Classical Greeks on Trial: Who Was Helen of Troy?

Classical Greeks on Trial: Who Was Helen of Troy?
Today we think of Helen of Troy as the woman who launched a thousand ships. But Helen’s myth began over 3,000 years ago in The Iliad, where a ten-year war is fought to retrieve her from Troy after her infamous abduction from her husband—or was it an elopement?

Was Helen a pawn, a femme fatale, or simply a scapegoat for war and ambition? This talk traces the evolution of her image—from Homer’s conflicted heroine to Euripides’ wildly contradictory versions, including the claim that Helen never went to Troy at all. Along the way, we’ll explore how her story raises timeless questions: Can beauty be innocent? Can someone be guilty without action? And who has the authority to shape a woman’s legacy?

Part myth, part moral investigation, this lecture invites you to reconsider everything you thought you knew about Helen—and decide for yourself whether the real Helen will ever stand up.