The Trojan mythology #9

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They tore down the city wall and pulled it in triumph into the city. Everywhere the inhabitants celebrated a celebration of joy. Wine was pouring down, and no one listened to the warnings of Kassandra, who had seen the coming disaster. Soon the last sank wearily from the rushing party into a deep sleep. Sinon, however, rose from his bed and with a torch gave the agreed sign to the Greeks. Then he sneaked to the horse and gave Odysseus the agreed knocking signal. Silently, the Greeks climbed out of the horse and hurried into the unguarded city.

The slaughter was terrible that now was done among the Troern. The Greeks did not spare man or woman, neither child nor old man. Flames soon blazed out of the houses. King Priam was killed by Neoptolemus. Warriors tore Hector's son Astyanax from his mother's arms and threw him down from the tower's battlements. Only a few escaped the murder. Among them was Aeneas, who escaped with his elderly father Anchises on his shoulder and his son Askanios by the hand.

At last the king Menelaus was at the end of his desires, the robbery of Helena was avenged. Seeing her in her radiant beauty, he rekindled his love and accepted her again as his wife.

High up, the pillars of flame struck the ether and proclaimed to all around the downfall of the once so magnificent city of Troy.

After the fall of Troy, the surviving heroes began their return journey. Menelaus and Helena returned to Sparta. But not all had a happy return home. Ajax was killed in a shipwreck on the way back. Odysseus was not to see his home until after ten years of wanderings. And on Agamemnon a terrible fate was already waiting in his palace of Mycenae.

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