Helen

Over three thousand years ago, a bloody battle was waged between Greece and he powerful city of Troy. This battle was ignited by the sudden abduction of Queen Helen of Sparta by Prince Paris of Troy. Helen and Paris were star-crossed lovers, in which, nobody could separate them. You could compare them to the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet, where the Montagues and Capulets fought, again, sparked by the love of two young lovers. Back in mythological times, Zeus, the father of the gods and god…

In ancient Greek society, the roles of women play a key role. Women were supposed to be loyal and respected, but the men were not held to the same standards. The men could have as many concubines and mistresses as they wanted, but the women had to remain loyal to their husbands. There has been a long history of women being disloyal while their husbands have been at war. The different types of women presented to the readers throughout the poem all add to the different aspects of societal women in…

central theme in the book “The Illiad” celebrates the glory of war. Strong characters prove themselves as worthy based on how they perform during battle. Paris is selfish and cowardly as a character because he sparks the Trojan war when he abducts Helen, yet lacks the spirit for battle. Because of this, Paris receives contempt from both his family and his lover. Paris is the child of Priam and Hecuba, the king and queen of the city of Troy. When pregnant with Paris, the queen dreams of giving…

Iris’ message is framed in a manner that expects Helen to be grateful for the war going on outside the city’s walls. Iris’ claims that the war is something marvelous directly contrasts with the somber images in Helen’s weaving, which Iris interrupts to bring Helen to the Skaian gates. Iris is essentially adopting the role that best supports one of the major themes of the Iliad: personal glory. As Iris indicates, Helen should be witness to all the great deeds, heroic deaths, and the…

Mycenaean Greece. This conflict went on for about 10 years. What caused this war against the Spartans and the Trojans? According to Historylink101, “the cause of the Trojan war can be traced all the way back to the courtship of Helen”. (Bandinelli, Uffizi, Florence). Helen the Queen of Sparta was kidnapped by the Trojan Prince whose name was Paris took her to the kingdom of Troy. “Paris (also known as Alexandros) and taken as his prize for choosing Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess in a…

enemies. Paris, however, is aware of his cowardness, “you criticize me fairly, yes nothing unfair, beyond what I deserve” (70-71). Instead, he tells his brother that he would fight Menelaus head on, “pit me against Menelaus[...] we’ll fight it out for Helen [...] the one who proves the better man wins [...]”, ending the war. Although a noble request, Paris only suggests this after Menelaus points out his flaws, making…

of Sparta, Menelaus, holds a banquet on behalf of the Trojan princes, Hector and Paris, after negotiating a peace treaty between their territories. During the festivities, Paris sneaks off to pursue a secret love affair with Menelaus’s wife, Queen Helen. The next day, Paris smuggles…

war prizes. In addition, Helen also viewed as a prize, when she is the most beautiful mortal woman during the Decision of Paris. A mortal man, Hector, is depicted as a fierce Trojan warrior. As he goes through war, he seeks war-glory, as most men do in ancient Greek culture. Achilles, the Trojan hero, also portrays a warrior in the story. The two characters, Chryseis and Briseis, are women who are significant in the Trojan war. However, because of their gender, they…

Myth and Its Revision. Myths gain a literary autonomy as they evolve through time into sovereign narratives used as socio-cultural foundational texts. Mythic sources may originate or accrue from religious, historical, political, or cultural references, but each of these sources holds: “ a double power. It [the myth] exists or appears to exist objectively, in the public sphere, and consequently confers on the writer the sort of authority unavailable to someone who writes "merely" of the private…

Throughout The Iliad, mortal women are portrayed as property of man in the male-centric epic. They are confined to outdated gender roles; mortal women have little or no control over their own destiny. However, the immortal world creates a platform for Homer to exemplify and examine women personas thorough the Olympian goddesses. The three main goddesses presented in The Iliad are Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera. During the Trojan War, Athena and Hera fight with the Achaeans, while Aphrodite favors…