreekshavesupposedlygonebackhome.IsayunfortunatelybecauseParisdoesn’tactuallymakeittothefallofTroy;hediesbeforetheGreeksmakeitintothecity.Iwasreallyhopingthathewasfinallygoingtogetkilledoffhereinabattlebeforethewholesackofthecity.We’renotthatluckyhowever,anditlookslikewe’regoingtobestuckwithParisrightupuntiltheend. Menelaus:HeyOdysseus,what’swiththemassivetrident?Odysseus:Ohyouknow,justincasewedoadressingupparty,needafancycandelabraorbuildagianthorseforPoseidon.M:Haha…wait,what?O:What? TheGreekcampisdesertedsaveforthefamousTrojanhorse.Now,Iappreciatetheefforttheshowwenttoofactuallymakingahorseprop–that’snice.ButwheredidtheGreeksgetallthislapislazuli,orwhateverbluestonethatisonthehorseshead,from?AndwhoonEARTHbroughtatridenttoTroy?!Andwhy?!AloneGreek,Thersites,hasbeenleftbehindtoexplainthatit’sanofferingtoPoseidonandthattheGreeksthoughtthetidewouldtakeit.Coupleofquickpoints;firstlythisGreekguyshouldactuallybeaguycalledSinon,he’sthepersoninGreekmyththatactuallystaysbehindandtalkstheTrojansintotakingthehorseintothecity.ThersitesdoesappearinHomericmyth,notoriouslyastheugliestmanintheGreekarmy,buthe’sabitofamiscreantandgetskilledbyAchilles.Secondly,theGreeksthoughtthetidewouldtakeit?!It’saprettybloodybigandheavythingforthetidetotake,thinkofabetterexcuse!But,alljokesaside,let’sactuallyhaveaquicklookattheTrojanHorsefromahistoricalperspective. HistorianshavespentafairbitoftimetryingtothinkofvariousexplanationsfortheTrojanHorse.Thewholethingmightjustbeafabricationforanicestoryandsomepeoplesaythatthewholethingissillyandneverreallyhappened.Butthosearethepeoplewhoareboringanddon’tgetinvitedtoparties.Lotsofhistoriansgetakickoutoftryingtothinkofmore“realistic”explanationsfortheTrojanHorse,andithasattractedawholeslewoftheories. Theshowgoeswithoneofthese,thatitisatributetoPoseidon,godoftheseaandhorses.Thiswouldmakesenseasanofferingforsafepassageonthewayhome,andit’sasolidinterpretationbytheshow.AnotherhypothesisisthattheTrojanwallswereactuallydestroyedbyanearthquake.Thereissomearchaeologicalevidencetosupportthisandthestatueofahorsewould,again,makesenseinthisscenario–Poseidonwasnotonlythegodoftheseaandhorses,butalsoofearthquakes.ThentherearethosethatthinkthattheTrojanHorsemightactuallyhavebeenaweapon,suchasabatteringramshapedlikeahorse,thatbecameexaggeratedandmademorepoeticthroughouttime.Lastly,therearethosewhotakethemythatfacevalue,andthatitreallywasusedasameansofhidingGreeksandsneakingthemintothecity.Allthoseideasarefairlysolid,andsopeoplecanpickandchoosewhichtheythinktobemostlikely. Backtotheshowand,despiteafewwarningsfromAndromacheandCassandra,theTrojansdecidetotaketheHorseintothecity.Inmyth,there’sactuallyalittlebitherewhichIalwaysfoundtoberatherfunny:whilsttheTrojansaregatheredaroundthehorsedecidingwhattodowithit,apriest,calledLaocoon,famouslysays“bewaretheGreeksbearinggifts”.Beforeanyonelistenstohimthough,Poseidonsendsacoupleofseaserpentsthatstranglehimandhissons,andtheTrojanshappilycarryonasifnothinghadhappened.ThisalwaysseemedratherPythonesque(punintended)inmyopinion,andIalwaysgotalittlegiggleoutofit.I’measilyamused. AlsoinHomer’s Odyssey,Helentoowassuspiciousofthegift.ShewalksaroundtheHorsemimickingthevoicesofthewivesoftheGreekshiddeninsideandtheGreeks,whoofcoursehaven’tseentheirwivesinalmostadecade,almostcryoutinresponsetothevoicesoftheirlovedones,butarecontrolledbyOdysseus.Again,IcanforgivetheshowformissingoutonthesetwoactionsofLaocoonandHelenasbothprobablywouldhavebeenhardtoportraywithoutlookingrathersilly. Movingonabit,andHelen’snameisapparentlyclearedbyThesites,andtheTrojansallhaveanicekneesuptocelebratetheendofthewar.HelenthensneaksoffduringthecelebrationstohelptheGreeksandnowisagoodatimeasanytodiscussHelen’sroleduringthefallofTroy. AsImentionedearlier,hercharactervariesfrommythtomyth.InVirgil,aRomanpoet,she’satraitortotheTrojans,signallingtothemainGreekarmythattheHorsehasbeensuccessfullybeentakenintothecity.DuringtheactualsackofTroy,shealsohidesDeiphobussword,leavinghimdefencelessandatthemercyoftheGreeks.InHomer,however,shehelpstheTrojans.AsmentionedaboveshetriestotricktheGreeksbymimickingthevoicesoftheirwivesand,inotherversionsofthemyth,HelenspendsthesackofTroydesperatelyseekingsanctuaryandtryingtohide.WhenMenelausfinallyfindsherhedrawshisswordtokillherforbeingunfaithful,butisstunnedandstopswhenconfrontedbyHelen’sbeautyasshetakesoffherrobeandstandsnakedinfrontofhim.WithsomanyvariousportrayalsofHelen,theshowhasafairbitoflibertytouseanyversionitwishes.Intheshow,HelenagreestohelptheGreeksontheconditionthattheydon’thurtanyoneelse.Tobehonest,IfinditnighimpossibletounderstandHelen’smotivations90%ofthetime.TheonlymotivationsheseemstohaveforhelpingtheGreeksisbecauseofthewholePandarus/CiliciasubplotandthatshewasaccusedofbeingatraitorbyAndromache.Buttherearetwomainproblemswiththis;one,HelennevertoldAchillesaboutCilicia,hethreatenedherandheassumedtheanswerbasedoffofherreaction–Helenneveractuallytoldhimanything;andtwo,ifshe’snervousaboutbeingseenasatraitorbytheTrojans,shecouldjusttellthemabouttheGreeksinthehorserightnow,andallwouldbeforgivenasshewouldhaveshownwherehertrueloyaltieslie.IfhermainmotivationisinsteadavoidinganymorewarringandsavingParis,whynotsneakoutwithXanthiuslastepisode?Maybeit’sjustme,butI’vegotaboutasmuchgraspofhercharactermotivationasIdoofstringtheory.  OdysseysandMenelausthengetoutofthehorse…andapparentlythat’sit.Inmyths,theGreekshidadecentamountofmeninthehorse,roughly30or40,largelyconsistingoftheirbestfighters.Theideawasthatthiseliteforcewouldbeabletosneakout,atnight,andmaketheirwaytothecitygatestounlockthemandallowtheotherGreeksintothecity.Intheshow,thewholeTrojanHorseploywasdonetosneakjusttwomenintothecity.Achilles,Patroclus,XanthiusandthatblokewholetalltheTrojanhorsesgo,allmanagedtogetinandoutthecitywithoutneedingagianthorse.Woulditreallyhavebeensohardtosneaktwomoremenin?TheTrojansleavethebloodygateopenhalfthetimeanyways! Trojansretreating,closingthegateinthebackground… …Greeksopeningthesamegatesfromtheotherside