Helen of Sparta (Troy)

Helen is the daughter of Leda, queen of Sparta, and Zeus. Sister to Polydeuces and half-sister to Castor and Clytemnestra. Wife of Menelaus, Helen was abducted by Paris, and this event contributed to the start of the Trojan War.

• Gender – Female
• Race – Human/Demi Goddess
• Occupation – Princess
• Religion – Hellenic Pantheon 
• Allies – 
• Enemies – 
• Base of operations –Sparta/ Troy
• Nationality – Spartan
• Affiliation (s) –
• Significant others – 

Helen, better known as Helen of Troy, was the daughter of Zeus and Leda and the wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta. She was the sister of Castor, Polydeuces, and Clytemnestra. Her abduction by Paris brought about the Trojan War.

Life of Helen

Birth

Helen is the daughter of Zeus and Leda, Zeus, in the form of a swan, was chased by an eagle, and sought refuge with Leda. The swan gained her affection, and the two mated. Leda then produced an egg, from which Helen was born.

Abduction by Theseus

Two Athenians, Theseus and Pirithous, pledged to wed daughters of Zeus. Theseus chose the Helen, and Pirithous vowed to marry Persephone, the wife of Hades. Theseus and Pirithous kidnapped Helen and left her with Theseus’ mother, Aethra, while they travelled to the underworld, the domain of Hades, to kidnap Persephone. Hades pretended to offer them hospitality and set a feast. As soon as the pair sat down, snakes coiled around their feet and held them there. Helen was subsequently rescued by her brothers, Castor and Pollux, who returned her to Sparta.

In most accounts of this event, Helen was quite young; around ten years old.

Marriage to Menelaus

When it was time for Helen to marry, many kings and princes from around the world came to seek her hand or sent emissaries to do so on their behalf. Among the contenders were Odysseus, Menestheus, Ajax the Great, Patroclus and Idomeneus, Agamemnon, both of whom were in exile, having fled Thyestes. All but Odysseus brought many rich gifts with them.

Tyndareus would not choose a suitor, or send any of the suitors away, for fear of offending them and giving grounds for a quarrel. Odysseus promised to solve the problem if Tyndareus would support him in his courting of Penelope, the daughter of Icarius. Tyndareus readily agreed and Odysseus proposed that, before the decision was made, all the suitors should swear a most solemn oath to defend the chosen husband against whoever should quarrel with him. This stratagem succeeded and Helen and Menelaus were married. Following Tyndareus’ death, Menelaus became king of Sparta because the only male heirs, Castor and Polydeuces, had died and ascended to Mount Olympus.

Suitors of Helen

Several lists of her suitors were compiled, since the suitors of Helen were later the heroes of the Trojan War.

Odysseus, son of Laertes; Diomedes, son of Tydeus; Antilochus, son of Nestor; Agapenor, son of Ancaeus; Sthenelus, son of Capaneus; Amphimachus, son of Cteatus; Thalpius, son of Eurytus; Meges, son of Phyleus; Amphilochus, son of Amphiaraus; Menestheus, son of Peteos; Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of Iphitus; Polyxenus, son of Agasthenes; Peneleos, son of Hippalcimus; Leitus, son of Alector; Ajax, son of Oileus; Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Ares; Elephenor, son of Chalcodon; Eumelus, son of Admetus; Polypoetes, son of Perithous; Leonteus, son of Coronus; Podalirius and Machaon, sons of Aesculapius; Philoctetes, son of Poeas; Eurypylus, son of Evaemon; Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus; Menelaus, son of Atreus; Ajax and Teucer, sons of Telamon; Patroclus, son of Menoetius, Idomeneus king of Crete, Cinyras king of Cyprus and Enarophorus.

Seduction by Paris

Some years later, Paris, a Trojan prince, came to Sparta to marry Helen, whom he had been promised by Aphrodite after he had chosen her as the most beautiful of the goddesses, earning the wrath of Athena and Hera. Helen fell in love with him, as the goddess had promised. Some sources say that Helen willingly left behind her husband Menelaus and Hermione, their nine-year-old daughter, to be with her new love, but, since Aphrodite promised Helen to Paris, there is some ambiguity about whether or not Helen went willingly.

