[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.And deception isvery much at work in the modern world, as suggested byrecent controversies over the role of Iranian intelligence in thedecision to invade Iraq.The Trojan Horse: c1200 BCEThe wooden horse of Troy has entered the popular imagina-tion as one of the best known and most recognisable of classi-cal symbols.It can also be seen as the locus classicus of the mil-itary ruse the cunning stratagem used to deceive the enemyand turn the course of a battle or war.While the tale of Troyand the wooden horse may be entirely mythical, the story illus-trates the important role played by ruse and deception inancient Greek warfare, particularly when set alongside otherincidents from Greek myth and literature, such as the tricks ofOdysseus, or the cross-dressing of Achilles (who posed as awoman in order to avoid being recruited for the raid on Troy).It is also instructive to look at the details of the tale of thewooden horse, in particular the important role played bySinon, a classic example of a plant an agent employed tospread false or misdirecting information.Most readers will know the basic outline of the story of thewooden horse, and many may wonder how the Trojans couldhave been so foolish as to fall for the ploy.But the details of thetale show that the Greeks used a series of ploys that built upinto an elaborate ruse convincing enough to overcome the nat-ural caution of the Trojans.According to the story of the wooden horse, known frommany classical sources (though not from Homer s Iliad, whichdoes not cover the fall of Troy), the siege of Troy lasted for tenlong years.The Greeks had been mostly victorious in battle,149 Secret History Book 23/9/04 4:08 pm Page 150S ECRET H I STORYbut could not breach the high walls of Troy and finally reducethe city.Exasperated, they decided that they would need a ruseto break the deadlock.Credit for the wooden horse scheme isvariously attributed to either Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, aman noted for his cunning and guile, or a Trojan seer namedHelenus, said to have been a deserter or captive.It was decidedthat they would pretend to sail home leaving behind a greatwooden effigy, within which would be hidden their finest war-riors the ancient equivalent of an elite special forces unit.Epeius the architect was instructed to build the giant struc-ture, while a cover story was devised to explain its presence andfool the Trojans to bring it into the city.Earlier in the conflictthe Greeks had raided a Trojan temple and carried off thePalladium, a giant statue sacred to the goddess Athena, said tohave fallen directly from heaven and to have been given to theTrojans as a protective talisman.The rationale for the horse,the Greeks decided, was as an offering to Athena to placate heranger at the profanation of the Palladium and allow the wearywarriors safe passage on their voyage home.Not only wouldthis explain its construction, but it would encourage theTrojans to think about taking it into Troy, as a sort of replace-ment for the Palladium.According to Apollodorus, an inscrip-tion was duly engraved on the side of the horse: For their returnhome, the Greeks dedicate this thank-offering to Athena.To back up the story still further, it was decided to leave aman behind; a plant, who could feed disinformation to theTrojans and pass on the story that the Greeks wanted.Such atask would be extremely dangerous, as the Trojans were boundto suspect the man of being a spy.The man that was chosenwas Sinon, said to be a cousin of Odysseus in some versions ofthe story.For three days the Trojans witnessed strange goings on fromtheir vantage on the high walls.There was much activity in theGreek camp, with hammering and sawing.Something strangewas taking shape.Then, one morning, the Trojans awoke to150 Secret History Book 23/9/04 4:08 pm Page 151R USES AND D ECEPTI ONdiscover that the Greeks had burned their tents, boarded theirships and left.The Greek camp was empty, their beachheaddeserted.All that was left was a great wooden horse.It was aslarge as a ship, fashioned in timber from the slopes of MountIda.It had a mane spangled with gold and fringed with purple,blood-red amethysts ringed with green beryls for eyes, rows ofwhite teeth in its jaws, pricked ears, a flowing tail that reacheddown to its heels, hooves of bronze, straps decorated with pur-ple flowers, a bridle of ivory and bronze and a wheel under eachhoof.Unbeknown to the Trojans, it also had a hollow belly, anopening in one side and air-passages concealed within themouth.Lurking within, with all their armour and weapons,were the flower of Greek manhood, led by Odysseus himself.When the Trojans rode out to view this marvel they alsodiscovered Sinon.According to some sources he was tied to astake by the horse; others say he was captured lurking nearby.Accounts of his interrogation by the Trojans also differ.In someversions he is horribly tortured but sticks to his story.In othershe spins a web of lies that snares gullible King Priam of Troyinto buying his tale [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.And deception isvery much at work in the modern world, as suggested byrecent controversies over the role of Iranian intelligence in thedecision to invade Iraq.The Trojan Horse: c1200 BCEThe wooden horse of Troy has entered the popular imagina-tion as one of the best known and most recognisable of classi-cal symbols.It can also be seen as the locus classicus of the mil-itary ruse the cunning stratagem used to deceive the enemyand turn the course of a battle or war.While the tale of Troyand the wooden horse may be entirely mythical, the story illus-trates the important role played by ruse and deception inancient Greek warfare, particularly when set alongside otherincidents from Greek myth and literature, such as the tricks ofOdysseus, or the cross-dressing of Achilles (who posed as awoman in order to avoid being recruited for the raid on Troy).It is also instructive to look at the details of the tale of thewooden horse, in particular the important role played bySinon, a classic example of a plant an agent employed tospread false or misdirecting information.Most readers will know the basic outline of the story of thewooden horse, and many may wonder how the Trojans couldhave been so foolish as to fall for the ploy.But the details of thetale show that the Greeks used a series of ploys that built upinto an elaborate ruse convincing enough to overcome the nat-ural caution of the Trojans.According to the story of the wooden horse, known frommany classical sources (though not from Homer s Iliad, whichdoes not cover the fall of Troy), the siege of Troy lasted for tenlong years.The Greeks had been mostly victorious in battle,149 Secret History Book 23/9/04 4:08 pm Page 150S ECRET H I STORYbut could not breach the high walls of Troy and finally reducethe city.Exasperated, they decided that they would need a ruseto break the deadlock.Credit for the wooden horse scheme isvariously attributed to either Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, aman noted for his cunning and guile, or a Trojan seer namedHelenus, said to have been a deserter or captive.It was decidedthat they would pretend to sail home leaving behind a greatwooden effigy, within which would be hidden their finest war-riors the ancient equivalent of an elite special forces unit.Epeius the architect was instructed to build the giant struc-ture, while a cover story was devised to explain its presence andfool the Trojans to bring it into the city.Earlier in the conflictthe Greeks had raided a Trojan temple and carried off thePalladium, a giant statue sacred to the goddess Athena, said tohave fallen directly from heaven and to have been given to theTrojans as a protective talisman.The rationale for the horse,the Greeks decided, was as an offering to Athena to placate heranger at the profanation of the Palladium and allow the wearywarriors safe passage on their voyage home.Not only wouldthis explain its construction, but it would encourage theTrojans to think about taking it into Troy, as a sort of replace-ment for the Palladium.According to Apollodorus, an inscrip-tion was duly engraved on the side of the horse: For their returnhome, the Greeks dedicate this thank-offering to Athena.To back up the story still further, it was decided to leave aman behind; a plant, who could feed disinformation to theTrojans and pass on the story that the Greeks wanted.Such atask would be extremely dangerous, as the Trojans were boundto suspect the man of being a spy.The man that was chosenwas Sinon, said to be a cousin of Odysseus in some versions ofthe story.For three days the Trojans witnessed strange goings on fromtheir vantage on the high walls.There was much activity in theGreek camp, with hammering and sawing.Something strangewas taking shape.Then, one morning, the Trojans awoke to150 Secret History Book 23/9/04 4:08 pm Page 151R USES AND D ECEPTI ONdiscover that the Greeks had burned their tents, boarded theirships and left.The Greek camp was empty, their beachheaddeserted.All that was left was a great wooden horse.It was aslarge as a ship, fashioned in timber from the slopes of MountIda.It had a mane spangled with gold and fringed with purple,blood-red amethysts ringed with green beryls for eyes, rows ofwhite teeth in its jaws, pricked ears, a flowing tail that reacheddown to its heels, hooves of bronze, straps decorated with pur-ple flowers, a bridle of ivory and bronze and a wheel under eachhoof.Unbeknown to the Trojans, it also had a hollow belly, anopening in one side and air-passages concealed within themouth.Lurking within, with all their armour and weapons,were the flower of Greek manhood, led by Odysseus himself.When the Trojans rode out to view this marvel they alsodiscovered Sinon.According to some sources he was tied to astake by the horse; others say he was captured lurking nearby.Accounts of his interrogation by the Trojans also differ.In someversions he is horribly tortured but sticks to his story.In othershe spins a web of lies that snares gullible King Priam of Troyinto buying his tale [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]