What does the expression "Trojan horse" mean? what its significance is not remembered by everyone, although the history of its origin is extremely interesting.
The meaning of the expression "Trojan horse"- cunning actions, insidious methods of struggle.
And in a figurative use - an insidious gift to enemies, making it easier to defeat them, deceitful actions.
Trojan horse connected with the history of the city of Troy (Ilion), which was located in the northwest of Asia Minor (the territory of present-day Turkey). In 3000-2500 BC. That is, it was a well fortified fortress with thick walls, up to three meters. The inhabitants of Troy were engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture, they also knew how to smelt copper.
And so in 1260 BC, there was a war. It began, as Homer says, because the Trojan prince Paris, with the help of the goddess of beauty and love Aphrodite, kidnapped the wife of the Spartan king Helen. King Menelaus, angry with Paris for this, gathered all the Greek troops, crossed the Aegean Sea, separated them, and laid siege to Troy. So this war began, which was called the Trojan War.
For ten years the Greeks unsuccessfully tried to take Troy, but they could not do it. And then one day the king of the small island of Ithaca by the name of Odysseus offered the Greeks a military trick - to make a huge figure of a wooden horse, hide a detachment of soldiers there, and then sail away from the island, like forever. This is what the Greeks did. To which the Trojans, seeing that the Greeks had finally left the island, left the fortress and calmly pulled the figure of a horse into the city. At night, the Greek soldiers who were hiding inside went outside and opened the city gates for the Greek troops. And so ended this ten-year war, which Homer described in his poem.
For a long time, people thought that this story was just a fiction. But in 1879, the famous scientist Heinrich Schliemann found the remains of Troy, excavations of which showed that around 1260 BC the city really withstood a long siege and was destroyed.
Since then, the expression "Trojan horse" has existed in people's speech. So they say when one person gives another something that can lose it.
Now you know the meaning of the phraseological unit "Trojan horse" and the history of its origin.
Everyone knows the myth of the Trojan horse. The meaning of the expression "Trojan horse" is a huge statue of a horse made of wood by the Hellenes under the leadership of the cunning leader Odysseus. He came up with a brilliant idea to build a horse to capture Troy. Today this name has become a household name. Today, a Trojan horse is called something harmless at first glance, which can subsequently cause harm.
The story goes that for a long time the Greeks could not take Troy by force. Despite the mighty army, the Trojans were clearly closer to victory than the Greeks. However, the Trojans did not know how cunning and clever Odysseus was, who was not used to losing.
In ancient times, warriors often fought over the fair sex. This is what happened in the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. The military conflict was provoked by the fact that the Trojan prince kidnapped the king's wife and took her away from Sparta. The enraged husband Menelaus, who was inflicted with a great insult, decided to gather the army of Achaea and go to Troy. The Trojans, in turn, distinguished themselves by their excellent defensive ability, thanks to which the Greeks had no choice but to come up with a cunning plan to take Troy. Having erected a huge statue in the form of a maple horse, they wrote on it that they were leaving Troy, and that the horse would be left as a gift to Pallas Athena. At the same time, the most powerful wars of the Achaeans sat inside the horse and awaited the offensive. The Trojans were surprised at this strange structure. After reading the inscription on the horse, they were sure that they had won the war, since the Achaeans retreated. If the Trojans had listened to the wise priest Laocoont, who said that horror lurks in the horse, so one must beware of it, the Greeks would not have been able to capture Troy so easily and practically without loss. The Trojans believed that the possession of such a structure would make Troy invincible. Underestimating their opponent, the Trojans dragged the Trojan horse to the temple of Pallas Athena and left several guards to guard this magnificent statue. At night, the mighty warriors got out of the wooden structure and laid down the guards. Entering Troy, they quickly defeated the Trojans and captured the city. The cunning and resourcefulness of Odysseus brought the Greeks a worthy victory in the war against a strong enemy.
