3098: Trojan Horse - Revision history

DollarStoreBa'al: Only page in a nonexistent category.

2026-02-12T19:06:54Z

Only page in a nonexistent category.

2607:F140:400:AF:D5A5:D8E4:47BF:7DAD: /* Explanation */ Specified who Pandarus was further

2025-09-30T02:21:16Z

‎Explanation: Specified who Pandarus was further

Geminga at 05:21, 25 September 2025

2025-09-25T05:21:14Z

Geminga: Include a mention of a perceived trojan fodder shortage in the Iliad

2025-09-25T05:20:29Z

Include a mention of a perceived trojan fodder shortage in the Iliad

2607:F140:400:6F:1D44:FE62:8FC:7A74: /* Explanation */ Restored paragraph that was incorrectly judged as AI-generated

2025-08-26T02:50:15Z

‎Explanation: Restored paragraph that was incorrectly judged as AI-generated

Xurkitree10: /* Transcript */

2025-07-30T05:02:03Z

‎Transcript

Xurkitree10: /* Explanation */

2025-07-30T04:56:34Z

‎Explanation

FaviFake: Undo revision 382029 by 2001:4450:8178:2200:6C77:934F:5853:8A0A (talk)

2025-07-27T09:00:28Z

Undo revision 382029 by 2001:4450:8178:2200:6C77:934F:5853:8A0A (talk)

2001:4450:8178:2200:6C77:934F:5853:8A0A at 07:23, 27 July 2025

2025-07-27T07:23:56Z

FaviFake: /* Explanation */ From the [[explain xkcd:Editor FAQ#citation|Editor FAQ § [Citation needed]:]] "This template should only be placed when there is a deeper sense of humor and should not be overused."

2025-06-16T12:33:14Z

‎Explanation: From the Editor FAQ § [Citation needed]: "This template should only be placed when there is a deeper sense of humor and should not be overused."

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 [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
 [[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
 [[Category:Animals]]
 [[Category:Food]]

