Of course, in our age of information technology with the word "Trojan" automatically pulls somewhere in the sphere of computer technology and terrible viruses. However, the Trojan can be not only a virus. The expression "Trojan horse" is now not so common, but still familiar to many people, and even got a second life in the name of the computer virus. What does the expression "Trojan horse" mean?
In order to understand this question, let us turn to the mythology of Ancient Greece. The Greeks were masters of inventing exciting myths, telling about the lives of gods and people, about epic battles and beautiful princesses. Ironically, the Trojan horse - a phraseology quite well-known - is associated with fighting, and with the princess and the great heroes. So, for those who are unfamiliar with this myth, there is a bit of history. This will help to understand what is meant by saying "Trojan horse". The meaning of an expression in a nutshell is a gift with a dirty trick, something that, although it seems innocuous, can ruin everyone and everything.
As always in history, the cause of the Trojan War was a woman, and not just a simple woman, but a beautiful Elena, the wife of King Sparta Menelaus. But first things first.
On one of the feasts of the gods, the ever-offended goddess of discord threw an apple with the inscription "The Most Beautiful of the Goddesses" Aphrodite, Hera and Athena. Decide which of the goddesses are worthy of the fruit, was commanded by Paris, the son of the king of Troy. Everyone wanted to get an apple and wipe the nose of the rivals, and the goddesses were able to persuade Paris to their side. Hera promised to make him a great king, Athena a commander, and Aphrodite promised him a beautiful woman as wife. It is not difficult to guess that the apple has departed Aphrodite. It was with her help that Paris kidnapped Elena. But nothing just does not happen, and angry Menelaus went to save his wife, of course, throwing a cry to the great heroes. They agreed to help. How is the Trojan horse connected to all this? He is connected with the events very much, and now you will understand why. German archaeologist Schliemann discovered the remains of Troy, and an analysis of the foundation of the city showed that he was surrounded by a huge impenetrable wall. However, this fully corresponds to what Homer described in Illyada.
Negotiations to return Elena peacefully failed. This is the beginning of the well-known Trojan War. In this war, according to Homer, the gods also participated. The pissed-off Hera and Athena were on the side of the Achaeans, and Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis and Ares (to somehow level the forces) helped the Trojans. They helped well, since the siege was dragged on for a long 10 years. Even though the spear of Athena was stolen from Troy, it was impossible to take the city by storm. Then to clever Odyssey came to mind one of the most brilliant ideas. If you can not penetrate the city by force, you must make sure that the Trojans open the gates themselves. Odysseus began spending a lot of time in the company of the best carpenter, and in the end they had a plan. After dismantling some of the boats, the Achaeans built a huge hollow inside the horse. It was decided that in the belly of the horse the best warriors would be placed, and the horse with a "surprise" would be presented as a gift to the Trojans. The rest of the army will pretend to return home. No sooner said than done. The Trojans believed and brought the horse to the fortress. And at night Odysseus and the other heroes emerged from him and burned the city.
Therefore, it was with the easy hand of Homer that the expression "Trojan horse" acquired the meaning "a gift with a dirty trick, something that, although it seems innocuous, can ruin everyone and everything."