Troy (2004) Plot Summary & Timeline

Agamemnon, portrayed by Brian Cox, the ruler of Mycenae, has successfully united numerous kingdoms in Greece under his command and is now preparing to launch an assault on Thessaly. In a bid to avoid open conflict, King Triopas, played by Julian Glover, proposes that they allow their finest warriors to determine the victor. Triopas sends forth the daunting Boagrius, while Agamemnon’s confidence rests with Achilles. Achilles, a fierce warrior embodying the spirit of battle, is reluctant to fight for Agamemnon, as he yearns to carve out his own legacy and achieve immortality. Ultimately, Achilles triumphs over Boagrius, solidifying Agamemnon’s dominance over Thessaly.

In a contrasting scene, Princes Hector and Paris, portrayed by Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom respectively, are hosted in King Menelaus of Sparta’s banquet hall as peace envoys from Troy. However, Paris becomes enamored with Menelaus’s stunning wife, Helen, played by Diane Kruger, and persuades her to escape with him back to Troy. When Hector discovers this betrayal, his anger is palpable, but they have lost the chance to return to Sparta. Menelaus, upon realizing Helen’s disappearance, vows to bring destruction upon Troy and seeks Agamemnon’s backing, which the latter eagerly provides out of his own desires to raze the city.

Meanwhile, Odysseus, the king of Ithaca and Agamemnon’s commander, attempts to convince Achilles to join the expedition against Troy. He finds Achilles engaged in a sparring match with his young cousin, Patroclus. Achilles turns to his mother, Thetis, for counsel. She presents him with a troubling choice: opting for a quiet, blessed life at home with a family or pursuing glory and an immortal name through combat—though this path promises only death.

As Hector reunites with his family—his wife, Andromache, and his infant son—Achilles ultimately decides to join Agamemnon’s troops but insists on bringing his own elite warriors, the Myrmidons, led by Eudorus. Their fleet arrives at Troy ahead of the other forces, and they swiftly take control of the beach, capturing Briseis, a priestess and cousin of Hector and Paris. In the ensuing conflict, Hector confronts Achilles but refuses to engage in battle just yet, allowing Hector to depart peacefully.

Tensions mount as Agamemnon seizes Briseis, which infuriates Achilles. In his wrath, Achilles contemplates vengeance but is held back by Briseis’s plea. During a council meeting, Paris courageously offers to duel Menelaus to stave off bloodshed. Hector discovers Helen contemplating her role in the conflict and reassures her of the grave implications of the war that now transcends her personal desires.

The following day, as Agamemnon’s forces prepare for clash, Achilles remains in his camp, seething over the loss of Briseis. The duel between Paris and Menelaus sees Paris wounded and crawling back to Hector, who valiantly protects him, even killing Menelaus in the process. Undeterred by the setback, Agamemnon commands a full assault on Troy. However, the Trojans amass fierce resistance and compel Agamemnon to retreat under their relentless counter-offensive.

In a twist of fate, Achilles rescues Briseis from Agamemnon’s forces, leading to a passionate encounter between them. However, as Patroclus learns of Achilles’ plan to return home, despair floods him, longing for the battles ahead. Hector forewarns Priam of the strong Trojan defense, yet the king dismisses his counsel and reluctantly opts for a pre-dawn offensive, risking their fortifications.

As dawn breaks, Hector leads the Trojan forces against the Greeks. Achilles, still embittered by Agamemnon’s actions, appears suddenly in his armor, rallying the Myrmidons. Shortly after, Hector and Achilles meet on the battlefield. The outcome unfolds dramatically, with Achilles appearing invincible until Hector, in a tragic misstep, kills Patroclus. Stricken by grief and fury, Achilles emerges with vengeance in his heart and ultimately faces Hector, overpowering him and sealing his fate.

That evening, the grieving Priam approaches Achilles in disguise, pleading for the recovery of Hector’s body. He speaks of shared grief in war and the loss of lives. Moved, Achilles allows Priam to reclaim Hector’s corpse, swearing a truce for twelve days of mourning, while Briseis is also set free.

As word of Achilles’s truce spreads, Agamemnon’s ire boils over. Odysseus devises a cunning strategy to use the mourning period to their advantage. Following the twelve days, the Trojans discover a deceptive wooden horse left by the Greeks. Priam, despite Paris’s doubts, invites it within their walls, believing it’s a token of peace.

As night falls, the Greeks emerge from the horse, catching the Trojans off guard and storming the city. While chaos ensues, Priam is brutally murdered by Agamemnon. In a desperate bid, Achilles searches for Briseis, but Agamemnon attempts to claim her first, only to meet his demise at her own hands. Tragically, Achilles is eventually struck down by Paris as he seeks vindication for his loved ones.

The following day, in a display of honor, Achilles is given a funeral befitting a hero as Odysseus reflects on the fleeting nature of life and glory, emphasizing the legends that the heroes—Hector and Achilles—will leave behind, ensuring their names never fade into oblivion.