Tales of Troy: Ulysses, the Sacker of Cities

In Short

Andrew Lang’s Tales of Troy: Ulysses, the Sacker of Cities retells the epic saga of the Trojan War through the eyes and actions of Ulysses, the cunning king of mountainous Ithaca. From his youth among the quiet hills of his home to the bloody, decade-long siege of Troy, the narrative traces how Greek warriors and Trojan defenders battle through divine interference, tragic losses, and brutal skirmishes. Driven by intellect rather than raw force, Ulysses repeatedly saves the Greek effort through stealth and strategy, ultimately engineering the famous wooden horse that brings Troy to its fiery end.

The Story

The narrative opens in Ithaca, a small, rocky island ruled by King Laertes. His son Ulysses grows up learning to hunt, row, and navigate the seas, developing into a pragmatic leader who fights on foot rather than from a chariot. When Helen, the radiant queen of Sparta, is lured away by the Trojan prince Paris, the Greek chiefs assemble a vast fleet to retrieve her. Ulysses joins the expedition, helping recruit the young, legendary warrior Achilles from his hiding place in Scyros.

Upon reaching Troyland, the Greeks find themselves locked in a grueling, ten-year siege against a heavily fortified city. The war drags on with immense casualties on both sides, heavily influenced by the fickle favors of the Gods. Internal strife nearly ruins the Greeks when Agamemnon, the chief king, offends Achilles by taking his captive maiden, Briseis. Furious, Achilles withdraws his forces from the fight. Without their greatest warrior, the Greeks suffer crushing setbacks. The Trojans, led by the noble prince Hector, push the Greeks back to the shore, launching a fierce assault directly upon their ships.

Desperate to turn the tide, Achilles' dear companion Patroclus dons Achilles' famous armor and leads a counterattack. Though he saves the fleet, Patroclus is killed by Hector. Devastated and consumed by rage, Achilles returns to the battlefield, slays Hector, and desecrates his body until King Priam secretly visits the Greek camp to ransom his son’s remains.

As the war enters its final phases, new heroes and monsters join the fray. Achilles defeats the Amazon queen Penthesilea but soon falls when Paris shoots him in the heel with a poisoned arrow. With their greatest champions dead, the war hangs in the balance. Ulysses proves to be the indispensable mind behind the Greek campaign. He sneaks into Troy disguised as a battered beggar to locate and steal the sacred Palladium—the Luck of Troy—without which the city cannot fall.

When sheer force continuously fails against Troy's walls, Ulysses devises the ultimate trick: an immense, hollow wooden horse. Hidden inside its belly with a elite band of warriors, Ulysses waits while the rest of the Greek army feigns retreat to Tenedos. The curious Trojans drag the monstrous wooden offering inside their gates. Under cover of darkness, Ulysses and his men creep out, slaughter the guards, and signal the returned fleet. Troy is set ablaze, its defenders are cut down, and Helen is reunited with Menelaus, bringing the long, tragic war to its definitive conclusion.

How It Unfolds

The rise of a young king Ulysses grows up on the rugged, horse-less island of Ithaca, learning to sail, hunt, and navigate mountain terrain. His early life establishes his grounded nature and practical skills before the broad conflict of the Trojan War draws him far from home.

The gathering of the host Paris carries Helen off to Troy, prompting the Greek kings to gather their forces for a massive naval invasion. Ulysses uses clever tricks to uncover Achilles hidden in Scyros, securing the formidable warrior crucial to the prophecies of victory.

Discord in the Greek camp Agamemnon insults Achilles by seizing his prize Briseis, causing Achilles to withdraw from battle in fury. Without Achilles, the Greeks suffer heavy losses as Hector leads the Trojans right down to the Greek ships.

The death of Patroclus and Achilles' revenge Patroclus enters the battle wearing Achilles' armor to save the burning fleet but is slain by Hector. A grief-stricken Achilles returns to the field, slays Hector in single combat, and surrenders the body only after King Priam begs for his son.

Stealing the Luck of Troy With Achilles slain by Paris's arrow, Ulysses disguises himself as a filthy, battered beggar to infiltrate the enemy city. He secures secret aid from Helen and devises a plan to steal the Palladium, the sacred image protecting Troy.

The wooden horse and Troy's fall Ulysses invents the wooden horse, hiding elite troops inside while the fleet pretends to sail away. The Trojans drag the gift into their city, allowing Ulysses and his men to emerge at night, open the gates, and burn Troy to the ground.

The People

• Ulysses — The King of Ithaca who values strategy, disguise, and intellect over brute strength. He wants to win the war and return home to his island; despite receiving severe wounds and facing immortal odds, his cunning ultimately breaches Troy's walls.
• Achilles — The fierce, virtually invincible Greek champion who craves glory but suffers from a volatile temper. Bound by pride when Agamemnon slights him, he retreats to his tent until the death of Patroclus drives him into a destructive frenzy that leads to Hector's death and his own predicted downfall.
• Hector — The noble champion of Troy who wants only to defend his home, his wife Andromache, and his infant son. Aware that his city is doomed, he stands firmly outside the gates to face Achilles, meeting a tragic end that leaves Troy undefended.
• Helen — The world's most beautiful woman, stolen from Sparta by Paris. Trapped in Troy, she regrets her past choices, mourns the tragic loss of heroes like Hector, and secretly aids Ulysses when he infiltrates the city.
• Paris — The prince of Troy whose selfish romantic pursuits ignite the war. He prefers the comfort of his palace to the battlefield, though his archer skills eventually allow him to slay Achilles before he himself is killed.

In Its Own Voice

"The floor of the hall in the house of Ulysses was not boarded with planks, or paved with stone: it was made of clay; for he was a poor king of small islands."

This detail highlights the humble, unpretentious origins of Ulysses before he became a famous leader of men.

"A huge black cloud spread over the sky, and red was the rain that fell from it."

The stark imagery captures the ominous, bloody atmosphere as the armies clash violently near the Greek ships.

"I ask the life of Helen of the fair hands... this is my own life-price that I pay back to her, for she saved my life when I took the Luck of Troy..."

Ulysses uses the favor Menelaus owes him to protect Helen from slaughter during the violent sack of the city.

What It's Really About

Beneath the heroic clashes and legendary monsters lies an exploration of human resourcefulness versus raw physical force. While warriors like Achilles and Hector rely on sheer physical prowess and martial pride, their gifts ultimately lead to early, violent deaths. Ulysses represents a different kind of heroism—one grounded in patience, adaptability, self-restraint, and cleverness.

The narrative also examines the inescapable weight of fate and divine caprice. Gods interfere constantly, driving men to foolish choices or saving them from immediate peril, yet human beings must still bear the consequences of their actions. Ultimately, the story highlights the ruinous cost of war, showing how even the grandest victory leaves cities in ashes and heroes dead.

Why Read It Today

Andrew Lang's retelling is an exceptional entry point for readers seeking a clear, highly engaging, and complete narrative arc of the Trojan War. Writing with crisp precision, Lang translates complex classical epics into accessible prose that preserves the ancient atmosphere without bogging down in archaisms.

The book moves at a swift pace, balancing vivid descriptions of bronze armor, seaside camps, and ancient daily life with dramatic battlefield dialogue. Readers should note that the book reflects early twentieth-century retelling styles, presenting constant combat, archaic spellings of ancient names, and brutal heroic codes where defeated enemies are routinely given over to dogs and birds. Yet, the emotional core remains deeply human. The quiet tragedy of Hector taking off his plumed helmet so as not to frighten his infant son remains just as moving today as it was millennia ago.