Ancient Historian Reviews Brad Pitt’s Greek War Epic ‘Troy’

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As a classical scholar with a particular fondness for Homer and all things ancient Greece, I must say that watching ‘Troy’ was a bit like witnessing the Trojan War itself – full of grandeur, epic battles, and a whole lot of disappointments when it comes to historical accuracy.

The movie, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starring Brad Pitt as Achilles, Orlando Bloom as Paris, and Diane Kruger as Helen, had the potential to be a cinematic masterpiece. However, it seems that the filmmakers were more concerned with creating an entertaining blockbuster than staying faithful to the source material.

Take, for instance, the scene where Brad Pitt’s Achilles calls Agamemnon a “sack of wine.” This line is indeed lifted straight from ‘The Iliad,’ but the context in which it is used is completely different. In the book, Achilles uses this insult as part of his ongoing feud with Agamemnon over Briseis; in the movie, it’s more like a friendly barb between two old friends.

Another glaring example of historical inaccuracy is the inclusion of the Trojan Horse at the end of the film. In ‘The Iliad,’ the story ends long before this event takes place, with the funeral games of Hector serving as the resolution instead. The Trojan Horse scene is actually adapted from Quintus Smyrnaeus’ ‘Posthomerica.’

Moreover, the movie features Agamemnon and Achilles hiding inside the horse – a scene that would be impossible since both characters are dead by this point in the story. It seems the filmmakers were more concerned with giving these leading figures an arc than sticking to the chronology of the tale.

That being said, I must give credit where it’s due: ‘Troy’ captures the vibe of Homeric poetry and the violence of these characters well. If you want to enjoy some sword-and-sandals fun with a side of historical inaccuracies, you can stream ‘Troy’ for free – just don’t expect it to be a faithful adaptation of ‘The Iliad.’

And now, a little humor to lighten the mood: If you ever find yourself trapped inside a wooden horse, remember this sage advice from the Trojan War: Always check for Greeks before entering!

For two decades now, the grandiose sword-and-sandal film titled “Troy,” directed by Wolfgang Petersen, has been captivating audiences at the box office with its star-studded cast that includes Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Brendan Gleeson, and Peter O’Toole. Although the movie appears to be an adaptation of Homer’s ancient poem “The Iliad,” which dates back to the 8th century BC, it departs significantly from its original source material. In fact, a recent analysis video delved into these differences for over an hour. The expert breakdown of “Troy” was provided by Roel Konijnendijk, a historian at Oxford and fellow of History Hit on YouTube.

Indeed, Konijnendijk points out several minor historical inconsistencies found within the epic of Troy. For example, he notes that coins weren’t in circulation during the time portrayed, as evidenced by the depiction of placing coins on a dead man’s eyes during a funeral ritual (“It’s clear that coins hadn’t been invented yet,” Konijnendijk explains). Furthermore, he chuckles at certain scenes due to the presence of animals that were not native to the Greek world. “Take note of the llamas in one scene,” he says, “apparently they were filming in Mexico and used llamas as pack animals; hence their appearance.

In essence, Konijnendijk’s examination primarily focuses on the core narrative and character’s driving forces. According to his analysis, in Homer’s epic, “The Iliad,” Helen of Troy was renowned as the most beautiful woman globally; all potential suitors vowed to uphold her marriage to Menelaus. As Konijnendijk puts it, “That was the oath they took, and that is why they went to war.” However, contrary to this, the basis for the story of Troy in a different work is distinct.

‘Troy’ Downplays the Woman in the War

In essence, Konijnendijk states that the movie portrays Agamemnon as an Emperor rather than a King, ruling over the entire Greek realm. This perspective transforms the narrative into one about imperialism. The war against Troy depicted in the film, according to this interpretation, is driven by Agamemnon’s desire for increased power, territorial expansion, and establishment of trade routes or other benefits. Interestingly, these elements are not present in the original sources at all.

As a historian who has spent years studying ancient Greek mythology, I can confidently say that modern interpretations often simplify and rationalize the reasons behind the Trojan War. In my experience, these interpretations fail to capture the complexity and nuances of the original story. The Greeks never portrayed the war as anything other than a quest to retrieve Helen, who had been stolen, abducted, or seduced away from her rightful husband. The ancient Greeks saw this event as a matter of honor, loyalty, and justice, not as a political maneuver between states. The Trojan War was more than just a conflict; it was a tale of passion, betrayal, and heroism that echoes through the ages.

