Trojan Horse
conceptThe hollow wooden horse used by the Greeks to infiltrate and destroy Troy. Devised by Odysseus, it is history's most famous act of deception.
The Myth
After ten years of fruitless siege, Odysseus conceived the plan that would end the Trojan War. The Greeks built an enormous wooden horse and selected their best warriors — including Odysseus himself — to hide inside. The rest of the Greek army sailed away, appearing to abandon the siege.
The Trojans debated what to do with the horse. Cassandra warned it was a trap, and the priest Laocoon famously declared: "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts." But the spy Sinon convinced the Trojans that the horse was an offering to Athena, and that bringing it inside their walls would make Troy impregnable.
That night, while Troy celebrated its apparent victory, the Greek warriors emerged from the horse under cover of darkness. They opened the city gates, the Greek army returned, and Troy fell in a single night of fire and slaughter. The Trojan Horse became the defining example of deception in Western culture.
Symbols
Fun Fact
In cybersecurity, a "Trojan horse" or "Trojan" is malicious code disguised as legitimate software — digital deception inspired by the original wooden horse.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth: