Which Elite Greek Warriors Were Inside the Trojan Horse and Was Achilles Among Them

The Trojan Horse is one of the most legendary tricks in Greek mythology. With Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey‘ hitting theaters this summer, fans are diving back into the ancient tales surrounding that infamous wooden structure. With Matt Damon portraying Odysseus in Nolan’s epic, interest in who actually hid inside the horse and whether Achilles was one of them has surged.

The timing is perfect for a refresher on this classic legend. Amid the film’s marketing and the plethora of fan theories circulating online, audiences are eager to distinguish fact from fiction.

According to ancient texts, the warriors concealed within the Trojan Horse included Odysseus, Menelaus, Diomedes, Ajax the Lesser, and Neoptolemus. These men were among the most valiant and clever of the Achaean forces, specifically chosen for their courage under duress.

The cunning plan was crafted by Odysseus, while the horse itself was built by a craftsman named Epeius. Once completed, the horse hid a group of Greek warriors, including Odysseus and Menelaus, while the rest of the army pretended to retreat, leaving the horse behind.

The exact number of warriors has always been unclear. Homer’s ‘Odyssey’ mentions twelve of the Achaeans’ most significant heroes as being inside, including Diomedes, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Idomeneus, Philoctetes, Odysseus, and Neoptolemus, Achilles’ son, though Homer does not specify a total. Other ancient writers have provided varying figures over the years.

The debate over how many warriors fit into that hollow wooden structure has persisted since ancient times. Apollodorus claimed there were 50 warriors inside, while Byzantine scholar Tzetzes identified 23 soldiers, and Quintus Smyrnaeus listed 29 warriors in his account.

Some later traditions settled on a more rounded number. It became common to assert that 40 heroes were inside the Trojan Horse, with Odysseus described as the King of Ithaca and the most cunning of all the Achaean heroes.

In addition to the marquee names, various secondary figures appear in different sources. Besides Odysseus, Menelaus, Diomedes, and Neoptolemus, warriors like Acamas, Sthenelus, and Thoas were also said to be crammed inside, with Odysseus persuading the bravest Greek fighters at Troy to climb into the horse fully armed.

Even the horse’s creator, Epeius, joined the mission despite his initial hesitation, as he was the only one who knew how to operate the trap door.

As for Achilles, here’s where mythology and Nolan’s film diverge from common belief. Achilles had already perished by the time the Trojan Horse scheme was executed, meaning he was never physically inside it.

Nonetheless, fans have speculated about a scenario where he might appear. The ‘Odyssey’ recounts how Helen identified the horse as a trap and tested the concealed warriors by mimicking the voices of their wives. The death of Achilles, the greatest warrior of the war, is not detailed in Homer’s works, and later sources offer different accounts.

In Arctinus’s ‘Aethiopis,’ Achilles is said to have been killed by Paris of Troy long before the horse was constructed. Thus, while his legacy looms large over the Trojan War saga, his story concludes before the horse trick becomes relevant.

Fans hoping for an Achilles cameo in ‘The Odyssey’ were left disappointed, which seems to be a deliberate choice by Nolan. With the film now released, it’s confirmed that Achilles does not appear, and speculation about Elliot Page portraying the hero has proven false, with no secret casting of Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, or other regulars in the role.

There was a real chance for Nolan to include him. Even without flashbacks to the Trojan War, the film could have featured Achilles through his role in the underworld, as Odysseus converses with shades there, including Achilles. Nolan does include a scene with Damon’s character speaking to dead soldiers like Sinon and Agamemnon in the underworld, so an Achilles cameo could have fit in that context.

Instead, Nolan focused on the survivors and schemers in the aftermath of the war. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope in Ithaca, Tom Holland as their son Telemachus, alongside Zendaya as Athena, Samantha Morton as Circe, and Charlize Theron as Calypso. Given Achilles’ limited role in the actual ‘Odyssey’ text, it’s understandable that Nolan may not have considered including him in his adaptation.

Whether you’re on Team Achilles-should-have-cameoed or Team Nolan-made-the-right-call by centering the story on Odysseus’s journey home, the mythology certainly leaves room for discussion. Who do you think deserved one more scene before the credits rolled on ‘The Odyssey’?