A legend that changed ancient history and became the cause of Troy’s downfall.
INDEX OF THE MYTH OF HELEN OF TROY:
Divine origins and birth
Helen of Troy, also known as Helen of Sparta, is one of the most famous figures of Greek mythology, celebrated for her unparalleled beauty.
According to legend, she was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, queen of Sparta. Zeus, transformed into a swan, seduced Leda, and from their union were born four children: Helen, the twin brothers Castor and Pollux, and Clytemnestra.
In some versions of the myth, Helen was born from an egg—symbolizing her divine origin. Other fantastic tales claim that she came from a silver egg that fell from the moon, carried to shore by fish and guarded by doves. One thing is certain: Helen was regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world.
The abduction by Theseus
While still young, Helen was abducted by Theseus, the Athenian hero.
According to Diodorus Siculus and other sources, Theseus, persuaded by his friend Pirithous, kidnapped Helen when she was around ten years old. He took her to Athens and hid her there, fearing the wrath of the Dioscuri, Helen’s brothers.
The Dioscuri soon came to rescue her, captured the city, and brought their sister safely back to Sparta. Some versions of the myth say Helen returned untouched, while others suggest she bore a daughter, Iphigenia, later attributed to Clytemnestra.
The marriage to Menelaus
As Helen grew into adulthood, her beauty attracted many suitors.
To prevent conflict among the Greek princes, Tyndareus, Helen’s adoptive father, made them swear an oath to respect Helen’s choice and defend her marriage against anyone who threatened it.
Helen chose Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon, who thus became King of Sparta. With Menelaus, she had a daughter, Hermione, and, according to some accounts, three sons.
The Judgment of Paris and the flight to Troy
At the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Eris, the goddess of discord, threw a golden apple inscribed “To the fairest.”
Zeus appointed Paris, a Trojan prince, to judge between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Aphrodite promised Paris the love of the most beautiful woman in the world—Helen.
When Paris visited Sparta, Aphrodite helped him win Helen’s heart, and she fled with him to Troy, taking five maidservants, two mules laden with silver, and leaving Menelaus behind.
Ancient sources disagree on whether Helen left willingly or by force.
In Euripides’ The Trojan Women, Helen claims she was under Aphrodite’s spell, unable to resist divine power. Yet other accounts portray her as a willing lover—or even the mastermind of the elopement.
The Trojan War
Helen’s abduction sparked the Trojan War.
Menelaus, aided by Agamemnon and other Greek leaders, organized a vast expedition to bring her back. The war lasted ten years. Protected by mighty walls, Troy resisted until Odysseus devised the famous Trojan Horse.
During her time in Troy, Helen was initially welcomed with admiration for her beauty, but as the war dragged on, the Trojans grew to despise her, blaming her for their suffering. Some gossiped that Helen, instead of aiding the wounded, spent her days being pampered by her servants.
After Paris’ death, Helen married his brother Deiphobus. According to legend, she later helped Odysseus and Diomedes steal the Palladium, the sacred statue that protected Troy.
On the night Troy fell, Helen is said to have lit the torches to signal the Greek warriors hidden inside the wooden horse. Yet, she nearly ruined the plan by imitating the voices of the soldiers’ wives to lure them out—only Odysseus’ restraint kept them silent and saved the mission.
The return to Sparta
After Troy’s destruction, Menelaus was reunited with Helen.
At first, he intended to kill her for her betrayal, but her beauty once again softened his heart. The two began a long and perilous journey home, wandering through Crete, Egypt, Phoenicia, and North Africa before returning to Sparta.
Despite everything, Helen lived out her life beside Menelaus.
Some traditions say she was later worshipped as a goddess in Sparta and Rhodes, while others saw her as a symbol of vanity and the ruin caused by desire.
Whether victim or architect of her fate, Helen of Troy remains one of mythology’s most enigmatic and enduring figures—the eternal emblem of beauty and its tragic power.
FAQ – Helen of Troy
1. Who were Helen’s parents?
Helen was the daughter of Zeus, king of the gods, and Leda, queen of Sparta. Zeus seduced Leda in the form of a swan.
2. How was Helen born?
According to the myth, Helen was born from an egg, representing her divine origin. Some tales even say the egg fell from the moon and was carried to shore by fish.
3. Who was Helen’s husband?
Helen married Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon. She chose him among many suitors, under an oath that all others would respect and defend her marriage.
4. Did Helen run away with Paris for love, or was she abducted?
Sources differ: some claim Helen was manipulated by Aphrodite and had no choice, while others say she fled willingly, perhaps even in love with Paris.
5. What was Helen’s role in the Trojan War?
Helen’s abduction caused the war, yet her role during the conflict was complex—admired and hated, passive and complicit. In the end, she helped the Greeks conquer Troy by signaling when to attack.
