Other Myths of the Trojan War Trivia Quiz

Answer: Iphigenia

In some versions of the Trojan War, it was said that Agamemnon had killed a deer on ground sacred to the goddess Artemis. But Agamemnon didn't stop there, as he even claimed to be a better hunter than Artemis. Therefore, in Aulis, when the Achaean fleet set sail for Troy, Artemis stilled the wind that caused the sea to calm so they could not cross. Agamemnon consulted his soothsayer, Calchas, and he was told that the goddess would only be pleased by the sacrifice of his daughter, Iphigenia.

The king of kings obeyed the goddess' desire and he sacrificed the girl himself.

Answer: Penthesilea

In rare versions of the story (mostly painted on vases made in Athens in 500 BC), Penthesilea came to the Trojans' aid from the east, where her warrior-women fought against the Achaean army. Vicious as they were, the Amazonians were all killed in battle.

There is a great Greek vase in the British Museum which was made around 500 BC that shows Achilles killing Penthesilea with a spear in her throat. An add-on to this myth tells how Achilles fell in love with the Queen before she died by his spear, which pierced her throat.

Answer: Ethiopia

Memnon was King of Ethiopia and came into the Trojan war near the end. It is told in some accounts that the Ethiopians were not entirely welcome in Troy, as there were already too many mouths to feed in the starving city. The myth also tells that, when Memnon was killed, the whole Ethiopian army changed into birds and flew away.

Answer: Alexander the Great

While Alexander the Great passed through modern day Turkey when fighting the Persians, he stopped at the site of Troy and honoured his Homeric heroes. On the Plains of Illium there was a mound called the 'Kesik tepe', supposed burial mound of Achilles and Patroclus. On knowing this, Alexander stripped naked in front of his men and ran around the mound to pay his respects.

He was also joined by Hephaestion, who ran naked for Patroclus. Many other lesser generals have done this over the years.

Answer: Hercules

Funny one that! There is a myth that exists that Posiedon set a great sea monster against Troy. The beast gave the Trojans so much grief that Laomedon offered his daughter Hesione as a sacrifice. The myth tells that the girl was chained to a rock by the shore and left screaming until Hercules, Telamon and Oicles showed up.

They took the girl and offered her back to Laomedon in exchange for two of his immortal horses. But when Laomedon went back on his promise to Hercules, it was only fair that Hercules sacked the city and slew the royals except for one of Laomedon's sons, Priam.

Answer: Aeneas

Aeneas, son of blind Anchises, was protected by no other goddess than Aphrodite herself. As she should, being as she was his mother! In the thick of battle, Diomedes cut Aphrodite's hand and would have finished Aeneas off if the Trojan had not been dragged from the battle by his men.

But by hurting the goddess, Diomedes tempted Aphrodite and she took her revenge when he returned home and found that his wife had been unfaithful. Diomedes left Argos and arrived, after some journeys, in southern modern-day Italy where he supposedly founded several cities, among which are Brindisium (Brindisi) and Arpus Hippium (Arpi). Aeneas also went to Italy, and there he supposedly founded Lavinium.

Answer: The Hellespont

This is one of the main reasons Agamemnon wanted the city. The Hellespont linked the western world with Asia and beyond.

Answer: Paris

Before Paris was born, his mother Hecuba dreamt that her child would bring the destruction of Troy. When she did eventually give birth, King Priam had the child taken away and given to the beasts of the woods. There, the young prince was raised on Mount Ida before he returned to Troy and reclaimed his title by beating his brothers in athletic games.

Answer: To the Fairest

Eris, goddess of Discord, was not invited to the wedding between Peleus and Thetis (Achilles' parents). But all the other Gods were! And so, in secret, Eris watched the wedding from a bush and threw an apple into the crowd which had the inscription 'To the Fairest' written on the fruit.

This caused mayhem between the gods, as each of the three goddess' claimed it for themselves. Many arguments became of it, the most of which were between Hera, Aphrodite and Athena. Zeus called a halt to the argument and said that a mortal man was only fit to judge. So who other than the most handsome of men, Paris. Paris made his desicion on Mount Ida and chose Aphrodite, mainly because she promised him the most beautiful woman in the world.... Which she delivered.

Answer: Epeius

Hope this one didn't get you. Odysseus came up with the idea of the horse but he did not build it. That honour was given to a soldier named Epeius, who supposedly founded the cities of Pisa and Metapontum.