Helen of Troy – the stunning woman described in Homer’s immortal epic, the Iliad – is based on a real person.
According to a new hypothesis presented by scholar Bettany Hughes, the legendary figure of Helen was inspired by a wealthy queen who lived in Southern Greece during the Bronze Age.
Hughes, a former scholar at the University of Oxford, has conducted research on the Balkans, Greece, and Asia Minor. In her book, *Helen of Troy: Goddess, Princess, Whore*, she writes: “I believe that all three personas – the princess, the goddess, and the whore – reside within Helen, and her archetype is drawn from one of the wealthy queens of Sparta who lived and died in the land of Greece around the 13th century BC; a woman who would only sleep late at night and wake at dawn, an entirely mortal being, a noblewoman presiding over mystical religious rites, a woman revered, honored, and wielding power comparable to that of the gods. A person who transcends time“.
Based on the works of Homer, Sappho, and the historian Herodotus, Hughes posits that Helen’s palace was located on the hill of Therapne near the Eurotas River. Three skeletons of a 30-year-old woman and two children have been excavated in this area, alongside the remains of structures that were destroyed by fire. It remains unclear what happened in this location, but Hughes suggests that Helen’s life was very brief, as the average lifespan of Mycenaean women was only 28 years.
“Women at that time became mothers at 12, became grandmothers by 24, and died before 30,” Hughes states.
The writer Homer described Helen as having skin that glowed with a luminous sheen. Hughes believes that this radiant glow came from olive oil-infused garments, a fashion of wealthy women during this era.
While Greeks typically had black hair, paintings from Helen’s time, approximately 3,500 years ago, reveal at least one woman with auburn hair and blue eyes. Hughes theorizes that Helen had such hair, which symbolized a unique religious authority.
According to ancient texts, Helen was married but was embroiled in a scandalous affair with the Trojan prince Paris. Despite writers depicting Helen as being abducted, Hughes believes the romance was mutual.
Excavations conducted in the 19th century and just a few years ago have also revealed that the city of Troy was located at what is now Hissarlik in Turkey. Bronze arrowheads and skeletons of injured individuals further confirm that a fierce battle took place at Troy during Helen’s lifetime.
In the Iliad, Homer describes the Trojan War as being ignited by the wrath of Helen’s husband, King Menelaus, upon witnessing his wife’s infidelity with Prince Paris. However, the wealth of Troy also made it an enticing target.
Nonetheless, Hughes notes that the beauty of the Spartan queen alone was not enough to launch thousands of ships. Such a fleet could devastate the entire region. She speculates that only about seven ships participated in the conflict.
Tim Whitmarsh, a scholar of Greek literature at the University of Exeter in the UK, argues that there cannot be a real Greek figure behind the legend of Helen. “The typical Greek woman, as depicted in the famous poem by Semonides, resembles a diligent bee: she works tirelessly at home, producing fabrics for her family. Helen, on the other hand, is a sinful figure, a promiscuous woman, someone who refuses to accept her fate, the instigator of war, and brings nothing to men but trouble.”
M.T. (according to Discovery)
