The story of Paris and Helen is one of the most intriguing tales of Greek mythology. It is a tale of love, betrayal, and war.
It all started when Paris, a prince of Troy, was asked to judge which of the three most beautiful goddesses – Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite – was truly the fairest. In exchange for his judgement, each goddess offered him a prize. Hera offered him power and wealth; Athena offered him wisdom and victory in battle; but it was Aphrodite who won his heart with her promise to give him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.
And so Paris set sail to Greece, where he met Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. Despite her marital status, Paris fell deeply in love with Helen and convinced her to leave with him back to Troy. This act sparked a war between Greece and Troy that lasted for ten long years.
The Trojan War was fought on many levels – one being between two lovers who were now on opposite sides. Although Helen had gone willingly with Paris initially, she soon realized that her decision had caused immense suffering for both Greeks and Trojans alike. She even considered taking her own life to end the conflict.
But fate had other plans for them. The Trojan War ended with Troy’s defeat and destruction at the hands of the Greeks. Paris was killed in battle by Philoctetes while Helen returned to Sparta with Menelaus.
The fate of Helen after returning to Sparta remains unknown as there are many different accounts given by various sources. Some say that she lived out her life quietly in Sparta while others claim that she was killed by Menelaus or exiled from Sparta.
Despite their tragic end, Paris and Helen’s story has continued to captivate audiences for centuries through literature, art, music and film adaptations such as Wolfgang Petersen’s epic film ‘Troy’ starring Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom.
In conclusion, the story of Paris and Helen is a reminder that love can have dire consequences, leading to wars and destruction. It shows us that even the most beautiful things in life can come at a great cost.