Calchas was the Greek prophet who played a major part throughout the Trojan Wars. Whilst many are vaguely aware of some of the history of Troy, it is virtually impossible to describe the role played by Calchas within Greek mythology without some detail of the major Greek characters in the Trojan Wars. Therefore, a brief description of some of the main Greek characters follows:

Achilles - Achilles became the major Greek hero of the Trojan War and the central character.

Agamemnon - was the leader of the Greek army that was raised against Troy to avenge the abduction of the beautiful Helen by Paris, the Prince of Troy.

Odysseus - was also one of the great Greek heroes of the Trojan Wars and also the subject of Homer’s epic The Odyssey.

There are various tales of the prophet Calchas within Greek mythology. According to Homer’s Iliad, Calchas was the priest of Apollo and a Trojan renegade who foretold that the city of Troy could not be taken without the aid of the young Achilles.

However the Britannica Online Encyclopaedia states that Calchas was the son of Thestor (who was the priest of Apollo) and the most famous Greek prophet at the time of the Trojan War. Although these are fairly similar references the Britannica Online does not refer to Calchas being of Trojan origin. The encyclopaedia goes on to say that Calchas played an important role in the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon. Britannica also confirms the detail that Calchas prophesised the length of the Trojan War, and going on to state that he demanded the sacrifice of Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon during the War and saying that it was his idea to build the wooden horse of Troy. Although other sources are not in agreement with this.

Several other references to Calchas within Greek mythology exist, such that there does not seem to be consensus with regard to his actions or indeed his death.

As has been stated Calchas foretold the length of the Trojan War even before the Greek army set sail from Aulis, which is now the modern port Avlida or Vathy. When the Greeks left Aulis, a month after Agamemnon had persuaded the hero Odysseus to join them, Calchas piloted them to Troy by using his second sight. His skills for prophecy aided the Greeks at many times during the voyage to Troy and his prophecies guided the Greeks in their war on Troy.

After the death of Achilles, the Greeks were despairing but Calchas prophesised that the only way Troy could be taken was with the aid of the bow and arrows of Heracles (Hercules). They therefore set sail to retrieve the bow and arrows.

Following the fall of Troy, Calchas travelled to Colophon where he died, after meeting a wiser soothsayer than himself. Calchas challenged the seer Mopsus, son of Apollo and Manta, to a competition in prophecy and, after Mopsus had been proved correct in two prophecies, Calchas died. Some said he died of a broken heart, whilst others say that he commited suicide.

Sources:

Robert Graves, The Greek Myths, Complete Edition

www.britannica.com