Who is sinon in the trojan war

Now Sinon told the Trojans that Odysseus , wishing to frame him, had pulled Calchas forth to tell the god's will; but Calchas , not wishing to commit to death anyone by his utterance, was reluctant to follow Odysseus ' vicious advice, and the latter, having lost his patience, pointed out Sinon as sacrificial victim nevertheless, a decision promptly approved by all since it absolved everyone else.

Moral burden This is the reason, continued Sinon, why he was forced to desert the Achaean camp, carrying besides a moral burden: for he knew that the Achaeans would exact reprisals on his innocent father and sons because of his escape.

And having thus touched their hearts, he asked for mercy, which the Trojans granted. Confession Then Priam 1 ordered the handcuffs to be struck off and asked him:. Who advised it? Is their object religious? Sinon did not hesitate: he swore that the sole purpose of the WOODEN HORSE was to placate Athena , angry at the Achaeans after the theft of the Palladium ; that Calchas had pronounced retreat, for Troy no longer could be destroyed since Diomedes 2 and Odysseus snatched up the goddess' sacred image and massacred the sentries on the citadel.

That Troy said Sinon that Calchas had declared could never be taken unless the Achaeans sailed back home to fetch new luck. And he added:. Moreover, the horse would make them stronger than ever, enabling them to bring their host to Hellas and conquer her.

Torture Such were the lies that Sinon told the Trojans. But others have said that the Trojans found him on the shore near the WOODEN HORSE , and tortured him for a long time, shearing ears and nose away, and tormenting him in every wise, and asking him for "the truth," a philosophical concept that does not fail to enchant every torturer each time he finds a victim for otherwise he does not care a whit about it : "And where have all the Achaeans gone?

And what is this horse? But Sinon had a single string of words to provide:. This horse by Calchas ' counsel fashioned they for wise Athena , to propitiate. But when they all witnessed how circumstances overwhelmed this seer, seeming to punish his unfriendliness towards the horse, they led Sinon in friendly wise to Troy , even repenting for what they had done to him while they brought the horse into the city.

Lover of Fame But at night, when sleep had come upon the city, Sinon lifted high a blazing torch to tell the army that the time had come to return, and unlocking the horse, let his fellows come forth.

For this prowess, for having lured the enemy and have endured torture, for knowing how to tell lies, or for being able to keep a secret Sinon won much praise at the hour of victory. And they say that he cared much more for Fame than for his lost nose and ears, since they chant thus:. For the wise and prudent man renown is better far than gold, than goodlihead, than all good things men have or hope to win.

The Performer's make-up Others have said that Sinon, in order to perform his role properly, scarred his limbs with stripes, letting blood flow over his shoulders from wounds that he inflicted to his own body; for only then the Trojans would come closer to believe that he was the enemy of his own people. In that shape, with weals all over, he appealed to Priam 1 as a suppliant, grovelling before the king's feet, touching his knees, and accusing the Achaeans for what they had done to Achilles from whom they snatched away his sweetheart Briseis ; for their pitiless ways when they abandoned the wounded Philoctetes ; for the treacherous framing of Palamedes , whom they slandered and stoned to death.

He could reproach the Achaeans many things, Sinon; he nevertheless put up with each and all of them. But when he came to himself, Sinon said that the Achaeans had punished him because he had refused to flee. It was then a brave man that now begged Priam 1 for mercy, arguing that if the king killed a suppliant, the Achaeans would rejoice.

The shining brands Priam 1 pardoned him, but as others also say the king asked about the horse. And here Sinon is reported to have answered:. Sinon is a skinny man with brown hair and a small beard. He wears traditional ancient Greek armor, including a helmet with bright red feathers to show his authority. The rest of the Greek warriors have red feathers too, but theirs are a duller red. He has a pointed nose, and for some reason, his hair is brown while his mustache is black.

Despite his status in the Greek army, Sinon doesn't show any hatred for the Trojans, thinking the King's birthday is more important than conflict. He tries to give the King things like candy, chocolates, and horses, showing he really wants to show off his country's great ability of gift-giving, and that he likes making others happy.

Sinon is known in history as a clever Greek who pretended to desert the Greeks when he was captured by Trojans. He had the Greeks hide in the Trojan Horse and told the Trojans that it was made to honor the gods, which they believed.

Once they got inside the city, the Greek army jumped out of the horse, attacked the Trojans and successfully destroyed the city. Time Squad Wiki Explore. Characters and Events. Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account?