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{{Short description|Greek myths about the warriors' voyages home}}
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{{Trojan War}}
The '''Returns from Troy''' are the stories of how the Greek leaders returned after their victory in the [[Trojan War]]. Many [[Achaea (ancient region)|Achaean]] heroes did not return to their homes, but died or founded colonies outside the [[Greek mainland]]. The most famous returns are those of [[Odysseus]], whose wanderings are narrated in the ''[[Odyssey]]'', and [[Agamemnon]], whose murder at the hands of his wife [[Clytemnestra]] was portrayed in [[Greek tragedy]].

==The sack of Troy==
The Achaeans entered the city using the [[Trojan Horse]] and slew the slumbering population. [[Priam]] and his surviving sons and grandsons were killed. [[Antenor of Troy|Antenor]], who had earlier offered hospitality to the Achaean embassy that asked the return of [[Helen of Troy]] and had advocated so<ref>Homer Iliad Γ.347-353</ref> was spared, along with his family by [[Menelaus]] and Odysseus. [[Aeneas]] took his father on his back and fled. He was left alone because of his piety.<ref>Apollodorus Epitome 5.21</ref> The city was razed and the temples were destroyed.

[[File:Pompeii - Casa del Menandro - Menelaos.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Scene from the Trojan War: [[Cassandra]] clings to the [[Palladium (classical antiquity)|Palladium]], the wooden cult image of Athene, while [[Ajax the Lesser]] is about to drag her away in front of her father [[Priam]] (standing on the left). Fresco from the atrium of the Casa del Menandro (I 10, 4) in Pompeii.]]
Of the women of the royal family, [[Locrian Ajax]] violated [[Cassandra]] on [[Athena]]'s altar while she was clinging to her statue, which since looks upward.<ref>Proclus Chrestomathy 2, The Sack of Ilium; Apollodorus Epitome 5.22</ref> She was awarded to [[Agamemnon]]. [[Neoptolemus]] got [[Andromache]], wife of [[Hector]] and Odysseus took Priam's widow [[Hecuba]] (known in Greek as Hecabe).<ref>Apollodorus Epitome 5.23</ref> The ghost of [[Achilles]] appeared before the survivors of the war, demanding that the Trojan princess [[Polyxena]] be sacrificed before anybody could leave, as either part of his spoil or because she had betrayed him. Neoptolemus did so.<ref>Euripides, Hecabe 109</ref><ref>Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica xiv.210-328</ref>

==The Returns==
News of Troy's fall quickly reached the Achaean kingdoms through [[phryctoria]], a [[semaphore]] system used in ancient Greece. A fire signal lit at Troy was seen at [[Lemnos]], relayed to [[Mount Athos|Athos]], then to the look-out towers of [[Macistus]] on [[Euboea]], across the Euripus straight to [[Messapion]], then to [[Mount Cithaeron]], [[Mount Aegiplanctus]] and finally to [[Mount Arachneus]], where it was seen by the people of [[Mycenae]], including [[Clytaemnestra]].<ref>Aeschylus, ''Agamemnon'' 268-317</ref>

But though the message was brought fast and with ease, the heroes were not to return this way. The gods were very angry over the destruction of their temples and other sacrilegious acts by the Achaeans and decided that most would not return. A storm struck the returning fleet off [[Tenos]] island. Also [[Nauplius (mythology)|Nauplius]], in revenge for the murder of his son [[Palamedes (Greek mythology)|Palamedes]] by Odysseus, set up false lights at [[Cape Caphereus]] (also known today as Cavo D'Oro, on [[Euboea]]) and many were shipwrecked.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.11</ref>

* [[Agamemnon]] had made it back to his kingdom with [[Cassandra]] in his possession after some stormy weather. He and Cassandra were slain by [[Aegisthus]] (in the oldest versions of the story) or by [[Clytemnestra]] or by both of them. [[Electra]] and [[Orestes]] later avenged their father, but Orestes was the one who was chased by the [[Erinyes|Furies]]. See [[#House of Atreus|below for further details]].
* [[Nestor (mythology)|Nestor]], who had the best conduct in Troy and did not take part in the looting, was the only hero who had a good, fast and safe return.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 5.24</ref> Those of his army that survived the war also safely reached home with him.

