Long ago in ancient Greece there lived a beautiful woman named Helen. Helen was married to King Menelaus and they entertained many people at banquets full of wonderful food. One of their guests was Paris of Troy. Paris decided to kidnap Helen and take her away to Troy. Paris took Helen to Troy, but Helen’s husband, Menelaus was so angry that he went to his brother, King Agamemnon, and all the Greeks got together and launched a thousand ships to get Helen back.

The Greeks and the Trojans fought for ten years, but the Greeks couldn’t break through the thick walls of Troy. Then Odysseus, one of the most cunning Greek kings, had an idea. They built a huge wooden horse and left it 'as a gift' for the Trojans. The Greeks, in the meantime, sailed away from Troy, but just over the horizon where the Trojans couldn’t see them.

The Trojans thought the Greeks had retreated. When they discovered the horse, they were so happy the war was over that they pulled the huge horse into the city.

The Trojans thought the Greeks had retreated. When they discovered the horse, they were so happy the war was over that they pulled the huge horse into the city. The Trojans danced and feasted all night until they collapsed exhausted.

Then during the night a trap door opened in the belly of the wooden horse. The horse was hollow and filled with Greek soldiers! The Greek soldiers opened the gates to the city and let the rest of their army into the city. The rest of the army sailed back to Troy during the night! Before morning, the Greeks had taken over the entire city. Menelaus got Helen back; but from that day on, people have said, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.”