Who was Sinon in Greek mythology?
Sinon was a young Greek warrior and the son of Aesimus who traced his lineage back to Autolycus. He was the cousin of Odysseus through their shared grandmother Anticlea.
Questions about Sinon
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What did Sinon tell the Trojans about the wooden horse?
Sinon claimed that Odysseus had ordered him to be sacrificed because the two men were enemies. He argued that the giant wooden horse was a gift to Athena meant to ensure safe passage home for the Greeks if they left it outside the city walls.
When did Virgil write the Aeneid featuring Sinon?
Virgil wrote the Aeneid during the reign of Augustus Caesar in the first century BC. His work served to shape Roman perceptions of Greek cunning and treachery through the character of Sinon.
Where is Sinon located in Dante's Inferno?
In Canto 30 of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, Sinon stands among other falsifiers of words in the Tenth Bolgia of Hell. He suffers from an eternal burning fever for his role in deceiving the Trojans into accepting the wooden horse.
How did William Shakespeare reference Sinon in his plays?
William Shakespeare referenced Sinon multiple times in plays like Cymbeline and Henry VI Part III to symbolize treachery. In one scene Imogen compares false men to Sinon whose weeping had scandalized holy tears.