Helen

Euripides (c.480–c.406 BC), translated by Theodoridis, G., (contributor-contact-email)

Euripides’ Helen, first presented in 412 BC at the Dionysia, forms part of a trilogy alongside the lost Andromeda. It shares thematic similarities with Iphigenia in Tauris, which is believed to have been staged around the same time.

Written after the Sicilian Expedition, a period of Athenian defeat and philosophical upheaval by the sophists, Helen critiques warfare as fundamentally destructive. The play aligns with Herodotus’ and Stesichorus’ accounts that Helen was in Egypt, not Troy, during the Trojan War. In this narrative, the gods replace Helen with a phantom to deceive Paris, leaving the real Helen in Egypt. There, under the protection of deceased King Proteus, Helen is pursued by his son Theoclymenus, who wishes to marry her despite her loyalty to Menelaus, King of Sparta.

Helen, believing Menelaus dead, faces pressure to marry Theoclymenus. The arrival and eventual recognition of Menelaus, who mistakenly believes he rescued a phantom Helen from Troy, complicates matters. They devise a plan to escape, misleading Theoclymenus about Menelaus’ death and planning a sea burial to symbolize Helen’s release from her marriage. Their escape incites Theoclymenus’ wrath, nearly leading to his sister Theonoe’s death, but they are saved by divine intervention from Helen’s brothers, the demi-gods Castor and Pollux.

Author Details

Euripides, a preeminent Greek tragedian born around 480 BC on the island of Salamis, was a transformative figure in the evolution of ancient Greek drama. He was the son of Mnesarchus, a merchant, and Cleito. Initially destined to be an athlete, as per an oracle’s prophecy, Euripides’ career was redirected towards the arts, encompassing studies in philosophy under Anaxagoras and Prodicus, and painting.

Among the trio of great tragedians, including also Aeschylus and Sophocles, Euripides is noted for his innovative approach to drama. He is credited with infusing classical Greek theatre with a modern sensibility, portraying mythical heroes as ordinary individuals in extraordinary situations. This novel perspective heralded significant developments in drama, influencing later forms including comedy and romance.

Ancient sources attribute as many as 92 plays to him, but only around 18 or 19 have survived in a complete form, with the authorship of “Rhesus” being subject to debate. His works are distinguished by their deep exploration of characters’ inner lives - in stark contrast to the style of his contemporaries.

Euripides’ own life intersected significantly with contemporary intellectual movements, granting Socrates’ and himself prominent positions in Athenian culture - which led to both being criticized by comic poets including Aristophanes.

In his later years, there are conflicting accounts about his voluntary exile and death in Macedonia around 406 BC, with both the assumption his death there, and the nature of his relationship with King Archelaus, being questioned by modern scholars.

His dramatic contributions are multifaceted, marked by a shift from traditional heroic narratives to more nuanced, often controversial, explorations of societal issues and human psychology, in plays characterized by their rhetorical prowess and innovative use of language, reflecting contemporary Athenian society and its complexities.

Despite winning only a few dramatic competitions in his lifetime, Euripides’ impact on the genre of tragedy, and his influence on subsequent generations of playwrights and dramatists, is undeniable. He remains a pivotal figure in the evolution of Western drama.

More by this author

Read Now Download

Theodoridis, G.,

Support Open-Access:

Your contribution keeps our classical translations available to all. Every dollar helps support classics education and funds the expansion of our catalogue. Value what we do? Donate now.

File Downloads:

PDF

Mobi

Epub

MS Word

Html