Helen

Family: Greek · Role: mother of Hermione · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 3.10

🌐 Also appears in: The Iliad (as Helen) · The Odyssey (as Helen) · Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans (as Helen) · Greek Tragedy — The Same Myth, Three Voices (as Helen) · The Divine Comedy (as Helen)

Helen was born to Zeus and Leda. When Theseus carried her to Aphidnae, her brothers Pollux and Castor marched against the city; “took the city, got possession of Helen,” and carried Aethra captive. Many Greek kings, including Odysseus, Diomedes, Antilochus, and Menelaus, then came to Sparta as suitors, and Menelaus was chosen as her bridegroom.

Menelaus married Helen and reigned over Sparta, and they had Hermione and, according to some, Nicostratus. When Alexander persuaded her to leave Sparta, Helen abandoned Hermione, then nine years old, and sailed away with him by night. At Troy, the Trojans refused to restore her and threatened the Greek envoys; later Helenus and Deiphobus quarrelled over which should marry her, with Deiphobus preferred.

During the war, Helen recognized Odysseus and helped him steal the Palladium, with Diomedes bringing it to the ships. Menelaus slew Deiphobus and led Helen away, later regaining Sparta and his kingdom; after Hera made him immortal, he went to the Elysian Fields with Helen.