In Greek mythology, Helen, better known as Helen of Troy, was
the daughter of Zeus and Leda and the wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta.
She was the sister of Castor, Polydeuces, and Clytemnestra. Her abduction
by Paris brought about the Trojan War.
Three goddesses, Athena, Hera and Aphrodite quarreled over a golden
apple with a sign that it should belong to the most beautiful among them.
No one wanted to take a task of choosing between three goddesses. Zeus
therefore sent them off to Paris, son of Priam, king of Troy. Paris decided
in favor of Aphrodite, who had promised him the most beautiful mortal woman,
Helen, the wife of Menelaus. The Greek playwright Aeschylus called Helen
'destroyer of ships, destroyer of men, destroyer of cities'. The result
of Paris' decision was the Trojan War. |