Helen: Did you mean...?

Homer's Odyssey is an epic poem written in the 8th century BCE which describes the long voyage home of the Greek hero Odysseus. The mythical king sails back to Ithaca with his men after the Trojan War but is beset by all kinds of delays and...

Greek tragedy was a popular and influential form of drama performed in theatres across ancient Greece from the late 6th century BCE. The most famous playwrights of the genre were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides and many of their works...

A sculpture showing the birth of Helen of Troy. Helen's mother was Leda who was seduced by Zeus when he was disguised as a swan. Limestone, made in the 5th century BCE. (Archaeological Museum of Metapontum, Italy)

A detail from an Attic red-figure krater showing Helen of Troy. Made c. 450 BCE. (Louvre, Paris)

A detail of a scene from an Attic spouted krater perhaps showing the abduction/elopement of Helen of Troy with Paris which sparked off the Trojan War. Other interpretations include Ariadne and Theseus as the two figures. Made c. 735 BCE...

A scene from a red-figure vase showing Menelaos re-capturing Helen during the Trojan War. 480 BCE. (Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich)

A detail of an Attic red-figure hydria, c. 480 BCE, showing the Spartan king reunited with his wife Helen of Troy after the Trojan war. (Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich)

A mosaic made from marble, limestone and glass terrerae depicting the Judgement of Paris from Greek mythology. Paris, the prince of Troy, has to decide which of the three goddesses Hera, Athena or Aphrodite is the prettiest. He chose Aphrodite...

Oenone was a nymph in Greek Mythology, the daughter of the river god Cebren and sister of the nymph Asterope/Hesperia. She was given the gift of prophecy by Rhea (mother of the gods) and the gift of healing by Apollo. Her name comes from...

The Iliad covers not the entire Trojan War, but begins in the midst of events in the final year of battle, after nine years of siege, and only spans 52 days. By the time The Iliad was written down in the eighth century BCE by the epic poet...