Museum Exhibit

This assignment was for my Greek Mythology Class, where we were assigned to choose any artifact discussed in Greek Mythology. Below is a short description and the reason behind why I chose the Trojan Horse.

Artifact Title: The Trojan Horse 

Description and significance

The artifact that I have chosen to place into the Hanley Center for Greek Mythology is The Trojan Horse from The Odyssey that we watched in class. The Trojan Horse was used by the Greeks as a strategy to ultimately defeat the Trojans. The Greeks built a large wooden horse with a secret compartment to hide soldiers inside. Believing that the horse was a gift, the Trojans brought it into their city. During the night, the soldiers that were hidden inside came out and took over the city of Troy. 

The significance of this horse lies in what it embodies and represents as a whole. Instead of relying on brute force or physical strength, the Greeks showed the importance of intelligence and strategic thinking. One can see how the trojan horse is closely connected to Odysseus, who is known for his cleverness and problem-solving skills. In addition, the horse represents how appearances can be misleading, as something that seemed harmless actually led to the destruction of an entire city. 

Why I chose this artifact 

I chose the Trojan Horse since it is one of the most well-known symbols in Greek mythology, and it also plays such an important role in the version of The Odyssey that we watched as a class. The horse itself demon starts the intelligence of Odysseus himself and shows how strategy is something of high importance. This artifact would be a strong addition to the Hanley Center for Greek mythology as it highlights and encapsulates a central idea found in many Greek myths. That being that true success comes from clever thinking rather than force, such as seen in the myths of Theseus and the Minotaur and Perseus and Medusa. The horse also shows how a singular object can carry a deep meaning and influence the outcome of an entire story. By including this particular artifact into the museum, it will allow for museum guests to stand in the presence of an artifact that portrays the intelligence and strategy of the Greeks.