For over 2,500 years, Helen has shouldered the blame for the Trojan War. But is that really the case? Priam, the aged king of Troy, denied it. Why then, despite some defenders, has the belief in her culpability been so persistent and so vehement? This second installment reviews and prosecution’s main argument and examines the case for Helen’s innocence. The question of the Unity (which I describe in my previous essay) is again raised: is it influencing how we view Helen — even how the Iliad is translated? Did Helen and Paris actually elope? The topic of dynastic marriage in the late Bronze age is touched upon to cast light on this issue. Lastly, I briefly consider that if Helen is not at fault, who could be?
Helen’s controversial character and explores her nature as a goddess of ancient origin, the significance of her twin brothers, Kastōr and Poludeukēs (themselves ancient deities), what is behind her propensity for martial strife and being abducted, and her (perhaps unexpected) connection with Cassandra, the beautiful, cursed Trojan seer. Keep reading…
