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The Most Beautiful Woman of the Ancient World

© Linda Casselman

What is beauty? What is considered beautiful? Many would argue that true beauty, in a human being, is an inner quality, one of kindness, generosity, and compassion. Others would take on the more superficial view of beauty, stating perfection and symmetry of outer, physical features as proof. Indeed, this debate may rage on. Defining beauty can lead somewhat to conflict, but perhaps the biggest conflict ever to have raged in the name of beauty was the Trojan War, sparked, myth tells us, by the dazzling beauty of one woman, Helen.

The classical beauty, Helen, was the daughter of the mighty god Zeus and of Leda, wife of the Spartan king Tyndareos. Lusty Zeus transformed himself into a swan in order to secretly mate with the lovely Leda. She then laid an egg and hatched Helen who was raised as a proper member of the royal family. Helen's siblings include Castor, Polydeuces, Dioscuri, and Clytemnestra.

Helen's beauty was renown around the ancient world and so she became the most desired bride in Greece. The lucky suitor to win Helen's hand though was Menelaus, the younger brother of Agamemnon. At the beginning of their marriage the couple was quite happy together, that is until Paris came along.

Paris was the eldest of King Priam of Troy's 50 sons. He too was a very attractive young man and upon his visit to Sparta, he desired Helen for himself.

Fortune smiled upon Paris for he was asked to judge a divine beauty contest between the goddesses Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera. Hera promised him great power should he choose her as the winner; Athena promised him fame, but clever Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful woman in the world should she win the contest. And of course, she did. So with Aphrodite's help, Paris wooed and won Helen while her husband was away. Some myths, however, say that Helen was abducted by Paris, while others say that she was faithful and tucked away in Egypt. But for this article we'll say she left willingly with Paris.

The new couple then eloped back to Troy, having stolen part of Menelaus' treasury in the process. The ruse was soon discovered and the Greeks promptly demanded the return of Helen and the treasure, but of course, the Trojans refused. Agamemnon then assembled a massive army to help his brother retrieve his property - the legendary thousand ships...

The war on the city of Troy raged on for 10 long years. During this time Helen did feel deeply for her Greek countrymen, even though she was now with Paris and treated as his wife. As myth tells us, the city of Troy finally fell with the trick of the Trojan Horse, and Helen and Menelaus were reconciled, living out their lives peacefully in Sparta.