Konijnendijk explains how the movie portrays Agamemnon as an expansionist king, viewing Troy as his rival. By presenting the story from this imperialistic and militaristic angle, the film significantly alters several scenes (even fabricating others). For instance, a scene depicted in Sparta shows both Trojans and Spartans celebrating their new peace treaty. However, Paris, one of the princes, is secretly having an affair with Helen, wife of Menelaus, and ultimately plans to abduct her. The historian further notes that this film adaptation significantly deviates from historical accounts.

The reason this scene evolved into a peace negotiation leading to a treaty is primarily due to its new focus as a tale of imperialism. This narrative now revolves around competing states vying for power. As such, their interactions are not based on personal relationships or gift exchanges, as depicted in Homeric poems. Instead, they engage in treaty-making, defining rules concerning war, peace, territories, and other matters. Essentially, the story has been transformed to fit this modern mold.

Are the Fights in ‘Troy’ Accurate to Greek History & Mythology?

As a history enthusiast with a particular interest in Ancient Greece, I must confess that I thoroughly enjoy the action sequences and fight scenes in the movie Troy. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that they hardly resemble the source material. Given my background as a historian, I have come to understand actual duels in ancient Greece as rather anticlimactic.

Regarding the duel between Achilles and Hector in Troy, I can’t help but express my admiration for its portrayal on screen. However, in terms of historical combat, it is an outright fantasy. The historian in me recognizes this, as the reality of ancient Greek battles was often far from the grandeur depicted in films. Nevertheless, I appreciate how Troy captures the essence of epic storytelling and heroism that resonates with audiences today.

This performance appears more like a dance routine where performers are spinning around and exchanging mock blows with spears rather than an accurate portrayal of combat as known from ancient or contemporary perspectives. It’s quite dramatic and aesthetically pleasing, with the music adding to its appeal. However, it doesn’t align well with our understanding of combat in The Iliad. To be frank, a modern audience might find the fight scenes in The Iliad underwhelming compared to this spectacle. Here, one side misses with their spear, and the other does the same.

Konijnendijk explains, “It usually ends in just three blows. In most cases, fights end with a single strike – someone hurls a spear or strikes another with a sword, and that’s it. The fight is over. Remarkably, even wounds that, theoretically, wouldn’t be deadly to us are described as causing instant death.

The Trojan Horse of ‘Troy’ Wasn’t Even in ‘The Iliad’

As an avid admirer, I’d like to share a fascinating perspective about the epic tale, The Iliad. Contrary to what many might think, the story doesn’t conclude with the fall of Troy, but rather, it ends much earlier – at the funeral games of Hector. This is the culmination as described by Konijnendijk, marking the end of Achilles’ wrath and the resolution of the tale itself. In contrast, the movie “Troy” portrays the Trojan Horse incident at the end, where Greek soldiers secretly entered Troy hidden within a large wooden gift. Konijnendijk highlights that this is not the case in the original narrative, where the story finds its close in the funeral games of Hector, not the fall of Troy.

In this adaptation, he chooses to construct a horse sculpture on the shore, symbolically dedicating it to the gods for safe journeying. As per the tale, the Greeks then feign withdrawal and departure by sea. However, in this film version, they’re secretly hiding out in a nearby bay, where they can be discreetly observed.

In the tale of Troy, characters such as Agamemnon and Achilles are depicted as concealed within the horse, but as Konijnendijk notes, in the original Ancient Greek narrative, these characters have already met their end. This discrepancy in timeline, the historian remarks, is a testament to how adaptations often deviate from the source material to elevate prominent figures like Agamemnon and provide them with the story arc desired by the creators.

To rephrase, Troy incorporates certain lines straight from The Iliad, such as when Achilles calls Agamemnon a “wine sack,” which Konijnendijk acknowledges. He believes the film successfully embodies the spirit of Homeric poetry and the brutal nature of these characters, but that’s not all. Ultimately, this critical analysis of Troy is quite harsh. After all, it’s a big-budget Hollywood movie ($200 million), so it was expected to have inaccuracies, but not on this scale. If you fancy some old-school action with swords and sandals, feel free to watch Troy for free by clicking the link provided below:

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2024-12-30 03:33