Paris & Helen
The face that launched a thousand ships
The Trojan prince Paris abducts — or seduces — Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world and wife of the king of Sparta, igniting the Trojan War.
01Why it matters
It is the love that destroyed a civilization: the archetype of passion that drags whole peoples into war.
02The conflict
Helen's marriage to Menelaus and the Greek revenge.
03The iconic moment
Helen's flight to Troy, triggering ten years of war.
04What survived
Homer's "Iliad"; centuries of tragedy, opera and film.
05Frequently asked questions
Why is the story of Paris & Helen famous?
It is the love that destroyed a civilization: the archetype of passion that drags whole peoples into war.
How does the story of Paris & Helen end?
Helen's flight to Troy, triggering ten years of war. Homer's "Iliad"; centuries of tragedy, opera and film.
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