Troy

The artefacts and the reconstructions of Trojan life of course cannot prove the contention that Troy fell as a result of the abduction of a Spartan princess, but it is worth remembering that many a kingdom or empire in recorded history has fallen on account of marriages and dynastic alliances gone wrong. Another possibility – given the strategic and commercial importance of Troy perched as the city was on the Dardanelles strait, the Hellespont – is that some kind of conflict over tariffs and the passage of commerce erupted between the kingdoms of the western and eastern Aegean. Hard for us to credit it, so sophisticated and wise are we today, but back then the primitive fools could find themselves sucked into trade wars … Ha!

Naturally, the nuances and refinements of real scholarship, hard science and proper archaeology have blunted and refuted many of Schliemann’s more far-fetched and exaggerated claims, but his Barnum-like huckstering and showmanship have ensured that the Hissarlik site is looked on with favour, and that – give or take, more or less, all things being equal – the world agrees that the siege and fall of Troy 3,200 years ago might be looked on as historical fact.

Zeus sighed heavily. ‘I wish, all those years ago, Prometheus hadn’t persuaded me to make mankind,’ he said. ‘I knew it was a mistake.’

Hector turned and ran. Great, noble and courageous as Hector was, the sight of this terrible angel of death was too much even for him. He turned and ran.