Trojan Horse

The phrase ‘Trojan Horse’ can be used as an idiom, indicating the use of a subterfuge or deception to get past another’s defences.
It refers to the Greek Myth where a wooden horse was left as a gift in front of the gates of Troy, but once hauled inside, the soldiers hidden in the horse, opened the gates and Troy fell.

In Greek Mythology, during the Trojan War, the besiegers left a gift of a wooden horse, which concealed a group of soldiers.
The horse was then taken inside the walls, but later that night, soldiers emerged from the horse, opened the city gates and let the besiegers in, resulting in the Fall of Troy.
The story is first recounted in Book 4 of the Odyssey, by Homer.
The story is then retold by the Romans in Book II of the Aeneid, by Virgil.

During the Trojan War, the besieging Greeks succeed in infiltrating Troy, by using a stratagem:
Conceived by Odysseus, they build a wooden horse as an offering to Athena, Goddess of War, and leave it in front of the city gates, as a present to the Trojans.

They then sail away to the island of Tenedos leaving Sinon behind. Sinon then explains to the Trojans, that it is an offering that will help make Troy invincible, and that the Greeks have given up the war.
The Trojans fall for the bait, despite warnings by Laocoon and Cassandra, and haul the Wooden Horse inside the city, locking the gates behind them.

However, inside the wooden horse is a hand picked group of Greek warriors, who’s mission it is to open the city gates. During the night, whilst the city is sleeping, the Greeks descend from the horse, open the city gates and let the Greek Army in, which meanwhile has sailed back to Troy.

Aeneas continues to tell the story of the Fall of Troy. He relates how two sea snakes swallow up Laocoon and his two sons for attacking the wooden horse. When the snakes place themselves before Minerva’s Temple, the Trojans decide it is an Omen, and bring the wooden horse into the city in order to placate Minerva.

The ghost of Hector appears to Aeneas in a dream, warning him that the Greeks are inside the city. Despite a successful counter attack, Aeneas and his men are too late to save King Priam when they reach the palace, and see Pyrrus kill first his son Polites, then King Priam.
In revenge, Aeneas goes to kill Helen, but she is saved by his mother Venus who advises him that the Gods are to blame, not the mortals. Venus urges Aeneas and his men to escape immediately. Aeneas visits Anchises his father, and after two Omens appear, Anchises reluctantly joins them.

Aeneas and his men escape, along with his wife, Creusa, and his son, Ascanius. However, Creusa disappears, and Aeneas goes back to find her in Troy. Her spirit appears and advises him that he must forget her and that he will find a new wife in a new land.