In Greek Mythology, Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world at her time. She was the daughter of Leda and Zeus, who seduced Leda in the guise of a swan. Leda laid two eggs, one pair was a set of twin sons, Castor & Polydeuces, and the other a set of twin girls, Helen & Clytemnestra.When still young, Helen was kidnapped by the hero Theseus, who wanted her for a wife. He took her to his mother who took care of her whilst he travelled with his friend, Pirithous, to the underworld, having the desire to kidnap Persephone to make her his wife! Hades tricked them into believing he was to invite them to a feast, and when they sat on the chairs they were tied to them by living snakes. Helen was then rescued by her brothers.Helen was originally queen of Sparta, having been wed to the king, Menelaus. One day a Trojan fleet arrived to Sparta, whom Menelaus greeted with utmost respect and hospitality. In this fleet was Paris, a Trojan peasant who had just learnt he was actually a prince, and who was given 'the most beautiful woman in the world' as a wife by Aphrodite during the Golden Apple contest. Thus, he had set sail to collect his trophy- Helen. Paris was younger and more attractive, so for Helen to fall for this handsome prince was to be expected. She fled with Paris back to Troy, and this was to start the famous Trojan War known as the Iliad, the hymn by Homer. For this, Helen was known as 'The face that launched a thousand ships'.When Troy was burned down, Menelaus took Helen back but had no power to punish her for her deed, since her beauty was too irresistable. She is last heard of in an encounter she had with Telemachus in the Odyssey. Show less «