[[Image:Poseidon and Ajax.png|thumb|250px|[[Poseidon]] smites [[Ajax the lesser|Ajax]] by [[Bonaventura Genelli]] (1798-1868)]]
* [[Ajax the Lesser|Locrian Ajax]], who had endured more of the wrath of the gods than the others, never returned home. His ship was wrecked by a storm sent by Athena, who borrowed one of [[Zeus]]' thunderbolts and tore it to pieces. The crew managed to land on a rock, but [[Poseidon]] smote it and the Lesser Ajax fell in the sea and drowned after he boasted that even the gods could not kill him. He was buried by [[Thetis]] on [[Myconos]]<ref>Apollodorus Epitome 6.6</ref> or [[Delos]].<ref>Scholiast on Homer's ''Iliad'' 13.66</ref>
* The archer [[Teucer]] (son of [[Telamon]] and half-brother of [[Ajax the Great|the other Ajax]]) stood trial by his father for his brother's death. He was acquitted of responsibility but found guilty of negligence because he did not return his dead body or his arms. He was disowned and was not allowed back on Salamis Island. He left with his army (who took their wives) and was at sea near [[Phreattys]] in the [[Peiraeus]],<ref>Pausanias 1.28.11</ref> where he later founded [[Salamis, Cyprus|Salamis]] on [[Cyprus]].<ref>Pausanias 8.15.7</ref> The Athenians later created a political myth that his son left his kingdom to [[Theseus]]' sons (and not to [[Megara]]).
* [[Neoptolemus]], following [[Helenus]]' advice (who accompanied him) traveled over land, always accompanied by Andromache. He met Odysseus and they buried Achilles' teacher [[Phoenix (son of Amyntor)|Phoenix]] on the land of the [[Ciconians]]. Then they conquered the land of the [[Molossians]] (the [[Epirus]]) and had a child by Andromache, Molossus, to whom he later gave the throne.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.12</ref> Thus the kings of the Epirus claimed to be descended from Achilles, as did [[Alexander the Great]], whose mother was of that royal house (Alexander and the kings of [[Macedon]] also claimed descent from [[Heracles|Hercules]]). Helenus founded a city in Molossia and inhabited it, and Neoptolemus gave him his mother [[Deidamia (mythology)|Deidamia]] as wife. After [[Peleus]] died, he succeeded to [[Phtia]]'s throne as well.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.13</ref> He had a feud with [[Orestes]], son of Agamemon, over Menelaus' daughter [[Hermione (mythology)|Hermione]], and he was killed at [[Delphi]], where he was buried.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.14</ref> In Roman myths, the kingdom of Phtia was taken over by Helenus, who married Andromache. They offered hospitality to other Trojan refugees, including Aeneas who paid a visit there during his wanderings.
* [[Diomedes]] was first thrown by a storm on the coast of [[Lycia]], where he was to be sacrificed to [[Ares]] by King [[Lycus (mythology)|Lycus]]. Lycus' daughter Callirrhoe took pity upon him, and assisted him in escaping.<ref>Plutarch, ''Parallel lives Greeks and Romans'' 23</ref> Then he accidentally landed in [[Attica]] at [[Phalerum]]. The Athenians, unaware that they were allies, attacked them. Many were killed and the [[Palladium (classical antiquity)|Palladium]] was taken by [[Demophon of Athens|Demophon]].<ref>Pausanias 1.28.9</ref> He finally landed at [[Ancient Argos|Argos]], where his wife [[Aegialia]] was committing adultery and, in disgust, left for [[Aetolia]].<ref>Tzetzes ad Lycophronem 609</ref> According to Roman traditions, he had some adventures and founded a colony in Italy.
* [[Philoctetes]], because of a sedition, was driven from his city by a revolt and emigrated to Italy, where he founded the cities of [[Petilia]], [[Krimisa|Old Crimissa]], and [[Casabona|Chone]], between [[Crotone|Croton]] and [[Thurii]].<ref>Strabo 6.1.3</ref> After making war on the [[Leucanians]], he founded there a sanctuary of Apollo the Wanderer, to whom also he dedicated his bow.<ref name="AE615B"/>
* According to Homer, [[Idomeneus]] reached his house safe and sound.<ref>Homer ''Odyssey'' γ 1.91</ref> Another tradition was formed later. After the war, his ship ran into a horrible storm. He promised [[Poseidon]] that he would sacrifice the first living thing he saw when he returned home if the god would save his ship and crew. The first living thing was his son, whom Idomeneus duly sacrificed. The gods were angry at the sacrifice of his own son and they unleashed a plague on Crete. His people sent him into exile to [[Calabria]] in [[Italy]],<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 3.400</ref> and then [[Colophon (city)|Colophon]] in [[Asia Minor]], where he died.<ref>Scholiast on Homer ''Odyssey'' ν 259</ref>

Among the lesser Achaeans, very few reached their homes.