TheGreekarmythenstartspouringintothelowercityandParisorganisesadefenceinfrontofthesecondgateinordertobuytimeforAeneastoopenupthetunnelsandgetthewomenandchildrenout.ThepositionisoverwhelmedandParisretreatsbehindthegates.Ican’thelpbutfeelthatParisfundamentallymisunderstandshowtouseagate.Whynotclosethemfirstanddefendfrombehindthem?Ifyou’rewantingtobuytime,abigclosedgateisagoodwayofdoingthatanditmeansyoudon’tloseanyprecioussoldiers.BUTinthenextshot,theGreeksjustopenthegate!Igenuinelydon’tknowwhathappens.Parisretreatsbehindthegate,closesthem,andthenrunsoff.Nextshot,theGreeksareopeningthesamegates.Howdidtheygetmenbehindthegates?DidParisnotlockthegates?Alittlebitlateron,weseeOdysseusandNestoropeninganothersetofgatestolettheGreeksin.Well,howdid thosetwogetbehindthegate?!Didtheyfindawaypastthisgate?Ifso,whyjustthosetwo?WHYDOGATESNOTWORKINTHISSERIES?! TroillusandDeiphobusarebothkilledastheGreekspushtheirwaythroughthecity.AsI’vesaidbefore,Troillusshouldhavebeendeadalongtimeago,hedoesn’tevenmakeitmanhoodinmyth.DeiphobusiskilledinthesackofTroybut,accordingtomyth,hehadbeenmarriedtoHelenafterParisdied.LikeIsaidearlier,HelenactuallysealsDeiphobus’fatebyhidinghisswordandleavinghimhelplessinthefaceoftheGreeks. PenthesileaandLegolaseatyourheartsout!Agamemnonsneersatyourpitifultwosword“badassery” PriamisthenkilledbyAgamemnon.Agamemnon,I’veonlyjustnoticed,iscarryingnotjustonesword,noteventwoswords,butfourswords!!Clearly,thisthereforemakeshimthemostabsolute,super,megabadassofalltime!But,it’snotAgamemnonwhokillsPriaminGreekmyths.It’sactuallyAchillesson,Neoptolomus,whokillshim.Neoptolomusdoesn’tappearintheshow,buthewasabitofabruteandisassociatedwithsomeoftheworstatrocitiestheGreekscommitinthesackofTroy.Inthemyths,PriamisactuallydraggedtoanaltarbyNeoptolomuswhereheiskilled,inamockeryofasacrifice.But,Priamdoesputupabitofafightbeforehand,atleastasmuchasanoldmanlikehecan.Theshowdoesdepictthis,soit’snicethatatleastthatlittlebitwasaccurateandPriamwentoutwithsomedignity. Hecuba,intheshow,thencutsherwristsandkillsherself.Unfortunatelythisisn’taccurateatall,andsheisoneofmanywomenwhosuffergreatlyafterthesackofTroy.Insomeversions,sheistakenasaslavebyOdysseusandinotherssheisdrivenmadatthesightofherdeadchildrenandthefallofthecity.Eitherway,sheisn’tgivensuchacleanendinginmyths.Greekmythsarerarelyeversotidyorforgiving;it’sallaboutthetragedy. ParisthengetstomakealaststandbeforebeingkilledbyAjaxandMenelaus.Themusicswells,thecameralingers,andParisisgivenamoredramaticdeaththananyoneelseintheshow!HectorandAchillesdidn’tgettohavesuchanemotionalfarewellbutforthecowardly,uselessParis,we’reallmeanttoshedatear.Themythsdon’tallowParisthisheroicdeath.AsImentionedearlier,he’sactuallykilledoffbeforethesackofTroyevenbeginsandit’saGreekherocalledPhiloceteswhoisusuallytheonecreditedwithkillinghimoff.Tobehonestthough,Ican’tcomplaintoomuch.Parishasbeenanabsolutepainineveryorificepossiblethewholeseries,soI’mjusthappyhe’sfinallydead. ThenwegettoAstyanax,poorlittleAstyanax.Sadly,mostofwhattheshowtellsusabouthimisprettyaccurate.HeishiddeninHector’stomband,uponhisdiscovery,theGreeksdecidethatitistoodangeroustoallowasonofHectortoliveandpossiblyseekrevenge,soheisthrownfromthecitywalls.ThishorrificactisusuallysaidtohavebeencommittedbyNeoptolomus,Achilles’son,butthereareacoupleofversionsofthemythswhereitisOdysseuswhodoesit,asintheshow.TheversionwhereitisNeoptolomuswhodoesitisactuallyevenmoretragicbecauseAndromacheistakenasaconcubinebyhimandsheisforcedtohaveasonwiththemanwhomurderedherpreviousone.AsIsaythough,theshow’sdepictionofthiseventisaccuratetosomeversionoftheGreekmyths. WethenquicklypopbacktoTroywhereAphrdoiteandZeusremindusthatthegodsarestillmeanttobeapartoftheshowandAeneasisrevealedtostillbealive,asareacoupleofotherpeople.Inthemyths,there’smorethanjustacouplepeopleleftalive,afairfewescapedwithAeneasandheisabletoputtogetheraforcelargeenoughtoneed20shipstocarrythem.Aeneasandthisgroupwilllatergoontheirownepicadventure,theAeneid, andhebecomesoneofthefoundingheroesofRome. Pleasedon’t.Ilovethisactor,butIdon’tknowifthememoryofHomercanhandleanymoreabuse. TheGreeksallsailaway,HelenwithMenelausandCassandrawithAgamemnon,justlikeinthemyths.Asasidepoint,inthemyths,there’salotmoreenslavementinsteadofjustmassacringeveryoneinTroy.TheshowthenclosesonalingeringshotofOdysseusandI’mleftwithasinkingfeelinginmystomachthatistryingtosetupafollowupseriesbasedonthe Odyssey. Andtherewehaveit,that’stheendoftheshow.Sohowaccuratewasit?Tobehonest,notvery.Therearesomenicebitshereandthere,someofthecivilianclothingisnice,Troyitselflooksprettygood,andOdysseusstandsoutasawell-actedandwellwrittencharacterthatistruetohismythicalinspiration.Buttheshowisplaguedbywanderingplotlinesthatendupasdeadends,characterswhosemotivationsareimpossibletounderstandand,mostimportantly,afundamentalmisunderstandingofwhatmakesthestoryofTroysopowerful.Keycharacters,likeAchillesandParis,arehandledsobadlythatthey’rehardlyrecognisablecomparedtothesourcematerial.Theshowfocusestoomuchoninaneplots,likeParisbeingexiledand,asaresult,eventswhichshouldbevitaltotheplot,liketheGreekstryingtoappealtoAchillesortheTrojansbeginningtogettheupperhandduetohisabsence,areoverlookedandrushed. Imightdoafollowupposttothisonewhichlooksmorebroadlyatsomeofthekeyissuesandthemesbut,fornow,thankyoutoanyoneandeveryonethatperseveredwithboththeshowandwithmyreviewsofit.It’sgreattoknowthattherearepeoplewhoareinterestedenoughtoreadabouttheaccuracyofshowslikethisandtotryandbetterunderstandthesourcematerialthatthey’rebasedon,ratherthantakingtheseriesatfacevalue. Sharethis:TwitterFacebookLikethis:LikeLoading... Related 2thoughtson“HowaccurateisTroy:FallofaCity?Episode 8” JesusChristman,thishelpedmesomuchasIhaveneverreadtheIliadoranythingaboutit.Youreallyknowwhatyou’retalkingaboutasIdonemyresearch.Suchentertainmentofwhatyouwrite.DoyouhaveanInstagramorTwitterIcanfollowyouon?Amazingworkmate.Bloodygorgeous. LikeLike Reply Thanksmyman,appreciatethecompliments!I’muselesswithsocialmedia,sotheshortanswerisno.Mightpotentiallychangethatinthefuturethough,ifIdo,I’llputlinksonheresomewhere LikeLike Reply LeaveaReplyCancelreply Enteryourcommenthere... 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