Helen

As many may know there are many gods and goddess, but there is one that many people find confusing to understand. That goddess is Helen. "Helen was the daughter of Leda and Tyndareus, all though her true father was Zeus"(Pierce). It has been known that although Leda may have been Helen's mother, other resources have came to find that "there is also some doubt over who Helen's real mother is"(Pierce). Some sources have gave Nemesis credit for being in the position of Helen's mother. Nemesis was raped by Zeus and impregnated with Helen. "Nemesis subsequently gave birth to an egg from which Helen eventually hatched. The egg was found and brought to Leda who brought up Helen as her own daughter"(Pierce). "However, the more renowned version of Helen's conception is that it was Leda who was raped by Zeus in the form of a swan. The earliest extant reference to this story comes in Euripides' play Helen (16-23),but this appears to be the story that caught the imagination. The Nemesis version, although referred to throughout antiquity, remains largely un-remembered today"(Pierce).

"Although Leda is the traditionally known mother of Helen it is highly probable that the Nemesis Version is of older origin"(Pierce). If Leda was of course Helen's mother, then she would be Zeus' first and only mortal daughter."Helen was married to King Menelaus of Sparta"(1"Helen"). The story on how Helen got her husband is quite interesting. As the story goes, Helen was known to be the most beautiful woman in the world, and when it had came time for her to marry, "many men, chiefs, and kings"(Pierce) came to her. This made it a very difficult situation for the family. So "Tyndareus made all the suitors swear an oath-that they would come to the aid of whoever won Helen, should need arise. Menelaus was chosen, he and Helen married, and in time they had a daughter, Hermione"(Pierce). While this was going on, "Paris was chosen by the gods to be an arbitrator in a contest between three goddesses"(Pierce). There were three goddesses Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite. "Each of the goddesses offered him a bribeÐ'..."(Pierce) Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful woman in the world, none other than Helen"(2"Helen") . "Paris chose Aphrodite, and thus set in motion the start of the Trojan War"(Pierce). When Menelaus discovered what had happened "he sailed to Troy to reclaim Helen. The war lasted ten years, many heroes were killed , and the gods joined in on both sides. Helen and Menelaus were reunited"(Pierce) at last. From then on ancient resources usually criticized for being a "loose" woman , "blamed for all the deaths in the Trojan War, and almost universally hated"(Pierce). "According to a legend told by the poet Stesichorus, Helen never reached Troy with Paris. She and Paris