Sometimes people use popular expressions, without knowing their origin. For example, the euphemism "Trojan Horse" possesses the strange story originating in Ancient Greece.
Instruction
1. Expression "Trojan Horse" designates an artful plan, the cunning plan which first seems harmless. The euphemism originates from legends on the Trojan war. Trojan Horse on a legend led to falling of Troy.
2. The Trojan war ran high after Elena's kidnapping fine – spouses of the Spartan tsar Menelaus. Paris, the heir to the throne of Troy, being fascinated by beauty of the woman, stole it and took away to itself. The angered Menelaus with the brother brought together army of Greeks and went war to the city of the offender.
3. The siege of Spartans was long and unsuccessful, heroes perished one by one, without having managed to reach Paris. Then Greeks resorted to cunning. Having cut down cypress groves near the city, they built a huge horse where they hid the best soldiers. It agrees to different sources, the number of the armed fighters who took refuge in a wooden sculpture hesitates from nine to three thousand (other popular options – fifty and hundred). The huge horse was left under walls of Troy, having accompanied it with a note that it is a gift to the goddess Athena. Spartans pretended that they raise a siege and departure.
4. Having seen a horse, the priest Laokoont, knowing insidiousness of Greeks, exclaimed: "Be afraid of Greeks, even gifts of bringing!", however at this moment two huge snakes crept out of the sea and killed the priest and his sons. Sea reptiles were directed by Poseidon who wished a victory to Sparta. However Trojans apprehended it as the good omen saying that the strange gift is safe.
5. The horse was dragged in the city and put in an acropolis. At night the soldiers locked in it got out. They interrupted policemen, gave the sign to the companions by the ships and unlocked city gate. The Spartans pretending that sailed hastily returned to Troy. After that Greeks could enter the city, and Troy soon fell.