Many people are still interested in the history of the Trojan horse to this day. The myth of the giant horse statue is also described in Homer's poem "Iliad". There is a lot of controversy over whether it was actually a Trojan horse or Homer's invention. Many are alarmed by the fact that the ships on which the Greeks sailed were one hundred thousand soldiers. For so many people, you need a giant ship, and more than one. Also, most likely, Homer invented a serpent that unexpectedly crawled out of the sea when Laocoont threw a spear at the horse. The horse is considered by some to be an allegory for an unusual military trick. There is also an opinion that the Greeks entered Troy through an underground passage, and at the entrance they saw the image of a horse. But basically everyone is inclined to believe that in fact there was a huge defensive tower made in the form of a horse, since, based on history, it is known that wars have repeatedly built unusual siege structures. Historians believe that the tower actually existed, but it is unlikely that it was covered with horse skins, as indicated in some books. The Greeks had horses, but not in such numbers that their skins could be wrapped around a huge statue.
Greek gift. Trojan horse
The expression is used in the meaning: insidious gifts, carrying with them destruction for those who receive them. Arose from the Greek legends about the Trojan War. The Danaans, after a long and unsuccessful siege of Troy, resorted to cunning: they built a huge wooden horse, left it at the walls of Troy, and pretended to be sailing away from the Troad coast. Priest Laocoon, seeing this horse and knowing the tricks of the Danaans, exclaimed: "Whatever it is, I am afraid of the Danaans, even those who bring gifts!" But the Trojans, not listening to the warnings of Laocoon and the prophetess of Cassandra, dragged the horse into the city. At night, the Danaans, hiding inside the horse, went out, killed the guards, opened the city gates, let in the comrades who had returned on the ships, and thus took possession of Troy (Homer's Odyssey, Virgil's Aeneid). Virgil's hemistich "I am afraid of the Danaans, even those who bring gifts", often quoted in Latin: "Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes", has become a proverb. Hence the expression "Trojan horse", used in the meaning: a secret, insidious plan, arose.
Dictionary of winged words... Plutex. 2004.
Greek gift. Trojan horse The expression is used in the meaning: insidious gifts, bringing death with them for those who receive them. Arose from the Greek legends about the Trojan War. The Danai, after a long and unsuccessful siege of Troy, resorted to ... ...
Trojan horse
Greek gift- wings. sl. Greek gift. Trojan horse The expression is used in the meaning: insidious gifts, bringing death with them for those who receive them. Arose from the Greek legends about the Trojan War. Danai, after a long and unsuccessful siege of Troy, ... ... Universal Additional Practical Explanatory Dictionary of I. Mostitsky
Allegorically: a cunning trap; insidious, secret design. See I'm afraid of the Danes, even those who bring gifts. Encyclopedic Dictionary of winged words and expressions. M .: "Lokid Press". Vadim Serov. 2003 ... Dictionary of winged words and expressions
This is an article on ancient mythology. For malicious computer programs, see Trojan horses The Trojan horse made for the movie "Troy" ... Wikipedia
Greek gift- only plural, stable combination, book. Insidious gifts that bring death with them for those who receive them. Etymology: From the Greek Danaoi ‘Danaans’. Encyclopedic commentary: Danai are the name of the most ancient Greek tribes inhabiting the region ... ... Popular dictionary of the Russian language
GREEK GIFT- The expression used in the meaning of gifts, which should be feared, because they are fraught with death for the one who received them. Arose from the legendary tales of the Trojan War. The Danai (Greeks), in order to penetrate the besieged Troy, built a huge ... ... Glossary of political terms
Trojan horse- This famous military trick, by which the Greeks sent a group of people hidden in a hollow wooden horse to Troy, was part of a cycle of Trojan sagas known to Homer, although the Iliad does not say anything about it. Its builder Epey ... ... The ancient world. Reference dictionary.
