Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
The Fall of Troy explained
The chapter recounts the final events of the Trojan War after Hector's death, including the arrival of allies Memnon and Penthesilea, the death of Achilles by Paris's arrow, the suicide of Ajax, the retrieval of Philoctetes and the arrows o
What happens
The chapter recounts the final events of the Trojan War after Hector's death, including the arrival of allies Memnon and Penthesilea, the death of Achilles by Paris's arrow, the suicide of Ajax, the retrieval of Philoctetes and the arrows of Hercules, the theft of the Palladium, the construction of the Trojan Horse, the death of Laocoön and his sons, and the final sack of Troy, with the fates of Priam, Hecuba, Cassandra, and Polyxena.
Themes in this chapter
Hubris and Divine Retribution
Laocoön's defiance of the gods by striking the wooden horse leads to his and his sons' gruesome death by serpents, illustrating divine punishment for irreverence.
Fate and Free Will
Despite warnings and omens, the Trojans choose to bring the horse into the city, fulfilling the prophecy of Troy's fall; Cassandra's unheeded prophecies underscore the tension between fate and human action.
Heroism and the Quest
Achilles, Ajax, Ulysses, and Philoctetes embody heroic ideals, but their quests end in tragedy or moral ambiguity, questioning the nature of heroism.
Jealousy and Revenge
The rivalry between Ajax and Ulysses for Achilles' armor leads to Ajax's suicide; Paris's abandonment of Oenone results in her refusal to heal him, leading to his death.
Characters to notice
- Achilles
Slays Penthesilea but regrets it; killed by Paris with a poisoned arrow to his heel.
- Paris
Kills Achilles with a poisoned arrow; later wounded by Philoctetes and dies after being refused aid by Oenone.
- Ulysses
Awarded Achilles' armor over Ajax; devises the Trojan Horse stratagem and steals the Palladium with Diomed.
- Ajax
Contends for Achilles' armor but loses to Ulysses; commits suicide, and from his blood springs the hyacinth flower.
- Philoctetes
Possesses the arrows of Hercules; is retrieved from Lemnos, cured, and slays Paris.
- King Priam
Sees Troy fall; slain by Pyrrhus at the altar of Jupiter after his son Polites is killed.
- Laocoön
Priest of Neptune who warns against the wooden horse; killed along with his sons by sea serpents.
- Sinon
Greek left behind to deceive the Trojans; convinces them to bring the horse into the city and later releases the hidden warriors.
Key passages
“Achilles by chance had seen Polyxena, daughter of King Priam, perhaps on the occasion of the truce which was allowed the Trojans for the burial of Hector. He was captivated with her charms, and to win her in marriage agreed to use his influence with the Greeks to grant peace to Troy.”
Achilles saw Polyxena during a truce for Hector's burial, fell in love, and offered to negotiate peace with the Greeks to marry her.
Achilles' love for Polyxena leads to his fatal visit to the temple of Apollo.
“While in the temple of Apollo, negotiating the marriage, Paris discharged at him a poisoned arrow, which, guided by Apollo, wounded Achilles in the heel, the only vulnerable part about him.”
While arranging the marriage in Apollo's temple, Paris shot a poisoned arrow guided by Apollo that struck Achilles in his only weak spot, his heel.
Achilles' death fulfills the prophecy of his vulnerable heel.
“The great horse was the chief object of curiosity. All wondered what it could be for. Some recommended to take it into the city as a trophy; others felt afraid of it. While they hesitate, Laocoön, the priest of Neptune exclaims, 'What madness, citizens, is this? Have you not learned enough of Grecian fraud to be on your guard against it? For my part, I fear the Greeks even when they offer gifts.'”
The Trojans were puzzled by the giant wooden horse, with some wanting to bring it inside and others wary. Laocoön warned them against Greek deception, famously saying he feared Greeks even bearing gifts.
Laocoön's warning foreshadows the Trojan Horse's deadly purpose.
“There appeared, advancing over the sea, two immense serpents. They came upon the land, and the crowd fled in all directions. The serpents advanced directly to the spot where Laocoön stood with his two sons. They first attacked the children... The father, attempting to rescue them, is next seized and involved in the serpents' coils.”
Two giant serpents emerged from the sea, attacked Laocoön and his sons, and strangled them to death, interpreted as divine punishment for his defiance.
The serpents' attack silences Laocoön and convinces the Trojans to accept the horse.
