We've studied myths from all around the world-North America, Central America, Africa, China, and Greece. Next we'll be reading The Odyssey by Homer, which tells the story of a Greek man, Ulysses, and his travels from Troy back home. If you remember, the Trojan War began when Helen, the wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta, was promised to Paris, prince of Troy, by the goddess Aphrodite. Paris took Helen back to Troy, causing 1,000 ships with soldiers to set sail for Troy to bring Helen home. Some of the more famous men in the battle are Achilles, Agamemnon, Priam, and Hector.
After nine years of fighting, the Greeks tricked the Trojans into bringing a huge wooden horse, which housed Greek soldiers (including Ulysses), into the city walls. At night, the Greeks emerged from the horse and finally defeated Troy. Menelaus won his wife back, and the Greeks set sail for home, although some would take longer than others to get there.
