Clue #5: The Trojan War
Everybody knows all about the war waged by the Greeks against the city of Troy, right?
We all had to read the Iliad in school and we’ve seen Brad Pitt’s excruciating performance as Achilles in Troy.
We know about Helen and her ship-launching face and handsome, useless Paris who just couldn’t leave well enough alone.
We know about clever Odysseus whose one desire in life was to get back his wife and newborn son as soon as possible. Poor Odysseus who was the last of the Greeks to finally make it to familiar shores after a decade of wandering and odd adventures. (And subsequently subjecting legions of baffled freshman to the Odyssey’s wine-dark sea).
We know about Odysseus’ frickin’ wooden horse, right?
And maybe we like Monty Python’s wooden bunny better.
But all of the stories we know about the actual siege of Troy: the epic battles of Hector and Achilles, Achilles dragging Hector’s body behind his chariot, Priam’s grief, the poisoned arrow that finally took down otherwise invincible Achilles when it hit him in the heel…did you know that all of that took place in a single year?
And between the Greek arrival on Trojan shores and that eventful year, there were nine years of siege during which almost nothing of significance happen?
For nine years the Trojans hid behind their walls and let their allies and neighbors battle the invading Greeks.
For nine years, the Greeks waged war against everyone but the Trojans.
For nine years, the Greeks fought amongst themselves and did a little farming on the side.
Nine, long, boring years.
But those nine years prepped them for the good stuff to come.
(Or, hey, maybe Odysseus finally found the motivation to just do something about it so he could get home).
Anyway you look at it, it was only after nine years of what amounted to combative camping outside Troy’s walls, defeating lesser enemies, that the Greeks were actually ready to take down the big kahuna.
With, y’know, a wooden horse.
“So,” we hear you ask, “what does that have to do with the great mystery of Mack Web Solutions?”
Well, simple, really. We’re branching henceforth into equine construction and the besiegement of extinct Asian cities.
Duh.
Just kidding.
Like the Greeks, Mack Web Solutions knows that only after you’ve proved yourself against lesser challenges are you ready to advance to Troy itself.
That taking on new challenges requires creative solutions.
That good things come to those who wait.
Which is what you’re going to have to do.
Wait.
Ha!
(But hey…not too much longer. 20 days and counting… are you ready for the defeat of Troy?)
Uh, the metaphoric defeat of course. We are, sadly, not celebrating the unveiling of the Mack Web Solutions Time Machine.
Sorry. Didn’t mean to get your hopes up.
See you on February 9th at 4pm.
PS: So…how was that for a clue? Any guesses? Don’t forget to compare your thoughts against our other clues (only a few more to go!):
Clue #1: Icebergs
Clue #2: Ferris Bueller
Clue #3: Nine Lords-a-Leaping?
Clue #4: Hollywood Marriage