Sean Bean as Odysseus interacting with a dog in a scene from the director's cut of Troy (2004).... Although Troy is based primarily on Homer’s Iliad, the filmmakers included this subtle reference to one of the most emotional moments in The Odyssey. After the Trojan War, Odysseus spends another 10 years struggling to return home. When he finally reaches Ithaca after 20 years away, the goddess Athena disguises him as an elderly beggar so he can enter his kingdom without being recognized by the men occupying his palace. Outside the gates, Odysseus discovers Argos, the hunting dog he had raised before leaving for Troy. Once admired for his speed and strength, Argos is now elderly, neglected and lying on a pile of refuse. Despite Odysseus’ disguise, Argos immediately recognizes his master. Too weak to stand, he lowers his ears and wags his tail. Odysseus recognizes him as well but must turn away and secretly wipe away a tear to avoid revealing his identity. Having waited long enough to see his master return, Argos dies moments later. His brief appearance became one of literature’s earliest and most heartbreaking depictions of a dog’s loyalty. Homer’s description suggests that Argos was at least 20 years old when Odysseus returned—the same amount of time his master had been away from Ithaca. #archaeohistories