Deception is a recurring theme throughout the novel. The Greeks used numerous tricks and lies when telling their famous myths. Stories such as Europa, Odysseus and Polyphemus, and the legendary Trojan war exemplify the trickery among the gods and goddesses, heroes, monsters, and mortals.
In the story of a beautiful maiden, Europa, Zeus fell in love with her because Aphrodite and Cupid shot him in the heart with an arrow of love. He took the form of a magnificent bull to attract her. Europa was drawn to Zeus, and that is how he ran away with her on his back. Europa realized he was Zeus and returned his love. Zeus had also deceived Hera in this myth because he attempted to sneak away in a cloud of mist without her knowing.
Another example of deception is when Odysseus tricked Polyphemus, the Cyclops, to escape his dreadful fate of being killed by the vengeful monster. He sharpened the piece of timber and
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Achilles caught up to Hector, and Hector realized the truth. This allowed Achilles to finally kill him with a spear. Later on, Sinon came to the Trojans and claimed to have betrayed the Greeks. He told the Trojans that the Greeks left the horse as an offering to Athena and that the Greeks hoped the Trojans would not accept the horse into their city. By ignoring the offering, Athena would have become angry, which would cause adversity to the city of Troy. In spite of the Greeks, the Trojans brought the giant wooden horse into the city. This is what caused the downfall of Troy because the Greeks used the horse as an opportunity to trick the Trojans and conquer the city by hiding in it. Deception is referenced many times throughout mythology, and it was common for Greeks to add this theme into their stories. The tales of Europa, Odysseus and Polyphemus, and the Trojan war, along with many others, demonstrate the theme of deception in the