Other mistake: While the Trojan warning gongs ring, in the shot of the citizens when they run past the guards to return to the safety within the walls, there is something stuck to the left side of the camera (it looks like a long piece of hair), which flickers on the screen as the camera continues to pan in closer. (00:35:30)
Continuity mistake: In the morning, while Achilles watches Briseis sleep, her arm extends way over the edge of the bed in the wide shots facing her, yet in the shots facing the doorway her position differs and even her hand doesn't reach the edge of the bed. (01:33:05)
Revealing mistake: Just after Achilles slices Hector's spear, Achilles spins his shield then positions himself behind it. In the next shot facing Achilles, as he starts to walk toward Hector, he does not hold the usual handle on the underside of his shield, instead he holds a small solid handle (used for spinning shield) which is beside the normal handle. Also notice the hilt of the sword is the wrong direction near his elbow, whereas in the following shot when he holds the normal shield handle, the hilt of the sword is properly positioned. (01:59:20)
Continuity mistake: When Menelaus travels to his brother, Agamemnon, their positions differ when they speak and embrace, e.g., in the shots facing Menelaus two of his brother's fingers are on the cloak at his shoulder, yet in the shots facing Agamemnon his entire left hand lies on Menelaus' cloak. (00:18:25 - 00:19:20)
Continuity mistake: When Hector tries to stop Helen from running away at night, her hair keeps changing; one can see in her "back" shots, sometimes her hair is completely down, and other times her hair has two twists in it. It keeps changing throughout the scene. Also, in the same scene, the front of her hair is sometimes a little frizzy and curly, and sometimes it is smooth and straight. (01:01:45)
Continuity mistake: When Briseis is about to kill Achilles he turns her over and his hand slids down to the edge of her dress and then up her leg to her shoulder. However in the next shot his hand is only at her waist and slids up to her shoulder again.
Other mistake: There is a thin vertical line from the top of the screen to the bottom, that moves as the camera moves, just after the Trojans enter Apollo's temple when the Greeks run out of hiding to ambush the Trojans. It also appears in the first exterior shot, when Hector shows Andromache the secret escape route. (00:45:55 - 01:47:15)
Continuity mistake: In Phtia, Achilles throws the spear into the tree beside Odysseus as he rides near. When Odysseus removes the spear from the tree, the area of tree around the spear tip is different. (00:22:00)
Continuity mistake: The quantity of blood on Patroclus' neck, when Hector removes his helmet, changes between the shots. (01:43:55)
Continuity mistake: From the time Achilles stands outside the temple of Apollo, after he sticks one of his swords into the man's head, just before he speaks with Eudorus, through the moment he allows Hector to leave the temple grounds, the blood on the front and shoulders of his armour changes. (00:43:40)
Continuity mistake: When the Trojans attack the Greeks on the beach with burning balls of twine (or some similar material) at dawn, Hector is seen watching the carnage. He then starts to beat on his shield with his spear and his two generals begin to walk up to him from the rear. The shot cuts to Odysseus for about two seconds and then back to Hector. The two generals then again begin to walk up to him also beating their shields. (01:36:30)
Continuity mistake: After Odysseus, Achilles and the other Greeks climb out of the 'Trojan' horse, Odysseus and others head for the front gate. In the first wide shot of the front gate there are Trojan guards asleep on both sides. In the following close-up of these guards, their positions and the positions of things around them differ most significantly, like for example the fire pit at the feet of the guards on the right moves at least five feet, and then when the Greeks kill them the fire pit moves again. (02:19:20)
Deliberate mistake: Looking from the left side of the wooden horse at the temple which is being plundered and burnt, a soldier is stabbing a citizen in white robes in the middle of the steps. A second soldier chases another citizen in white past him on the right. Then moments later the same shot is seen from the right side of the wooden horse. Obviously, two cameras filming the same scene. (02:22:30 - 02:23:35)
Continuity mistake: When the Greeks begin their rampage within the walls of Troy, a Trojan is flipped over a roof and lands on a thatched roof under him. The top thatch differs between the first close-up and second wide shot. (02:21:10)
Revealing mistake: When Hector and Paris return to Troy with Helen, in the first shot they pass through the gate and head down the long path through the city. Then later, when the soldiers head for the armory and when Hector walks through the gate for the face off with Achilles, the path is substantially different. The statue and actual buildings' positions, the curve of the road, etc., are completely different. (This has nothing to do with camera angle.) (00:27:40 - 01:57:00)
Continuity mistake: As Achilles and Patroclus sword play in Phtia, at the bottom of a particular area with stairs, in the first shot after the first close-up of the horses' hooves, there are large clumps of greenery at the corners of these individual stairs. However, when Odysseus speaks with them and says, "My wife will feel much better if she knows you're by my side..." now some of the clumps of greenery are gone from the stairs, and there is a water 'canteen' on the third step, which Achilles drinks from. There are a number of significant differences among surrounding shrubbery and small rocks, including from the opening aerial shot, and the sun's shadow changes drastically during this entire scene. (00:21:35 - 00:23:25)
Continuity mistake: The scars and scratches on Boagrius' face and body change significantly and some scratches disappear, between his first few close-ups and then when Achilles moves toward him. For instance, the scars on his chest are less severe in the close-ups when Achilles heads toward him. (00:06:45 - 00:07:45)
Revealing mistake: When Agamemnon finds Briseis kneeling, while Troy burns, he pulls her up by her hair. As she lifts her left arm up, the beige undergarment she wears is visible under her arm. From the moment we see Briseis kneeling, throughout this entire scene, the set lighting and shadows change quite dramatically in consecutive shots. (02:27:05)
Audio problem: After Achilles says, "No Greek will attack Troy for twelve days," Priam sees Briseis and his lips move but nothing is heard, then when we hear him say, "Briseis?" his mouth does not move. (02:10:20)
Revealing mistake: In Achilles' tent, while Achilles tells Briseis that she is his guest and not his captive, the distinctive tan lines of the actress' bikini top are clearly visible as Achilles holds her. (01:37:15)
Answer: They didn't know the Greeks weren't bringing cavalry. The Greeks did use them and sometimes brought them by sea. It was there to stop a cavalry charge and to break up fighting formations.
LorgSkyegon