Myths are not stories that are untrue rather
They are tales that don't fit neatly into the historical record which serve as a foundation to a culture
Dawn breaks on high-walled Troy. Waves gently lap the shores as gulls cry out to the morning sun.
But against this tranquil backdrop the Achaeans ready for war because Agamemnon has been sent a favorable dream from Zeus himself...
Stating that the gods are with him. So victory is assured...or so it would seem.
The time has finally come!
After nine long years, the Trojans will meet the Achaeans in battle.
Once again the armies advance, and as they draw close, Paris steps forward from the Trojan ranks.
Frightfully adorned in a leopard skin with a curved bow on his shoulders and two bronze-tipped spears.
He then dares any of the Achaeans to meet him in single combat.
Menelaus sees this and immediately accepts the challenge, eager to finally end things and enact vengeance on his rival.
But then Paris is so intimidated that he falls back into the Trojan ranks. Turns out spending 10 years hiding out at home...
...isn't the best practice for battle after all.
But while the Achaeans laugh and mock Paris, his brother Hector, commander of the Trojan forces, rebukes him.
"Are you nothing but good looks or is there a warrior in there?"
"Where is the man who was willing to risk everything to get what he wanted?"
"You stole that man's wife! Go and learn what kind of man he is!"
Paris is ashamed. His brother is right. He will fight for Helen!
He agrees to the duel and Agamemnon and Hector call a truce to determine the conditions.
Menelaus and Paris alone will fight and the victor will win Helen. But no matter who wins the Achaeans and the Trojans will declare peace.
And the Achaeans will sail home. The duel begins. Paris strikes first, throwing a spear, but it lodges in Menelaus's shield.
Menelaus then prays: "Lord Zeus, grant me vengeance on the man who has wronged me!"
"Let me break him beneath my hands so that even generations to come will shudder to think of betraying another man!"
The prayer complete, he throws his spear and it cuts through Paris's side, injuring him, but sparing his life.
Menelaus then draws his sword and moves in to strike the finishing blow, bringing his blade down upon Paris's helmet.
But the armor holds and Menelaus's weapon shatters on impact.
Frustrated, he grabs Paris's helmet and drags him toward the Aqueon line while Paris chokes and struggles.
And then the Achaeans descend on him until he's barely conscious. Finally, Menelaus rushes forward ready to strike the killing blow.
All seems lost for Paris...
But as fate would have it, Zeus was not the only god watching!
Seeing that her favorite mortal was in peril, Aphrodite descends from Olympus and whisks Paris away to the safety of his own home in a thick cloud of perfumed mist.
When the mortals realized what has happened, Agamemnon steps in front of his army and declares that since Menelaus was unquestionably the winner...
Helen should be returned to him at once. And while the Achaeans cheer, the Gods had some deliberating to do.
They call an emergency meeting on Mount Olympus. Exhausted from the years of conflict, Zeus agrees with Agamemnon: Menelaus won the duel.
So the nine-year war can end. Sounds good. Right? Right?
....Guys?
But Hera and Athena don't want to hear it, and Hera in particular is NOT okay with this plan. She hates Paris.
She hates Troy, and she resents that her husband has not taken her side.
She will not accept a truce and so with no other choice Zeus sends Athena, Goddess of War, back down to incite the Achaeans and Trojans once more.
Although both sides are still under truce, Athena appears before one of the Trojan leaders and promises him glory if he can take down Menelaus.
Foolishly, he draws his bow and fires at the Achaean king while then Athena cruelly tilts the arrow so that it only wounds him.
Shocked at the violation of the truce, Agamemnon immediately orders the troops to prepare to fight. The armies clash violently, and the war begins again in a staggering amount of bloodshed.
The Gods then choose their champions.
Some watch from afar, while others disguise themselves as mortals and wade into the fray.
And Athena uses this opportunity to play a little prank. She appears before an Achaean warrior and grants him the ability to distinguish Gods from men.
But she warns him not to fight any of them except Aphrodite.
Then when Aphrodite sees another of her favored mortals about to be killed, she intervenes again.
But now being able to see her and having a different goddess on his side, the blessed warrior strikes Aphrodite in the hand, wounding her.
With tears streaming down her face, she flees back to Olympus and Zeus says it serves her right.
She's the Goddess of Love, after all, and has no place on the battlefield.
Sulking, and recognizing that her sister Athena has won, Aphrodite stays on Olympus.
Meanwhile, back on the battlefield, Aries is getting ready to rumble with the literal personification of war on their side.
The trojans feel their hearts surge with courage and their bodies fill with a new strength.
Hector's forces rally and the brutal power of Aries helps them push the Achaeans all the way back to their camp.
Buuuut, now Hera and Athena are upset that their brother is tilting the battle so far in their enemy's favor.
So with Zeus's blessing, they fly to the aid of the Achaeans.
And as the goddesses empower them, one Achaean is able to drive a spear through Aries's belly.
With a furious cry of pain and rage, It is now Aries who retreats back to Olympus. Their brother now off the field, Hera and Athena attempt to swing the battle back to the Achaeans' favor.
That is, of course, until Zeus with some real BD energy--that being Big Dad Energy--
Tells them that this is getting ridiculous. He commands them to leave the mortals be. This has all gone on too long.
So now with the Gods off the field--or are they?--the Trojans continue to press their advantage.
When night comes they camp outside of their walls to prevent the Achaeans from sailing back home in the cover of darkness...
...and to hold onto their advantage for the next morning's fighting. The achaeans are utterly demoralized.
This was supposed to be their day, but now they're on the brink of defeat with nowhere to run
There's only one person who can help them out of this and he's been sulking in his tent this whole time.
But luckily for the Achaeans, Achilles was about to get angry....
And if you were a Trojan, you weren't going to like him when he was angry.
Legendary thanks to Ahmed Ziad Turk, Alicia Bramble, Casey Muscha, Dominic Valenciana, Gunner Clovis!
Kyle Murgatroyd and Orels1 for helping to make this show possible!