Episode 33: Trojan Myth

In this episode we explore the full range of myths about the city of Troy, from the original founders (Dardanos, Tros and Ilos) all the way to king Priam when the Trojan War starts. Because there are a ton of names, here is a handy genealogical chart:

Many of the names in the early genealogy are eponyms, explaining names of places and peoples. So, “Dardanos” is the eponym of Dardania (place) and the Dardanians (a name for “Trojans”). Tros is the eponym for “Troia” (place) and “Trojans” while Ilos, who is credited with building the city of Troy, is the eponym for Ilion, which is another name for the city of Troy. It’s also why the great epic of Homer is called the Iliad, literally the Story of Troy (though that’s something of a lie because it only covers a few months in the 10th year of the war).

Here’s a map to help think about the places. Most notably, the area of Troy is hemmed in to the south by Mt. Ida, the location of Dardanos’ original settlement, of the judgment of the goddesses, and of the rival line to Laomedon and Priam. (Make note, I accidentally called Anchises “son of Assaracos” instead of “grandson of Assaracos” in the podcast! Sorry!)

Credits

Written and Narrated: R. Scott Smith

Voice Acting and Sound Engineering: Jackson Scheele

Music: Jared Sims