A thousand ships gathered in the harbour at Aulis, and kings from all over Greece stepped onto the decks. They were about to cross the sea to Troy.
But the wind would not blow, and days went by, and then months. The sails hung slack and did not stir.
Sickness ran through the tied-up camp and quarrels broke out, and the soldiers muttered about going home. Only then was the seer Calchas called out.