Only ten lines of the original text of the
Iliou persis survive. For its storyline, we are almost entirely dependent on a summary of the Cyclic epics contained in the
Chrestomathy written by an unknown Proclus (possibly to be identified with the 2nd century CE grammarian
Eutychius Proclus). A few other references give indications of the poem's storyline. A further impression of the poem's content may be gained from book 2 of
Virgil's
Aeneid (written many centuries after the
Iliou persis), which tells the story from a Trojan point of view. Note that different sources record some details differently: for example the manner of
Aeneas' departure from Troy, or the identity of
Astyanax's killer. The version told here specifically follows what is known of the early epic poem, rather than any other source. The poem opens with the Trojans discussing what to do with the wooden horse which the Greeks have left behind: some thought they ought to hurl it down from the rocks, others to burn it up, while others say they ought to dedicate it to Athena. The third opinion prevails, and the Trojans celebrate their apparent victory. The god
Poseidon, meanwhile, sends an ill omen of two snakes that kill
Laocoön and one of his two sons; seeing this,
Aeneas and his men leave Troy in anticipation of what is to come. When night comes, signaled by
Sinon, the Greek warriors inside the horse emerge and open the city gates to let in the Greek army, having sailed back from
Tenedos. The Trojans are massacred, and the Greeks set fire to the city.
Neoptolemus kills king
Priam, even though he has taken refuge at the altar of
Zeus;
Menelaus kills
Deiphobus and takes back his wife
Helen;
Ajax the Lesser wrests
Cassandra from the altar of
Athena, incurring physical damage to the idol. The Greeks determine that they should stone Ajax in retribution, but he in turn also takes refuge at the altar of Athena.
Odysseus kills
Hector's baby son
Astyanax and
Neoptolemus takes Hector's wife
Andromache captive. The Greeks make a human sacrifice of Priam's daughter
Polyxena at Achilles' tomb. Athena formulates a plan to inflict revenge upon the Greeks concurrent with their nautical return. ==Editions==