Trojan Horse

From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change

For the computer virus, see Trojan horse (computing).

The Trojan Horse is a big wooden horse from the Trojan War in Greek mythology. In the Trojan War, the Greeks were fighting against the city of Troy.

The Greeks could not enter the city or win the war. Because of this, Odysseus, one of the Greeks, thought of a way to trick the ey left the wooden horse outside the gates of the city as a present for the Trojans. The Trojans then took the horse and put it inside their city, thinking it was a victory gift from the Greeks. Odysseus chose a horse so that Poseidon (God of the sea and creator of horses) would ensure them a save trip back to Greece. At night, after the Trojan victory parties concluded the Greeks came out of the horse. They opened the city gates to let the other Greeks enter Troy. The Greeks easily overpowered the Trojans and took control of the city. Because of the Trojan Horse, the Greeks won the Trojan War.

Today the word "Trojan horse" is used for things that are similar to that story: something that looks good and okay, but in truth has another purpose, usually bad. An example for this is the computer virus Trojan horse.