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 The humor in the joke comes from an anachronistic assumption — that a pregnant mare would be seen as a costly burden rather than a generous gift. In reality, during the time period referenced, horses (particularly one as large as the mare depicted in the comic) were highly valued for labor, transport, and even as a food source if necessary. Far from being an unwelcome expense, such a gift would have been considered a significant and practical boon. The joke plays on the incongruity of projecting modern attitudes backward, pretending that horses were once the kind of liability they are now. Furthermore, based on how Cueball calls the offspring an "inner horse" instead of a foal (the term for a child horse), the fact that he interprets the foal's interest in oats (even though foals suckle their mother's milk for the first 8-10 months before weaning to solid food) as an attack upon Troy's food supply even though all horses need to eat but are nonetheless considered useful by humans, and his overall surprise that the mare gave birth, it seems that he does not know very much about horses. Calling a foal an "inner horse" would be analogous to calling a baby an "inner human", thus reflecting a lack of knowledge of placental mammalian reproduction similar to [[441: Babies]].
-Though unlikely to be the source of inspiration for the comic, the Iliad does mention a (perceived) shortage of Troy's fodder, as Pandarus (a Lycian coming to the aid of Troy) indicated to Aeneas (a prince of Troy): “And twice ten coursers wait their lord’s command. / ... / And thought the steeds (your large supplies unknown) / Might fail of forage in the straiten’d town;” (Il. V. 194-203). However, the conversation happened while Troy was actively attacked, rather than after the Greeks retreated when this comic takes place.
+Though unlikely to be the source of inspiration for the comic, the Iliad does mention a (perceived) shortage of Troy's fodder, as Pandarus (a Lycian archer coming to the aid of Troy) indicated to Aeneas (a prince of Troy): “And twice ten coursers wait their lord’s command. / ... / And thought the steeds (your large supplies unknown) / Might fail of forage in the straiten’d town;” (Il. V. 194-203). However, the conversation happened while Troy was actively attacked, rather than after the Greeks retreated when this comic takes place.
 Archaeological evidence of a military conquest of {{w|Troy}} during the Bronze Age, or even of a major war centered on the city, is lacking. Far better evidence exists for the destruction of several iterations of the city by earthquakes. Possibly, the Trojan War legend arose as visitors attempted to explain the ruins of an earthquake-ravaged, deserted city. The "Foal of Troy" story, therefore, need not include a Greek conquest of Troy, or even a major military conflict with the Greeks.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 The humor in the joke comes from an anachronistic assumption — that a pregnant mare would be seen as a costly burden rather than a generous gift. In reality, during the time period referenced, horses (particularly one as large as the mare depicted in the comic) were highly valued for labor, transport, and even as a food source if necessary. Far from being an unwelcome expense, such a gift would have been considered a significant and practical boon. The joke plays on the incongruity of projecting modern attitudes backward, pretending that horses were once the kind of liability they are now. Furthermore, based on how Cueball calls the offspring an "inner horse" instead of a foal (the term for a child horse), the fact that he interprets the foal's interest in oats (even though foals suckle their mother's milk for the first 8-10 months before weaning to solid food) as an attack upon Troy's food supply even though all horses need to eat but are nonetheless considered useful by humans, and his overall surprise that the mare gave birth, it seems that he does not know very much about horses. Calling a foal an "inner horse" would be analogous to calling a baby an "inner human", thus reflecting a lack of knowledge of placental mammalian reproduction similar to [[441: Babies]].
-Though unlikely to be the source of inspiration for the comic, the Iliad does mention a (perceived) shortage of Troy's fodder, as Pandarus (a Lycian prince coming to the aid of Troy) indicated to Aeneas: “And twice ten coursers wait their lord’s command. / ... / And thought the steeds (your large supplies unknown) / Might fail of forage in the straiten’d town;” (Il. V. 194-203). However, the conversation happened while Troy was actively attacked, rather than after the Greeks retreated when this comic takes place.
+Though unlikely to be the source of inspiration for the comic, the Iliad does mention a (perceived) shortage of Troy's fodder, as Pandarus (a Lycian coming to the aid of Troy) indicated to Aeneas (a prince of Troy): “And twice ten coursers wait their lord’s command. / ... / And thought the steeds (your large supplies unknown) / Might fail of forage in the straiten’d town;” (Il. V. 194-203). However, the conversation happened while Troy was actively attacked, rather than after the Greeks retreated when this comic takes place.
 Archaeological evidence of a military conquest of {{w|Troy}} during the Bronze Age, or even of a major war centered on the city, is lacking. Far better evidence exists for the destruction of several iterations of the city by earthquakes. Possibly, the Trojan War legend arose as visitors attempted to explain the ruins of an earthquake-ravaged, deserted city. The "Foal of Troy" story, therefore, need not include a Greek conquest of Troy, or even a major military conflict with the Greeks.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 The humor in the joke comes from an anachronistic assumption — that a pregnant mare would be seen as a costly burden rather than a generous gift. In reality, during the time period referenced, horses (particularly one as large as the mare depicted in the comic) were highly valued for labor, transport, and even as a food source if necessary. Far from being an unwelcome expense, such a gift would have been considered a significant and practical boon. The joke plays on the incongruity of projecting modern attitudes backward, pretending that horses were once the kind of liability they are now. Furthermore, based on how Cueball calls the offspring an "inner horse" instead of a foal (the term for a child horse), the fact that he interprets the foal's interest in oats (even though foals suckle their mother's milk for the first 8-10 months before weaning to solid food) as an attack upon Troy's food supply even though all horses need to eat but are nonetheless considered useful by humans, and his overall surprise that the mare gave birth, it seems that he does not know very much about horses. Calling a foal an "inner horse" would be analogous to calling a baby an "inner human", thus reflecting a lack of knowledge of placental mammalian reproduction similar to [[441: Babies]].
 Archaeological evidence of a military conquest of {{w|Troy}} during the Bronze Age, or even of a major war centered on the city, is lacking. Far better evidence exists for the destruction of several iterations of the city by earthquakes. Possibly, the Trojan War legend arose as visitors attempted to explain the ruins of an earthquake-ravaged, deserted city. The "Foal of Troy" story, therefore, need not include a Greek conquest of Troy, or even a major military conflict with the Greeks.
@@ Line 42: / Line 44: @@
 [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
 [[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
 [[Category:Animals]]
 [[Category:Food]]

