Helen of Troy, also known as Helen of Sparta, is one of the most iconic women in Greek mythology. Her beauty was so immense that it led to the Trojan War, a 10-year-long conflict between the Greeks and Trojans.
But how does Helen feel about Paris, the man who abducted her and started this war? Let’s explore.
Who is Paris?
Paris was a prince of Troy, son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba. He was known for his good looks and charm.
One day, he was asked to judge a beauty contest between three goddesses: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Each goddess offered him a bribe to choose her as the most beautiful. Paris chose Aphrodite because she promised him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.
How did Paris meet Helen?
Helen was already married to King Menelaus of Sparta when Paris visited Sparta as a guest. According to some myths, Aphrodite helped Paris by making Helen fall in love with him. Others say that he abducted her while she was under his spell.
So how does Helen feel about Paris?
It’s difficult to say for sure how Helen feels about Paris because different versions of the myth have different interpretations. However, one thing is clear – she didn’t have much choice in the matter.
In some versions of the myth, Helen is portrayed as a victim who was forced into leaving her husband and children behind to follow Paris to Troy. She may have felt conflicted about her feelings towards him – on one hand, he had taken her away from her home and family; on the other hand, she may have developed some genuine affection for him during their time together.
In other versions of the myth, Helen willingly went with Paris because she was unhappy in her marriage and saw him as an opportunity for a fresh start. In this interpretation, she may have felt more positively towards him, at least initially.
Regardless of how she felt about him personally, Helen’s abduction by Paris was a catalyst for war and destruction. It’s unlikely that she would have forgiven him for that, no matter what her feelings towards him were.
The aftermath of the war
The Trojan War ended with the Greeks emerging victorious and Troy being sacked and burned to the ground. According to some versions of the myth, Helen returned to Sparta with Menelaus and lived out the rest of her days as his wife. In others, she was punished for her role in the war – some say that she was executed, while others claim that she was forced to become a slave.
Regardless of how Helen’s story ended, one thing is clear – her beauty and the actions of Paris had a lasting impact on Greek mythology and continue to be studied and celebrated today.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s difficult to say for sure how Helen felt about Paris. However, it’s clear that their relationship had a significant impact on Greek mythology and led to one of its most famous stories – the Trojan War. Whether Helen saw Paris as a victim or as a willing participant in her abduction is up for interpretation, but one thing is certain – their story has captured the imagination of people for centuries and will likely continue to do so for many more.