Sinon's Story: Effective Parts (57-198)

From his entire story, I find about five particular lies that I believe had the most effect on the Trojans. His renunciation of being a Greek, the fact that tricky Odysseus killed Palamedes and so his hatred of Odysseus/the Greeks, that he was going to be sacrificed for the Greeks, and that if the horse was hurt by the Trojans, they would suffer.
The Trojans obviously hate the Greeks, and Sinon saying that he hates the Greeks as well, so much so that he doesn't even want to be a Greek, must have a strong effect on the Trojans. It makes them feel as if they're with someone they can already trust, since by hating the Greeks he's kindof on the Trojans' side. Next, there's Sinon saying that, in line 90, "InvidiA postquam pellAcis UlixI" Odysseus killed Palamedes, his relative. This reaffirms the Trojans' knowledge of Odysseus being a tricky and conniving man and makes them believe that Sinon does in fact have a pretty good reason for hating the Greeks. Also, from this, Sinon says he swore vengence on the Greeks, further establishing an alliance between Sinon and the unknowing Trojans. The Trojans are warring with the Greeks, they clearly want revenge on them just as much as Sinon says he does. On top of this, Sinon says he was to be sacrificed by the Greeks, in order to assure them a safe ride home. This made Sinon hate the Greeks more, and made his story more believable. The only way he'd be left behind if all the Greeks left is for something like the story he made up to have happened. And lastly, what most definitely tipped the Trojans to the side of believing Sinon, was a combination of what Sinon said and what happened. He says, in line 189, "nam sI vestra manus violAsset dOna Minervae" they (the Trojans) will suffer. Laocoon did in fact 'violate' Minerva's gift, and he was devoured by two sea monster serpents. So they probably took what he said into consideration, but once a Trojan did in fact suffer from doing what Sinon warned against, it was the most effective part of his story of lies.
So these things persuade the Trojans, and so the Trojans fall to their destruction..all because of a cleverly put together web of lies, obviously constructed by Odysseus.