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 It is not made clear whether the gifter of the horse knew of/suspected the pregnancy or whether they would have even chosen to hand it over under different circumstances. However, it is consistent with the story, and with the "{{w|Beware of Greeks bearing gifts}}" trope that originated with it, that the Greeks intentionally gifted a pregnant mare to annoy the Trojans. Surprise foals, where a mare is purchased with a hitherto unknown pregnancy, actually occur. The pregnancy is typically excused as weight gain, up until the point where a foal is discovered with its mother in the morning. Horses with rounder builds, like some pony breeds, are known for maintaining undetected pregnancies. The reason a surprise foal might be salient for the comic, beyond the "Foal of Troy" pun, is the non-trivial costs of horse ownership, which can amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars per month. Food costs are part of (but not all of) this, as the comic touches on.
-The humor in the joke comes from an anachronistic assumption — that a pregnant mare would be seen as a costly burden rather than a generous gift. In reality, during the time period referenced, horses (particularly one as large as the mare depicted in the comic) were highly valued for labor, transport, and even as a food source if necessary. Far from being an unwelcome expense, such a gift would have been considered a significant and practical boon. The joke plays on the incongruity of projecting modern attitudes backward, pretending that horses were once the kind of liability they are now.
+The humor in the joke comes from an anachronistic assumption — that a pregnant mare would be seen as a costly burden rather than a generous gift. In reality, during the time period referenced, horses (particularly one as large as the mare depicted in the comic) were highly valued for labor, transport, and even as a food source if necessary. Far from being an unwelcome expense, such a gift would have been considered a significant and practical boon. The joke plays on the incongruity of projecting modern attitudes backward, pretending that horses were once the kind of liability they are now. Furthermore, based on how Cueball calls the offspring an "inner horse" instead of a foal (the term for a child horse), the fact that he interprets the foal's interest in oats (even though foals suckle their mother's milk for the first 8-10 months before weaning to solid food) as an attack upon Troy's food supply even though all horses need to eat but are nonetheless considered useful by humans, and his overall surprise that the mare gave birth, it seems that he does not know very much about horses. Calling a foal an "inner horse" would be analogous to calling a baby an "inner human", thus reflecting a lack of knowledge of placental mammalian reproduction similar to [[441: Babies]].
 Archaeological evidence of a military conquest of {{w|Troy}} during the Bronze Age, or even of a major war centered on the city, is lacking. Far better evidence exists for the destruction of several iterations of the city by earthquakes. Possibly, the Trojan War legend arose as visitors attempted to explain the ruins of an earthquake-ravaged, deserted city. The "Foal of Troy" story, therefore, need not include a Greek conquest of Troy, or even a major military conflict with the Greeks.

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 ==Transcript==
 :[A horse is facing Cueball and Ponytail, who are standing in front of an entrance below a tower.]
 :[In an inset panel, Cueball is talking to Megan and Hairy.]

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:56, 30 July 2025
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	==Explanation==		==Explanation==
−	~~{{incomplete\|This page was created by a BABY BOT INSIDE A BOT. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}~~
	This comic presents a brief retelling of the {{w\|Trojan Horse}} story, the climactic event of the legendary {{w\|Trojan War}}, one of the best-known epics of ancient Greece and Rome. The retelling is a {{w\|feghoot}}, set up to deliver the pun in the title text as well as a deconstruction of the story, replacing the epic elements with far more ordinary ones while keeping the tone of the tale the same.		This comic presents a brief retelling of the {{w\|Trojan Horse}} story, the climactic event of the legendary {{w\|Trojan War}}, one of the best-known epics of ancient Greece and Rome. The retelling is a {{w\|feghoot}}, set up to deliver the pun in the title text as well as a deconstruction of the story, replacing the epic elements with far more ordinary ones while keeping the tone of the tale the same.

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 }}
-==[[File:sick.gif|12px|link=]]==
+==Explanation==
 {{incomplete|This page was created by a BABY BOT INSIDE A BOT. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
 This comic presents a brief retelling of the {{w|Trojan Horse}} story, the climactic event of the legendary {{w|Trojan War}}, one of the best-known epics of ancient Greece and Rome. The retelling is a {{w|feghoot}}, set up to deliver the pun in the title text as well as a deconstruction of the story, replacing the epic elements with far more ordinary ones while keeping the tone of the tale the same.
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 Archaeological evidence of a military conquest of {{w|Troy}} during the Bronze Age, or even of a major war centered on the city, is lacking. Far better evidence exists for the destruction of several iterations of the city by earthquakes. Possibly, the Trojan War legend arose as visitors attempted to explain the ruins of an earthquake-ravaged, deserted city. The "Foal of Troy" story, therefore, need not include a Greek conquest of Troy, or even a major military conflict with the Greeks.
-==[[File:sick.gif|12px|link=]]==
+==Transcript==
 {{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
 :[A horse is facing Cueball and Ponytail, who are standing in front of an entrance below a tower.]