TROJAN HORSE Dictionary-guide to Ancient Greece and Rome, mythology
TROJAN HORSE“This famous military trick by which the Greeks sent a group of people hidden in a hollow wooden horse to Troy was part of a cycle of Trojan sagas known to Homer, although the Iliad says nothing about it. Its builder Epey ... ... List of ancient Greek names
Thanks to phraseological units, you can perfectly express thoughts in any language. Especially when it comes to the modern Russian language, where there are a lot of phraseological units. Metaphorical language plays a big role in our language. So the speech will be bright and rich, understandable, that is, in pictures that explain complex concepts. True, often you need to first explain the meaning of a particular metaphor, and then use it in a conversation.
We are talking about such phraseological units as the Trojan horse, the meaning of which is not clear to everyone because of the mythical roots that go far into the past. The concept is associated with the Trojan War. Although in many ways that story is considered a myth, but Troy actually was, and the war with the Greeks was going on.
Before you understand what the meaning of the Trojan horse is, you need to know a little about Troy. Everyone quarreled over the beautiful Elena, who was the wife of Menelaus. He and Paris had an argument because the latter had seduced Elena, and she was ready to set sail with him. It was for this reason that the war broke out.
True, the city of Troy was well fortified. Therefore, the war continued for a long time. The Greeks, meanwhile, ravaged nearby cities. Odysseus thought for a long time how he could capture the city. But Troy was physically invincible. Then the idea occurs to him to build a huge wooden horse.
It was interesting for the Trojans to watch how the Greeks built a horse. At that time, the Greeks spread a rumor that the horse was able to protect against Greek raids. Hence the meaning of the winged expression. When they talk about a Trojan horse, they mean a gift presented for the purpose of deception.
Interestingly, the Trojans seeking protection from the Greeks believed that the Trojan horse could help them. Therefore, they even decide to bring the horse into the city. When the priest of the goddess Athena came, he said that such a gift was a ransom for many years of bloodshed. After that, according to legend, two sea snakes dragged this priest and his children into the sea. The Trojans considered this turn of events a sign and therefore rolled their horse into the city.
This horse turns out to be more than just a legend. He really existed. This is what history and archeology say. If you do not understand the essence of the legend, then the meaning of the phraseological unit will not be understood. So let's see what happened next when the horse was in the city.
At night, soldiers emerged from the horse's cavity. They quickly destroyed the guards at the gates, unbolted and let the Greek army into the city. The people did not even offer resistance, since everyone was fast asleep after the holiday the day before. Although some Trojans tried to save the king, Neoptolus managed to cut through the wooden door with an ax, end up in the king's bedroom and kill him. So the Trojan War was over.
How many people were in the Trojan horse is still not known. Some historians report that there are up to 50 warriors. Others talk about a figure of 20 or 23. But the point is different. In fact, hiding in the cavity of the gift, the Greeks managed to deceive Troy. Since the Trojan horse, presented as a gift, did not arouse suspicion in anyone, causing the death of all residents of the city.
In modern language, the Trojan horse is understood as an allegory of military cunning. It was once used by the Achaeans. And it was used successfully. Now we're just talking about a Trojan horse when we want to point out a flattering gift that carries deception. In other words, such a gift does not bode well.
In general, the horse was a symbol in ancient times, meaning birth and death. It was created by the Achaeans from spruce branches. The cavity was always empty. So they talked about the fact that something new had appeared in the world. Because of the Trojan horse, the city died, that is, death came to the inhabitants of Troy, but at the same time he contributed to the birth of a new one for the peoples of the world.
So, for example, on the other side of the Mediterranean, the migration of peoples began. In other words, barbarians and Dorians set off from the north to the Balkans. This state of affairs led to the destruction of the ancient Mycenaean settlements. Later, Greece is reborn, which crushes all these tribes under itself.
What does a Trojan horse mean today? We pronounce this expression mechanically. It has been a household word for many centuries. With this phrase, we stipulate gifts if they are presented in order to deceive a person or even kill him. Why was the horse chosen? This remains a mystery. But one thing is clear. The Trojans had to be surprised to believe in the sincerity of the Greeks. And also that they accept this gift, forgetting about the danger.
