Beware of Greeks bearing gifts

[1] In modern English, the sentence is used as a proverb to warn against trusting an enemy or adversary, even when they appear to make an enticing offer.

Immediately after Laocoön proclaims his warning, he throws a spear at the horse, which pierces its side; Virgil writes that the groan from the Greek warriors hidden within would surely have alerted the Trojans to the trick if the gods had not already ordained Troy's destruction.

Soon after he casts his spear, enormous twin serpents slither out of the sea and attack Laocoön's sons.

The Trojans assume the horse has been offered at Minerva's (Athena's) prompting and interpret Laocoön's death as a sign of her displeasure.

The Trojans agree unanimously to place the horse atop wheels and roll it through their impenetrable walls as a trophy of their victory.