In Greek mythology, the ancient city of Troy in Asia Minor was subjected to a ten-year siege by the expeditionary forces of Greece led by Agamemnon. The legendary event was punctuated by battles and skirmishes including the storied deaths of the Trojan prince Hector and the nearly-invincible Achilles. A stratagem of using a Trojan horse to deceive the city's defenders enabled Greek warriors, hiding inside the supposed wooden offering to the gods, to open the gates at night to enable Greek marines to burn the city in an unexpected nighttime attack.
After the Greeks entered the city, they are said to have killed the sleeping population and burned the city. A great massacre continued into the next day. According to Dares Phyrgius, 866,000 Greeks and 676,000 Trojans died during the Trojan War.
“Blood ran in torrents, drenched was all the earth,
As Trojans and their alien helpers died.
Here were men lying quelled by bitter death
All up and down the city in their blood.”
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica xiii. 100–104
