Humanities › History & Culture Who Built the Trojan Horse? Share Flipboard Email Print skaman306/Getty Images History & Culture Ancient History and Culture Greece Figures & Events Ancient Languages Egypt Asia Rome Mythology & Religion American History African American History African History Asian History European History Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More By N.S. Gill N.S. Gill Ancient History and Latin Expert M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota B.A., Latin, University of Minnesota N.S. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on February 23, 2019 Epeus (or Epeius or Epeos), a skilled boxer (Iliad XXIII), is credited with building the Trojan horse with the help of Athena, as is told in the Odyssey IV.265ff and Odyssey VIII.492ff. Pliny the Elder (according to "The Trojan Horse: Timeo Danaos et Dona ferentis," by Julian Ward Jones, Jr. The Classical Journal, Vol. 65, No. 6. March 1970, pp. 241-247.) says the horse was invented by Epeus. However, in Vergil's Aeneid Book II, Laocoon warns the Trojans against the treachery of Odysseus which he sees behind the horse-gift of the Greeks. Incidentally, it's here that Laocoon says: timeo Danaos et dona ferentis 'Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.' In the Epitome of Apollodorus V.14, credit is given to Odysseus for conceiving the idea and Epeus for building: By the advice of Ulysses, Epeus fashions the Wooden Horse, in which the leaders ensconce themselves. There are other opinions on who devised the idea of the horse (with Athena's help) and what the horse really was, but whether Odysseus had the inspiration for the horse and/or figured out how to get the Trojans to take it into the city, Odysseus, tamer of the Trojans, is credited with using the horse to trick the horse-loving Trojans. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Gill, N.S. "Who Built the Trojan Horse?" ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/who-built-the-trojan-horse-121304. Gill, N.S. (2023, April 5). Who Built the Trojan Horse? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/who-built-the-trojan-horse-121304 Gill, N.S. "Who Built the Trojan Horse?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/who-built-the-trojan-horse-121304 (accessed June 4, 2023). copy citation