A satirical Classics column · From the archive The ArchiveSubmit

Scrolls & Trolls

Listing · Marketplace

FREE: Large Wooden Horse (Must Pick Up TODAY)

“We heard some clanking sounds from inside, but we’re fairly sure it’s just the wood settling.”

Cover plate: Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo’s Procession of the Trojan Horse into Troy, captioned “Free to a good city” and “Nothing is inside.”

Facebook Marketplace, Listed 2 days ago in Troy

Cost: Free

Seller: Odysseus
Joined Facebook 10 years ago, Has been in the area the entire time

Details

Condition: new!
Material: fir and maple.
Dimensions: roughly size of a mountain
Weight: heavier than it looks (it’s made of premium materials which accounts for this)
Delivery: pickup ONLY

Seller’s description: Moving away (sailing home, definitely not to Tenedos, which is an island nearby that we are not behind)—unfortunately can’t take this with us. It’s a large decorative horse originally made as an offering to Minerva (Athena) for a safe journey home. FRAGILE! Do not damage. If anything happens to it, that is between you and Minerva. If you bring it inside your city, however, extremely very good things will happen for you.

Nothing is inside. Serious buyers only. First come first served. Must be gone by tonight.

Seller has left one contact for questions: @Sinon

Listing status: Picked up

Review of item ★★★★★
“Smooth pickup. Free, as advertised. Getting it inside took some work. We heard some clanking sounds from inside, but we’re fairly sure it’s just the wood settling. It looks incredible in the city center! Hosted a party around it just now! Would recommend this seller.”

Comments:

Laocoön
I have a bad feeling about this. I don’t trust Greeks, even when they’re giving things away for free. Especially when they’re giving things away for free. Just threw a spear at it to test the material. It sounds hollow. Why does it sound hollow?
Is anyone else seeing two very large snakes coming in from Tenedos?

Cassandra
This message has been taken down for violating community guidelines.

§  A piece from Scrolls & Trolls, posted August 29, 2026. Written by Jenna Z Liang.

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