HELEN OF TROY

 

HELEN OF TROY

There are many stories about Helen of Troy. In answer to the question what is her real story , an encyclopedia says she was the daughter of Zeus (in Greek religion and mythology  the sky and thunder god)and a mortal woman Leda (an Aetolian princess who became a Spartan queen}. Thus she is described as one who has divine beauty.

Helen had many suitors as a young  legendary beauty. Besides others, she married Paris, also known as Alexander, a mythological figure in the story of Trojan war which was  won by the Greeks. Paris lost his life in this war.

               In Greek mythology Helen of Troy is described as the most beautiful woman in the world.

                Here are a few lines written by the English poet and dramatist Christopher Marlowe (1564—1593) . They briefly describe  Helen’s extraordiary  beauty.

 

 “Was this the face that launched a thousand ships,

And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?

 

Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss----

 

Her lips suck forth my soul; see, where it flies!

Come, Helen come, give me my soul again.

 

Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips,

And all is dross that is not Helena.

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(Extract From Marlowe’s  play Dr. Faustus, published in 1593}.

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G.R. Kanwal

7^th January 2024