* [[Guneus]], leader of the [[Aeneanians]] (the exact location is unknown but is believed to be in the Epirus), went to [[Libya]] and settled near the [[Cinyps]] river.<ref name=AE615A>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.15a</ref>
* [[Antiphus]], son of [[Thessalus]] from [[Kos|Cos]], settled in [[Pelasgiotis]] and renamed it [[Thessaly]] after his father [[Thessalus]].<ref name=AE615B>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.15b</ref>
* [[Pheidippus]], who had led an army from Cos, settled on [[Andros]], [[Agapenor]] from [[Arcadia (ancient region)|Arcadia]] settled in [[Cyprus]]<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.15</ref> and founded [[Paphos]].<ref>Pausanias 8.5.2</ref>
* [[Prothous]] from [[Magnesia (regional unit)|Magnesia]] settled in Crete.<ref name=AE615A/>
* [[Menestheus]], king of Athens, became king of [[Melos]].<ref name=AE615B/>
* [[Theseus]]' descendants ruled Athens for four more generations.<ref>Pausanias 1.3.3</ref>
* The army of [[Elephenor]] (who had died in front of Troy) settled in the Epirus and founded [[Apollonia, Illyria|Apollonia]].
* [[Tlepolemus]], king of [[Rhodes]], was driven by the winds and settled in the [[Balearic islands]].<ref name=AE615B/>
* [[Podalirius]], following the instructions of the oracle at Delphi, settled in [[Caria]].<ref>Pausanias 3.26.10; Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.18</ref>

===House of Atreus===
[[Image:The Murder Of Agamemnon - Project Gutenberg eText 14994.png|thumbnail|250px|The murder of [[Agamemnon]], in an 1879 illustration from [[Alfred John Church|Alfred Church]]'s ''Stories from the Greek Tragedians'']]
According to the ''[[Odyssey]]'', Menelaus's fleet was blown by storms to [[Crete]] and [[Egypt]] where they were unable to sail away because the wind was calm.<ref>Odyssey δ 360</ref> Only 5 of his ships survived.<ref>Apollodorus, Epitome 5.24</ref> Menelaus had to catch [[Proteus]], a shape-shifting sea god to find out what sacrifices to which gods he would have to make to guarantee safe passage.<ref>Odyssey δ 382</ref> Proteus  told Menelaus that he was destined for [[Elysium]] (the Fields of the Blessèd) after his death. Menelaus returned to [[Sparta]] with Helen 8 years after he had left Troy.<ref>Apollodorus Epitome 6.29</ref>

Agamemnon returned home with Cassandra to Mycenae. His wife [[Clytemnestra]] (Helen's sister) was having an affair with [[Aegisthus]], son of [[Thyestes]], Agamemnon's cousin who had conquered Argos before Agamemnon himself retook it. Possibly out of vengeance for the death of [[Iphigenia]], Clytemnestra plotted with her lover to kill Agamemnon. Cassandra foresaw this murder, and warned Agamemnon, but he disregarded her. He was killed, either at a feast or in his bath<ref>Pausanias 2.16.6</ref> according to different versions. Cassandra was also killed.<ref>Apollodorus, Epitome 6.23</ref> Agamemnon's son Orestes, who had been away, returned and conspired with his sister [[Electra]] to avenge their father.<ref>Odyssey α 30, 298</ref> He killed Clytemnestra and Aegisthus and succeeded to his father's throne yet he was chased by the [[Erinyes|Furies]] until he was acquitted by Athena.<ref>Pausanias 2.16.7</ref><ref>Sophocles Electra 1405</ref>

===The Odyssey===
{{main|Odyssey}}
Odysseus (or Ulysses), attempting to travel home, underwent a series of trials, tribulations and setbacks that stretched his journey to ten years' time. These are detailed in Homer's epic poem the ''[[Odyssey]]''.

At first they landed in the land of the Ciconians in [[Ismara]]. After looting the land they were driven back with many casualties. A storm off [[Cape Maleas]] drove them to uncharted waters. They landed in the land of the [[Lotus-eaters]]. There a scouting party ate from the lotus tree and forgot everything of home. Odysseus had to drag crew members back to the ship.

[[File:Arnold Böcklin - Odysseus and Polyphemus.jpg|thumb|''Odysseus and Polyphemus'' (1896) by [[Arnold Böcklin]]: Odysseus and his crew escape the Cyclops [[Polyphemus]].]]
The rest then set sail and landed at the land of [[Polyphemus]], son of Poseidon. After a few were killed by him Odysseus blinded him and managed to escape, but earned Poseidon's wrath.