The Trojan horse was presented not as a gift from the Greeks, but as a gift from above from the gods, whom the Trojans sacredly believed. And this action played a big role. Since the sacred gifts were not previously neglected. After all, otherwise God can be offended, then there will be no protection in wars.
The modern interpretation of a Trojan horse is a malicious program, in other words, a virus that hackers have created and spread throughout the computer world via the Internet. The action of this virus, like that of a Trojan horse, is the same. It disguises itself as harmless applications that an unwary user can launch. Be that as it may, no matter how we say, but the Trojan horse always carries something bad.
Of course, in our age of information technology, the word "Trojan" automatically pulls somewhere in the field of computer technology and terrible viruses. However, it is not just a virus that can be Trojan. The expression "Trojan horse" is now, albeit not so widespread, but still familiar to many people, and even got a second life in the name of a computer virus. What does the expression "Trojan horse" mean?
In order to understand this issue, let us turn to the mythology of Ancient Greece. The Greeks were masters of coming up with fascinating myths about the lives of gods and people, about epic battles and beautiful princesses. Oddly enough, the Trojan horse - a fairly well-known phraseological unit - is associated with battles, and with the princess, and with great heroes. So, for those who are unfamiliar with this myth, a little history. This will help you understand what is meant when they say "Trojan horse". The meaning of the expression in a nutshell is a trick gift, something that, although it seems harmless, can destroy everyone and everything.
As always in history, the cause of the Trojan War was a woman, and not just a simple woman, but the beautiful Elena, the wife of Menelaus, the king of Sparta. But first things first.
At one of the feasts of the gods, the eternally offended goddess of discord threw an apple with the inscription "The most beautiful of the goddesses" to Aphrodite, Hera and Athena. It was ordered to Paris, the son of the king of Troy, to decide which of the goddesses is worthy of the fruit. Each wanted to get an apple and wipe her rivals' nose, and the goddesses persuaded Paris as best they could to their side. 
Hera promised to make him a great king, Athena - a commander, and Aphrodite promised him a beautiful woman to be his wife. It is not hard to guess that the apple went to Aphrodite. It was with her help that Paris kidnapped Elena. But nothing just happens, and an angry Menelaus went to save his wife, naturally, throwing a cry to the great heroes. They agreed to help. What is the Trojan horse related to all this? It is very much connected with events, and now you will understand why. The German archaeologist Schliemann discovered the remains of Troy, and analysis of the city's foundations showed that it was surrounded by a huge impregnable wall. However, this is fully consistent with what Homer described in Iliad.
Negotiations to bring Elena back peacefully have failed. This is where the well-known Trojan War begins. In this war, according to Homer, the gods also participated. The angry Hera and Athena were on the side of the Achaeans, and Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis and Ares (in order to at least somehow level their forces) helped the Trojans. 
They helped well, as the siege dragged on for 10 long years. Even though the spear of Athena was stolen from Troy, it was impossible to take the city by storm. Then the cunning Odysseus came up with one of the most brilliant ideas. If it is impossible to enter the city by force, it is necessary to make sure that the Trojans themselves open the gates. Odysseus began to spend a lot of time in the company of the best carpenter, and in the end they had a plan. Having disassembled some of the boats, the Achaeans built a huge hollow horse inside. It was decided that the best warriors would be placed in the horse's belly, and the horse itself with a "surprise" would be presented as a gift to the Trojans. The rest of the army will pretend to return to their homeland. No sooner said than done. The Trojans believed and brought the horse into the fortress. And at night Odysseus and the rest of the heroes left it and burned the city.
Therefore, it was with Homer's light hand that the expression "Trojan horse" acquired the meaning of "a gift with a trick, something that, although it seems harmless, can destroy everyone and everything."
