What's it all about?
Guido delle Colonne was a 13th century writer from Messina (Italy) who wrote in Latin. His prose narrative "Historia Destructionis Troiae" (or History of the Destruction of Troy) is a medieval retelling of the epic Trojan War, based upon the work of several authors writing in the centuries before him.
Some Extracts
Extract One:
“...we decided to once again repair the destruction of Troy... It is ascertained that the workmen and experts from all sides in the build as artworks and marble carvings, masons and architects learned all kinds of marble, decorated with different colours wonderfully naifty forced deployment.”
Extract Two:
“In length and in breadth the city is three days’ journey.”
Extract Three:
“The entrance and exit of the city was established in six doors, one of the Trojans' second Tymbrea, Elijah third, fourth Seca, Trojans and fifth, and sixth Anthenorides called. At each of the gates soldiers had been established along the sides of the towers which had engraved marble images of the surrounding beauty.”
What Does it All Mean?
Getting back into your groups, see if you can answer the following questions:
- What does extract one suggest about Troy?
- After reading extract three, what sort of city do you think Troy was? Do you think it was influential in the region?
- Considering all three of the extracts, what do we learn about the physical aspects of Troy?