PANTHEON:

Gods and Other Strangers

The not-so-heroic Heroes of the Trojan War

See images from the episode BEWARE OF GREEKS BEARING GIFTS

The Scoop on Deiphobus and Paris

"Now the Dawn snatched away Tithonus for love and brought him to Ethiopia, and there consorting with him she bore two sons, Emathion and Memnon.

"But after that Ilium was captured by Hercules. Podarces, who was called Priam, came to the throne. He married a second wife Hecuba, daughter of Dymas, or, as some say, of Cisseus, or, as others say, of the river Sangarius and Metope. The first son born to her was Hector; and when a secondbabe was about to be born Hecuba dreamed she had brought forth a firebrand, and that the fire spread over the whole city and burned it.

"When Priam learned of the dream from Hecuba, he sent for his son Aesacus, for he was an interpreter of dreams. He declared that the child was begotten to be the ruin of his country and ordered a servant that the babe should be exposed. When the babe was born Priam gave it to a servant to take and expose on Ida. The infant was nursed for five days by a bear; and, when the servant found it safe, he took it up, carried it away, brought it up as his own son on his farm, and named him Paris. When he grew to be a young man, Paris excelled many in beauty and strength, and was afterwards surnamed Alexander, because he repelled robbers and defended the flocks. And not long afterwards he discovered his parents."

[So far, this sounds much like the story of Atalanta, whose hand was won during the race of the Golden Apples. But that is another story.]

Paris Tries Out Bigamy

Deiphobus, brother of Paris "Paris married Oenone, daughter of the river Cebren. She had learned from Rhea the art of prophecy, and warned Paris not to sail to fetch Helen; but failing to persuade him, she told him to come to her if he were wounded, for she alone could heal him. When he had carried off Helen from Sparta and Troy was besieged, he was shot by Philoctetes with the bow of Hercules (see below), and went back to Oenone on Ida. But she, nursing her grievance, refused to heal him. So Paris was carried to Troy and died. But Oenone regretted her refusal, and brought the healing drugs; finding him dead she hanged herself.

Deiphobus, brother of Paris "When the war had already lasted ten years, and the Greeks were despondent, Calchas prophesied to them that Troy could not be taken unless they had the bow and arrows of Hercules fighting on their side. On hearing that, Ulysses went with Diomedes to Philoctetes in Lemnos, and having by craft got possession of the bow and arrows he persuaded him to sail to Troy. So he went, and shot Paris.

"After the death of Paris, Helenus and Deiphobus quarrelled as to which of them should marry Helen; and as Deiphobus was preferred, Helenus left Troy. . . ."

The Giant Polynesian-Style Wicker Horse Arrives

horsie "As Cassandra said that there was an armed force in it, and she was further confirmed by Laocoon, the seer, some were for burning it, and others for throwing it down a precipice; but as most were in favour of sparing it as a votive offering sacred to a divinity, they betook them to sacrifice and feasting.

Menelaos "And when night fell, and all were plunged in sleep, the Greeks drew near by sea from Tenedos, and Sinon kindled the beacon on the grave of Achilles to guide them. And Helen, going round the horse, called the chiefs, imitating the voices of each of their wives. But when Anticlus would have answered, Ulysses held fast his mouth. . . . and when they thought that their foes were asleep, they opened the horse and came forth with their arms. The first, Echion, son of Portheus, was killed by leaping from it; but the rest let themselves down by a rope, and lighted on the walls, and having opened the gates they admitted their comrades who had landed from Tenedos.

"And marching, arms in hand, into the city, they entered the houses and slew the sleepers. Neoptolemus slew Priam, who had taken refuge at the altar of Zeus of the Courtyard. . . . Aeneas took up his father Anchises and fled, and the Greeks let him alone on account of his piety.

"But Menelaus slew Deiphobus and led away Helen to the ships. . . ."

[Well, we know better, eh?]

Not Homer at all, but Pseudo-Apollodorus Library vol. 2

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