Did Paris Survive the Trojan War?

By Robert Palmer

The Trojan War is one of the most famous events in ancient history. It is an epic story of love, betrayal, and warfare that has captured the imagination of people for centuries.

One of the key figures in this story is Paris, the prince of Troy. But did Paris survive the Trojan War Let’s take a closer look at the evidence.

The Story of Paris

Paris was a prince of Troy, son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba. According to legend, he was tasked with judging a beauty contest between three goddesses: Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera.

Each goddess offered him a bribe to choose her as the most beautiful. Paris chose Aphrodite because she promised him the love of Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta.

Paris traveled to Sparta and seduced Helen, taking her back to Troy with him. This act sparked the Trojan War, as Menelaus and his Greek allies sailed to Troy to demand Helen’s return.

The Trojan War

The Trojan War lasted for ten years and was fought between the Greeks and Trojans. The Greeks were led by Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, while the Trojans were led by Hector, Paris’ brother.

Paris played an important role in the war as a skilled warrior and archer. He famously killed Achilles with an arrow to his heel.

However, Paris also had many enemies among his own people. He was blamed for starting the war by stealing Helen from Sparta and bringing destruction upon Troy.

The Death of Paris

There are different versions of how Paris died during or after the war.

According to some sources, he was wounded by Philoctetes with one of Hercules’ poisoned arrows. Others say he was killed by Neoptolemus (son of Achilles) or by the Greek hero Diomedes.

In some versions, Paris survived the war and became a king in Italy. However, this is not a widely accepted view among scholars.

Conclusion

So, did Paris survive the Trojan War The answer is not clear. While some sources claim that he died during the war, others suggest that he may have survived and moved to Italy.

Regardless of his fate, Paris remains one of the most fascinating characters in ancient mythology. His actions led to one of the greatest wars in history and his story continues to captivate audiences today.

  • Key Takeaways:
  • Paris was a prince of Troy who seduced Helen, sparking the Trojan War.
  • He was a skilled warrior but also had many enemies among his own people.
  • There are different versions of how he died during or after the war.
  • While some sources claim that he died during the war, others suggest that he may have survived and moved to Italy.

Sources:

  • Homer. The Iliad
  • Virgil.

    The Aeneid

  • Ovid. Heroides

With this article, we hope to have given you an insight into one of the most fascinating characters in ancient mythology – Paris – and answered one of the most intriguing questions surrounding him – Did Paris survive the Trojan War