Editing Trojan War (section)

===Returns===
{{Main|Returns from Troy}}
[[File:Poseidon and Ajax.png|thumb|right|Poseidon smites Ajax the Lesser, by [[Bonaventura Genelli]] (1798–1868)]]
The gods were very angry over the destruction of their temples and other sacrilegious acts by the Achaeans, and decided that most would not return home. A storm fell on the returning fleet off Tenos island. Nauplius, in revenge for the murder of his son Palamedes, set up false lights in [[Cape Caphereus]] (also known today as Cavo D'Oro, in [[Euboea]]) and many were shipwrecked.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.11.</ref>

* Agamemnon had made it back to Argos safely with Cassandra in his possession after some stormy weather. He and Cassandra were slain by [[Aegisthus]] (in the oldest versions of the story) or by Clytemnestra or by both of them. [[Electra]] and Orestes later avenged their father but Orestes was the one who was chased by the [[Erinyes|Furies]].
* [[Nestor (mythology)|Nestor]], who had the best conduct in Troy and did not take part in the looting, was the only hero who had a fast and safe return.<ref name="Apollodorus, Epitome 5.24">Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 5.24.</ref> Those of his army that survived the war also reached home with him safely but later left and colonised [[Metapontium]] in [[Mezzogiorno|Southern Italy]].<ref>Strabo, 6.1.15.</ref>
* Ajax the Lesser, who had endured more than the others the wrath of the Gods, never returned. His ship was wrecked by a storm sent by Athena, who borrowed one of Zeus' thunderbolts and tore the ship to pieces. The crew managed to land in a rock but Poseidon struck it and Ajax fell in the sea and drowned. He was buried by Thetis in [[Myconos]]<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.6.</ref> or [[Delos]].<ref>Scholiast on Homer, ''Iliad'' 13.66.</ref>
* [[Teucer]], son of Telamon and half-brother of Ajax, stood trial by his father for his half-brother's death. He was disowned by his father and was not allowed back on Salamis Island. He was at sea near [[Phreattys]] in [[Peiraeus]].<ref>Pausanias, 1.28.11.</ref> He was acquitted of responsibility but found guilty of negligence because he did not return his dead body or his arms. He left with his army (who took their wives) and founded Salamis in [[Cyprus]].<ref>Pausanias, 8.15.7</ref> The Athenians later created a political myth that his son left his kingdom to Theseus' sons (and not to [[Megara]]).
* Neoptolemus, following the advice of Helenus, who accompanied him when he travelled over land, was always accompanied by Andromache. He met Odysseus and they buried Achilles' teacher Phoenix on the land of the Ciconians. They then conquered the land of the [[Molossians]] ([[Epirus]]) and Neoptolemus had a child by Andromache, [[Molossus (son of Neoptolemus)|Molossus]], to whom he later gave the throne.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.12</ref> Thus the kings of Epirus claimed their lineage from Achilles, and so did [[Alexander the Great]], whose mother was of that royal house. Alexander the Great and the kings of [[Macedon]] also claimed to be descended from Heracles. Helenus founded a city in Molossia and inhabited it, and Neoptolemus gave him his mother Deidamia as wife. After Peleus died he succeeded [[Phthia]]'s throne.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.13.</ref> He had a feud with Orestes (son of Agamemnon) over Menelaus' daughter [[Hermione (mythology)|Hermione]], and was killed in [[Delphi]], where he was buried.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.14.</ref> In Roman myths, the kingdom of Phtia was taken over by Helenus, who married Andromache. They offered hospitality to other Trojan refugees, including Aeneas, who paid a visit there during his wanderings.
* Diomedes was first thrown by a storm on the coast of Lycia, where he was to be sacrificed to Ares by king [[Lycus (mythology)|Lycus]], but [[Callirhoe (Lycia)|Callirrhoe]], the king's daughter, took pity upon him, and assisted him in escaping.<ref>Plutarch, 23.</ref> He then accidentally landed in [[Attica]], in [[Phaleron]]. The Athenians, unaware that they were allies, attacked them. Many were killed, and Demophon took the Palladium.<ref>Pausanias, 1.28.9.</ref> He finally landed in [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]], where he found his wife [[Aegialeia]] committing adultery. In disgust, he left for [[Aetolia]].<ref>Tzetzes ad Lycophroon 609.</ref> According to later traditions, he had some adventures and founded [[Canusium]] and [[Argyrippa]] in Southern Italy.<ref>Strabo, 6.3.9.</ref>
* Philoctetes, due to a sedition, was driven from his city and emigrated to Italy, where he founded the cities of [[Petilia]], Old Crimissa, and Chone, between [[Crotone|Croton]] and [[Thurii]].<ref>Strabo, 6.1.3.</ref> After making war on the Leucanians he founded there a sanctuary of Apollo the Wanderer, to whom also he dedicated his bow.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.15b; Strabo, 6.1.3.</ref>
* According to Homer, Idomeneus reached his house safe and sound.<ref>Homer, ''Odyssey'' 3.191.</ref> Another tradition later formed. After the war, Idomeneus's ship hit a horrible storm. Idomeneus promised Poseidon that he would sacrifice the first living thing he saw when he returned home if Poseidon would save his ship and crew. The first living thing he saw was his son, whom Idomeneus duly sacrificed. The gods were angry at his murder of his own son and they sent a plague to Crete. His people sent him into exile to [[Calabria]] in Italy,<ref>Virgil, ''Aeneid'' 3.400</ref> and then to Colophon, in Asia Minor, where he died.<ref>Scholiast on Homer's ''Odyssey'' 13.259.</ref> Among the lesser Achaeans very few reached their homes.

====House of Atreus====

[[File:The Murder Of Agamemnon - Project Gutenberg eText 14994.png|thumbnail|left|The murder of Agamemnon (1879 illustration from [[Alfred John Church|Alfred Church]]'s ''Stories from the Greek Tragedians'')]]

According to the ''Odyssey'', Menelaus's fleet was blown by storms to Crete and Egypt, where they were unable to sail away because the winds were calm.<ref>Homer, ''Odyssey'' 4.360.</ref> Only five of his ships survived.<ref name="Apollodorus, Epitome 5.24"/> Menelaus had to catch [[Proteus]], a shape-shifting sea god, to find out what sacrifices to which gods he would have to make to guarantee safe passage.<ref>Homer, ''Odyssey'' 4.382.</ref> According to some stories the Helen who was taken by Paris was a fake, and the real Helen was in Egypt, where she was reunited with Menelaus. Proteus also told Menelaus that he was destined for [[Elysium]] (Heaven) after his death. Menelaus returned to Sparta with Helen eight years after he had left Troy.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.29.</ref>

Agamemnon returned home with Cassandra to Argos. His wife Clytemnestra (Helen's sister) was having an affair with Aegisthus, son of Thyestes, Agamemnon's cousin who had conquered Argos before Agamemnon himself retook it. Possibly out of vengeance for the death of Iphigenia, Clytemnestra plotted with her lover to kill Agamemnon. Cassandra foresaw this murder, and warned Agamemnon, but he disregarded her. He was killed, either at a feast or in his bath,<ref>Pausanias, 2.16.6.</ref> according to different versions. Cassandra was also killed.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Epitome'' 6.23.</ref> Agamemnon's son Orestes, who had been away, returned and conspired with his sister Electra to avenge their father.<ref>Homer, ''Odyssey'' 1.30, 298.</ref> He killed Clytemnestra and Aegisthus and succeeded to his father's throne.<ref>Pausanias, 2.16.7.</ref><ref>Sophocles, ''Electra'' 1405.</ref>