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Trojans and allies |
TheIliupersis (Greek:Ἰλίου πέρσις,Ilíou pérsis,lit. 'Sack ofIlium'), also known asThe Sack of Troy, is a lostepic of ancientGreek literature. It was one of theEpic Cycle, that is, the Trojan cycle, which told the entire history of theTrojan War in epic verse. The story of theIliou persis comes chronologically after that of theLittle Iliad, and is followed by theNostoi ("Returns"). TheIliou persis was sometimes attributed by ancient writers toArctinus of Miletus who lived in the8th century BCE (seeCyclic Poets). The poem comprised two books of verse indactylic hexameter.
TheIliou persis was probably composed in theseventh century BCE, but there is much uncertainty. Ancient sources date Arctinus to theeighth century BCE, but evidence concerning another of his poems, theAethiopis, suggests that he lived considerably later than that.
Only ten lines of the original text of theIliou persis survive. For its storyline, we are almost entirely dependent on a summary of the Cyclic epics contained in theChrestomathy written by an unknown Proclus (possibly to be identified with the 2nd century CE grammarianEutychius Proclus). A few other references give indications of the poem's storyline. A further impression of the poem's content may be gained from book 2 ofVirgil'sAeneid (written many centuries after theIliou persis), which tells the story from a Trojan point of view.
Note that different sources record some details differently: for example the manner ofAeneas' departure from Troy, or the identity ofAstyanax's killer. The version told here specifically follows what is known of the early epic poem, rather than any other source.
The poem opens with the Trojans discussing what to do with the wooden horse which the Greeks have left behind: some thought they ought to hurl it down from the rocks, others to burn it up, while others say they ought to dedicate it to Athena. The third opinion prevails, and the Trojans celebrate their apparent victory. The godPoseidon, meanwhile, sends an ill omen of two snakes that killLaocoön and one of his two sons; seeing this,Aeneas and his men leave Troy in anticipation of what is to come.
When night comes, signaled bySinon, the Greek warriors inside the horse emerge and open the city gates to let in the Greek army, having sailed back fromTenedos. The Trojans are massacred, and the Greeks set fire to the city.
Neoptolemus kills kingPriam, even though he has taken refuge at the altar ofZeus;Menelaus killsDeiphobus and takes back his wifeHelen;Ajax the Lesser wrestsCassandra from the altar ofAthena, incurring physical damage to the idol. The Greeks determine that they should stone Ajax in retribution, but he in turn also takes refuge at the altar of Athena.Odysseus killsHector's baby sonAstyanax andNeoptolemus takes Hector's wifeAndromache captive. The Greeks make a human sacrifice of Priam's daughterPolyxena at Achilles' tomb. Athena formulates a plan to inflict revenge upon the Greeks concurrent with their nautical return.
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