Helen Of Troy

A mythological beauty, she had been; A legendary beauty, she had grown. Who is it other than Helen of Troy, The epitome of seductive beauty? A symbol of man’s erotic desires, From the other women, Helen differs In that she never employed her charms To gain power of self-aggrandizement. Her era dates back to fifth century B.C. The fairest of women had been the one Whom all women should hate and yet envy, And all men should fear and yet desire. No wonder, men were captive of her charm, But not was she captive of any man.. She had admirers; none did she admire. Her fairness deserved more than what she got. A puppet she was in the heavenly battle, Where Greek Gods and Goddesses had sported. As such, she must be absolved of the taints She was attached with, sadistically. Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, The Greek God and Goddess. Born of an egg, And brought up by a shepherd, she became The prince of Sparta, a kingdom’f the Greek. At her age ten, Helen was kidnapped By an Athenian Hero for her charm And was, however, brought back unscathed By her brother; so famous she became. At Helen’s wedding, numerous suitors From far and wide came to claim her fair hand. They were made to swear an oath to defend The chosen husband in the event of A rival attempting to abduct Helen, The beauty who bred danger where she trod. The oath assumed a greater importance In the development of the Trojan War. Helen was married to Menelaus, A warrior, on his highest offerings. On king’s death, he became the king of Sparta. Helen bore a daughter; nine years rolled. Paris, a Trojan Prince, came to Sparta To marry Helen, whom he had been promised By Aphrodite, after he had chosen her As the fairest of all the goddesses So that she could claim the golden apple Thrown by the Goddess, Eris, from anger Of not being invited by King Peleus For his marriage to Sea Nymph Thetis. Once Paris arrived in the house, And Menelaus was fated to leave it, Helen eloped with Paris to Trojan. The war broke, all suitors participated The war lasting for over nine years, Helen lived these years as a willing captive, More to the design of Aphrodite. It is unfair to brand her as unfaithful.. The end of the war was brought about Through the Trojan horse built and left ashore, With their heroes hidden in it. The foes Drew the horse into the fort for their fate. The heroes sacked the city and captured And caged the fairest queen to her shame. The Greeks and the Trojans despised her alike. No woman of her status could be that worst. Menelaus was to slay his faithless wife. As he raised his sword, , she dropped her robe From her shoulders, revealing her assets. It made him let the sword dropp from his hand. Helen defied Aphrodite to remain With Paris, who was soon to meet his death. Her woes about her hasty decision To leave Sparta and her spouse crippled her. ‘I will not serve his bed since the Trojan women Hereafter would laugh at me, all, and my heart Even now is confused with sorrow’ Helen lamented thus to Aphrodite. Helen returned as the queen of Sparta. Chastity, outraged, could be recovered; Women are resilient, given a chance. Helen is a proof for all men to note. How Helen looked, no clues; Yet her name has power To inflame men’s heart, ho! 20.08.2008 [Aphrodite is Greek Goddess her counterpart is Venus. Zeus is Greek God, his counterpart is Jupiter.]