SINON IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Sinon was an Achaean hero during the Trojan War, and a man who played a pivotal role in the Sacking of Troy.
Sinon Son of Aesimus
Sinon was named son of Aesimus. The ancestry of Aesimus is unclear, although he is most often described as a son of Autolycus.
Nothing is said of Sinon, until the events of the Trojan War unfold.
Nothing is said of Sinon, until the events of the Trojan War unfold.
Sinon and the Wooden Horse
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Sinon was named amongst the Achaean force who came to Troy to retrieve Helen, wife of Menelaus. The name of Sinon comes to the fore in the closing days of the war.
Eventually, after ten years of fighting, it was realised that force would not cause the fall of Troy anytime soon. Odysseus, guided by Athena, thus came up with the idea of the Wooden Horse, the Trojan Horse. Odysseus gave the building of the Wooden Horse over to Epeus, who built the gigantic hollow horse from timber from Ida. The hollow horse was filled with fifty of the finest Achaean heroes, but the horse was of course outside of the walls of Troy, and somehow the Trojans would have to be convinced to take into their city. This job was given to Sinon. It is not explicitly explained why Sinon was chosen for the role, for of course it was a dangerous one, for at any moment the Trojans might kill him. Sinon though was a trusted companion of Odysseus, for the two Achaeans were potentially cousins, if Aesimus, Sinon’s father, was brother to Anticlea, Odysseus’ mother. Or perhaps, Sinon, was the only man brave enough to volunteer for the job. |
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Sinon the Liar
So the Achaean force burnt their tents, and put to sea, although they did not go far, just out of sight, lying off of Tenedos.
In the morning, the Trojans left Troy to investigate the smokey ruins of the Achaean camp. There they found Sinon and the Wooden Horse.
Sinon told a tale of how he was a comrade of Palamedes, the Achaean accused of treason by Odysseus. After Palamedes had been executed, the animosity of Odysseus was transferred towards Sinon. Sinon then told of a new prophecy being made that for fair winds home, the Achaeans need a human sacrifice, just as they had done at Aulis. Odysseus now made sure that Sinon was to now take the role of Iphigenia.
Sinon then claimed that at this point he had escaped from the Achaean camp, hiding in the marshes, until his erstwhile comrades had given up looking for him.
Others tell of Sinon saying nothing until he was tortured by the Trojans, and only then did Sinon tell his tale.
The tale woven by Sinon proved to be very convincing, for it overcame the objections raised by Cassandra, who of course was destined never to be believed, and Laocoon.
Sinon claimed that the Wooden Horse was a gift to Athena, to placate the goddess and allow for fair winds home. Sinon then said that the horse was built so big that it could not be taken inside Troy, so that the Trojans could not claim the horse, and please Athena themselves.
Such statement of course convinced the Trojans to take the Wooden Horse into their city.
Odysseus’ plan was coming to fruition.
In the morning, the Trojans left Troy to investigate the smokey ruins of the Achaean camp. There they found Sinon and the Wooden Horse.
Sinon told a tale of how he was a comrade of Palamedes, the Achaean accused of treason by Odysseus. After Palamedes had been executed, the animosity of Odysseus was transferred towards Sinon. Sinon then told of a new prophecy being made that for fair winds home, the Achaeans need a human sacrifice, just as they had done at Aulis. Odysseus now made sure that Sinon was to now take the role of Iphigenia.
Sinon then claimed that at this point he had escaped from the Achaean camp, hiding in the marshes, until his erstwhile comrades had given up looking for him.
Others tell of Sinon saying nothing until he was tortured by the Trojans, and only then did Sinon tell his tale.
The tale woven by Sinon proved to be very convincing, for it overcame the objections raised by Cassandra, who of course was destined never to be believed, and Laocoon.
Sinon claimed that the Wooden Horse was a gift to Athena, to placate the goddess and allow for fair winds home. Sinon then said that the horse was built so big that it could not be taken inside Troy, so that the Trojans could not claim the horse, and please Athena themselves.
Such statement of course convinced the Trojans to take the Wooden Horse into their city.
Odysseus’ plan was coming to fruition.
Sinon and the Sacking of TroySo the Trojans brought the hollow horse into their city, and with the war seemingly ended festivities began.
Sinon was forgotten as the Trojans feasted and drank. Sinon thus slipped away and made his way to the Wooden Horse, opening up the hidden trap door, allowing the Achaean’s hidden inside to clamber out. |
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The gates of Troy was opened, and then Sinon returned to the shoreline, where, upon the grave of Achilles, he lit a torch, signalling for the Achaean fleet to return. By now the Sacking of Troy was well under way.
Sinon and the Tomb of Laomedon
In some versions of the Trojan War tale, it was said that Troy could not fall whilst the tomb of Laomedon, Priam’s father, remained intact. This tomb was located at the Scaean Gate, but it was damaged as the gateway was enlarged to allow the Wooden Horse inside.
Pausanias records a painting by Polygnotus at Delphi which depicted the actions of Sinon during the Trojan War. With Pausanias recording that Sinon carried off the body of Laomedon, perhaps to ensure that the protection offered by an intact tomb was totally destroyed
Pausanias records a painting by Polygnotus at Delphi which depicted the actions of Sinon during the Trojan War. With Pausanias recording that Sinon carried off the body of Laomedon, perhaps to ensure that the protection offered by an intact tomb was totally destroyed
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Colin Quartermain - Sinon - 7th Novembert 2021