Theoclymenus

Family: Egyptian · Role: son of Proteus and ruler of the land · First appears: Euripides, Helen — Scene 1

Theoclymenus is the Egyptian ruler and son of Proteus and Psamathe, with Theonoe as his sister. After Proteus’ death, he solicits Helen to marry him, becoming her suitor. In Scene 7 he orders his servants to search for the Greek intruder and kill him if captured, then discovers Helen and Menelaus concealed beneath the tomb’s roof. Helen falsely tells him that Menelaus has died, and he accepts her account that her first husband was drowned at sea.

In Scene 8, Helen accepts his proposal and urges him to begin the wedding rites; they end their strife and agree to reconciliation. Believing Menelaus dead, Theoclymenus arranges funeral rites, offerings, rich ornaments, and a fifty-oared Tyrian vessel, giving Menelaus authority over the sailors without knowing that the supposed funeral is an escape plan. He declares his intended marriage to Helen, but Menelaus and the Greeks defeat his sailors aboard the ship, and Theoclymenus learns that Helen has departed from his realm: “Seek another wife, For Helen hath departed from this realm.”

In Scene 11, Theoclymenus resolves to punish Theonoe for helping Helen and Menelaus escape and attempts to attack her, but the chorus prevents the killing. Castor and Pollux then command him to restrain his anger and spare his sister.