Why do they both have a version of the Trojan War myth?

The Trojan War myth was a popular story in ancient Greece, and it is believed that the Romans were heavily influenced by Greek culture. As a result, many Greek myths and stories were adapted and incorporated into Roman culture, including the story of the Trojan War. The Romans believed that they were the descendants of the Trojans, and they identified themselves with the heroes of the Trojan War, such as Aeneas, who was said to have fled Troy and founded the Roman race. The Roman version of the Trojan War myth is different from the Greek version, as it focuses more on the Trojans and their fate after the fall of Troy, rather than the Greek heroes.

It is important to note that the myth of the Trojan War was not only popular in Greece and Rome but also in other ancient cultures such as the Hittites and the Egyptians. Each culture had its own version of the story, and some versions of the story have been lost over time. However, the Trojan War myth remains one of the most enduring and popular myths in Western culture, and its influence can be seen in literature, art, and popular culture even today.

The Trojan War was a major conflict in Greek mythology, and as such, it was retold and embellished by many different authors over the centuries. The two most famous versions of the story are those told by Homer in his epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Homer's Iliad focuses on the events of the tenth and final year of the war, and it tells the story of the hero Achilles. The Odyssey, on the other hand, tells the story of Odysseus, one of the Greek leaders in the war, and his long and perilous journey home after the war's end.

Both Homer's epics are rich and complex works of literature, and they have been studied and admired by scholars and laypeople alike for centuries. However, they are not the only versions of the Trojan War myth that exist. Other ancient authors, such as Virgil and Apollodorus, also wrote about the war, and their accounts often differ from Homer's.

This is not surprising, as the Trojan War was a complex event with many different characters and storylines. It is also likely that the story was passed down orally for many years before it was finally written down, and as such, it would have been subject to changes and embellishments along the way.

Despite the many different versions of the Trojan War myth that exist, there are some common elements that are found in all of them. These include the abduction of Helen by Paris, the Greek expedition to Troy, the ten-year siege of Troy, and the eventual fall of the city.

The Trojan War myth is a fascinating and complex story that has been told and retold for centuries. It is a story of love, war, betrayal, and heroism, and it continues to capture the imagination of people today.