They went next to the isle of [[Aeolus (son of Hippotes)|Aeolus]], god of winds. Odysseus was received hospitably by the Aeolus who gave him a favorable wind and a bag that contained the unfavorable wind. When Odysseus fell asleep in sight of [[Homer's Ithaca|Ithaca]] his crew opened the bag, and the ships were driven away.

In the next of the [[Laestrygonians]] next they neared, where the cannibalistic inhabitants sank his fleet (except Odysseus' ship) and ate the crew.

Next they landed on [[Circe]]'s island, who transformed most of the crew into pigs, but Odysseus managed to force her to transform them back and left.

Odysseus wished to speak to [[Tiresias]], so he went the river [[Acheron]] in [[Hades]], where they performed sacrifices which allowed them to speak to the dead. They gave them advice on how to proceed. Then, he went to Circe's island again.

[[File:Ulysses and the Sirens by H.J. Draper.jpg|thumb|left|''[[Ulysses and the Sirens (Draper)|Ulysses and the Sirens]]'' (1909) by [[Herbert James Draper]]]]
From there he set sail through the pass of the [[Siren (mythology)|Sirens]], whose sweet singing lure sailors to their doom. He had stopped up the ears of his crew with wax, and Odysseus alone listened while tied to the mast.

Next was the pass of [[Scylla]] and [[Charybdis]] where he lost part of his ship's crew. The rest landed in the isle [[Thrinacia]], sacred to [[Helios]] (the Sun) where he kept sacred cattle. Though Odysseus warned his men not to (as Tiresias had told him), they killed and ate some of the cattle after Zeus placed Odysseus in his sleep to test his crew. Under a threat from Helios to take the sun and shine it in the Underworld, Zeus shipwrecked the last ship and killed everyone except Odysseus.

Odysseus was washed ashore on [[Ogygia]], where the nymph [[Calypso (mythology)|Calypso]] lived. She made him her lover for seven years and would not let him leave, promising him immortality if he stayed. On behalf of Athena, Zeus intervened and sent [[Hermes]] to tell Calypso to let Odysseus go.

[[File:Friedrich Preller d. Ä. - Odysseus nimmt Abschied von Kalypso - 11545 - Bavarian State Painting Collections.jpg|thumb|upright|''Odysseus says goodbye to Calypso'' (1864) by [[Friedrich Preller the Elder]]; [[Bavarian State Painting Collections]]]]
Odysseus left on a small raft furnished with provisions of water, wine and food by Calypso, only to be hit by a storm and washed up on the island of [[Scheria]] and found by [[Nausicaa]], daughter of King [[Alcinous]] and Queen Arete of the [[Phaeacians]], who entertained him well and escorted him to Ithaca. On the tenth year of sailing, the twentieth year away from home, he arrived at his home on Ithaca.

There Odysseus traveled disguised as an old beggar by Athena he was recognized by his [[dog]] [[Argos (dog)|Argus]], who died in his lap. Then he discovered his wife [[Penelope]] had been faithful to him all these years despite the [[Suitors of Penelope|countless suitors]], including Antinous and Eurymachus, that were eating and spending his property all these years. With his son [[Telemachus]]' help and that of [[Athena]] and [[Eumaeus]] the swineherd, killed all of them except [[Medon (mythology)|Medon]], who had been polite to Penelope, and [[Phemius]], a local singer who had only been forced to help the suitors against Penelope. Penelope tested him by saying they'd move his immovable bed, which correctly Odysseus pointed out couldn't be done, and he forgave her. On the next day the suitor's relatives, led by Eupeithes, the father of the suitor Antinous, tried to take revenge on him but they were stopped by Athena.

Years later Odysseus' son by Circe, [[Telegonus (son of Odysseus)|Telegonus]] came from the sea and plundered the island thinking it was [[Corcyra]]. Odysseus and Telemachus, defended their city and Telegonus accidentally killed his father with the spine of a stingray. He brought the body back to [[Aeaea]] and took Penelope and Telemachus with him. Circe made them immortal and married Telemachus, while Telegonus made Penelope his wife.[183] This is where the tale of the Trojan War for Greek mythology ends. According to a Roman tradition Odysseus did not die this way: when old he took a ship to sea and, crossing the [[Pillars of Hercules]] he discovered the estuary of the [[Tagus river]] and found there the city of [[Lisbon]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Solinus, Polyhistor|url=https://topostext.org/work/747#23.6|website=ToposText}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Aeneid]]
* [[Founding of Rome]]
* [[Nostoi]]

==References==
<references/>

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