Helen’s relationship with Paris varies depending on the source of the story. In some, she loved him dearly (perhaps caused by Aphrodite, who had promised her to Paris). In others, she was portrayed as his unwilling captive in Troy, or as a cruel, selfish woman who brought disaster to everyone around her, and she hated him.

Fall of Troy

When he discovered that his wife was missing, Menelaus called upon all the other suitors to fulfill their oaths, thus beginning the Trojan War. Almost all of Greece took part, either attacking Troy with Menelaus or defending it from them.

Late in the Trojan War, Paris was killed by Philoctetes. After Paris died, his brother, Deiphobus, married Helen until he was killed by Menelaus.

Menelaus had demanded that only he should slay his unfaithful wife; but, when he raised his sword to do so, the sight of her beauty caused him to let the sword drop from his hand. Instead, he led her in safety to the Greek ships.

Fate

Helen returned to Sparta and lived for a time with Menelaus, where she was encountered by Telemachus in The Odyssey.

When Menelaus was dead, and Orestes still a wanderer, Helen was driven out by Nicostratus and Megapenthes and came to Rhodes, where she had a friend in Polyxo, the wife of Tlepolemus. For Polyxo, they say, was an Argive by descent, and when she was already married to Tlepolemus shared his flight to Rhodes. At the time she was queen of the
island, having been left with an orphan boy. They say that this Polyxo desired to avenge the death of Tlepolemus on Helen, now that she had her in her power. So she sent against her when she was bathing handmaidens dressed up as Furies, who seized Helen and hanged her on a tree, and for this reason the Rhodians have a sanctuary of Helen of the Tree.”

Tlepolemus was a son of Heracles and Astyoche. Astyoche was a daughter of Phylas, King of Ephyra who was killed by Heracles. Tlepolemus was killed by Sarpedon on the first day of fighting in the Iliad. Nicostratus was a son of Menelaus by his concubine Pieris, an Aetolian slave. Megapenthes was a son of Menelaus by his concubine Tereis, no further origin mentioned.

Trojan War: Roleplaying in the Age of Homeric Adventure

A Mythic Vistas Sourcebook for the d20 System

Written by Aaron Rosenberg

Helen is the most beautiful woman in the world, tall and shapely with long golden hair and lovely blue eyes. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leda and the wife of Menelaus of Sparta. Paris seduced her and convinced her to run away to Troy with him, where she lives as his wife. Her departure was the cause of the Trojan War.

Helen is very soft-spoken and very tenderhearted. She feels a great deal of guilt for her part in the war, and constantly berates herself for giving in to Paris’ entreaties. Helen does her best to stay out of the way of the other Trojan women, who despise her for what she has caused. Her only real allies are Priam and Hector, who are both kind to her, and of course, Paris himself.

Helen
Female major divine off spring Bard 4
Medium-size humanoid
Hit Dice	4d6+4; hp 18
Initiative	+3
Speed	35 ft.
Armor Class	16, touch 13, flat-footed 13;
Base Attack/Grapple	+3/+3;
Attack	+3 melee (1d4, dagger);
Full Attack	+3 melee (1d4, dagger);
Space/Reach	5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	spells
Special Qualities	bardic knowledge, bardic music, countersong, fascinate, inspire competence, inspire courage +1, +4 to saving throws against divine spells;
Saves	Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +6;
Abilities	Strength 11, Dexterity 16, Constitution 12, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 14, Charisma 21.
Skills	Appraise +7 (+9 woven goods), Craft (weaving) +7, Diplomacy +14, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +7, Perform (sing) +12, Sense Motive +9;
Feats	Distinctive*, Stunning*.
Environment	–
Organization	–
Challenge Rating	6
Treasure	–
Alignment	Chaotic Neutral

Bard Spells Known (Cast per Day 3/3/1; save DC 13 + spell level):

• 0 – daze, detect magic, light, lullaby, mending, Song of Serenity;
• 1st – Allure, charm person, remove fear;
• 2nd – Beguile, eagle’s splendor.

Possessions: elegant robes and girdle, beaded sandals, ivory-handled dagger.