Helen of Troy. The temptress who ran off with Paris to Troy, abandoning her husband and family. This started a ten-year war between Troy and the various Greek kingdoms that came to the aid of the scorned King Menaleus. Hundreds of men died on the beaches of Troy because of the selfish follies of this wicked woman.
Or at least, that's how some people and scholars like to tell it. Are they correct? No.
I am here today to defend Helen of Sparta and argue against the thousand-year-old smear campaign against her.
The Oath
Why did the men of Greece go to war over one woman? It seems ridiculous, but even as a child, Helen was regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world. This could be attributed to her divine inheritance; depending on the myth, Helen is described as either a child of Zeus or Nemesis. When all the kings of Greece arrived at her mortal father, Tyndareus’, door when she came of age there was fear that those not chosen would kill Helen’s suitor to take her for themselves ignition war between these tempremental kings. Thus, before Helen’s intended husband was announced, all her suitors were made to swear to accept the decision and to do all in their power to protect the marriage and Helen. When Paris kidnaps her, Menelaus calls on this oath for the kings of Greece to join his war on Troy. This may seem like an overreaction by a protective parent, but King Tyndareus had cause for concern. His daughter had already been abducted once before.
The First Abduction
I touch on Helen’s first abduction in the Ancient Mythos podcast:
Episode
When she was a child, Helen was taken by Theseus of Athens. He and his friend, Pirithous, had decided that they both deserved to wed daughters of Zeus. Theseus chose Helen and kidnapped her, planning to keep her locked up until she reached womanhood and he could take her as his bride. Thankfully, Thesus becomes held up when heling Pirithous kidnap his chosen bride leaving Helen ungarded and rescued by her family. This myth, however, drives home the threat of Helen being coveted and stolen for her beauty. The oath sworn by her suitors was deemed necessary due to Thesus’ actions. Unfortunately, the oath only guarded against threats in Greece, not those from abroad.
Ancient Defense
Paris is promised the hand of Helen when he chooses Aphrodite as the fairest goddess and winner of the golden apple. The details of her abduction differ from myth to myth. One popular version is that she goes with Paris willingly; we see this in the 2004 movie Troy. Even in ancient Greece, however, this version didn’t often make sense. Especially considering that in many myths, Helen chose Meneleus as her husband. Why would she leave the man she chose to marry? Different ancient writers tried to make sense of Helen’s actions. In some stories, Helen was simply carried off by Aphrodite and delivered to Troy by divine means. In others she is bwitched by Aphrodite to fall in love with Paris and that’s why she shoes to go with him. There is even a myth where Hera (goddess of marriage and lost in the Judgement of Paris and the golden apple) creates an illusion of Helen and that is who Paris kidnaps while the real Helen hides in Egypt until the war ends.
Villain or Victim
Why are there so many different versions of Helen’s story? Why is she often characterized as the perpetrator and not the victim? My theory for this is that it is easier to picture her as a villain than a victim. Think about it: if Helen did not go willingly with Paris, then we are faced with the reality that she was held prisoner by him for ten years and forced to wed and bed him against her will. The idea of Helen as a victim is uncomfortable. Even ancient writers wrote her as bewitched, or even safely away from Troy. Helen of Troy is a selfish temptress and unloyal wife, but she made her own decisions and is in love with Paris and is in Troy willingly. Helen of Sparta is a victim of kidnapping and assault who is at the mercy of her abductor for ten years.
Thinking of Helen as a villain or even just bewitched by the gods can be easier, but it takes away from the impact of her story. A woman who, due to her beauty, was seen as little more than a possession by the men and gods. Her story reflects the fates of many women from ancient times, even up to modern history, who are only valued for their beauty and used as bargaining chips and prizes for men. Seeing Helen as the victim is uncomfortable, but after thousands of years of being blamed for a war started by men and gods, I believe she deserves to have her suffering acknowledged.
References:
Overly Sarcastic Productions- Legends Summarized: The Trojan War
World History Encyclopidia- Helen of Troy