Helen of Troy | The Queen of Greek Myths

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We combined the two parts into one mega episode for YouTube, enjoy!

The story of Helen of Troy, her remarkable birth and her infamous love affair with Paris, the Trojan prince, resounds across the centuries. A figure of condemnation, pity and tragedy, her beauty set in motion the most legendary literary conflict of all time: the Trojan Wars. Yet, Helen’s story reaches far beyond Homer and the Iliad. From her godly parentage and the egg from which she hatched, to her marriage to the king of Sparta and her abduction to Troy, Helen crossed paths with the greatest figures of Greek mythology. But in a story told almost entirely by men, what then is the truth of Helen? Was her fabled life one of abuse and oppression, or was she the mistress of her own fate? And could it be that she did in fact really exist?

Join Tom and Dominic as they journey through the life of Helen of Troy, into worlds of myth and legend, and explore the significance of this most iconic of women - both for the world of the Ancient Greeks, and our world today.

Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook

Producer: Theo Young-Smith
Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett
Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor

[Lefkara]

A brilliant exposition of the significance of Helen in ancient Greek culture over the course of a 1000 years. Thank you.

[thetruekat]

Never mind the education aspect of the historical rundown, the ancient gossip analysis is so delicious and juicy and they way they talk is so open I feel like I am part of the conversation and its just fabulous!

[thomaswebb]

The host/guest relationship and responsibility in Greek myths is such a wonderful thread. Heroes stop fighting one another after learning that their fathers had entertained the other's. It's the other reason Paris is doomed, for breaking this bond as Menelaus' guest.

[kt]

Literally been spending my Sunday afternoon listening to the Custer collection on Spotify - already 4 episodes in - these two gents are top lads

[dsjwhite]

The dialogue, chit chat, humour just make this such an enjoyable series. And, real and informed history. I think you guys have squared the circle (sounds like a possible episode?) thank you.

[MRnoobpawnder]

Mate, i'll be bikepacking across Pennsylvania tomorrow while listening to this on my speaker, cheers!

[TravelatorHr]

This channel is the classiest. It's like the wrestle me. Podcast with less poop jokes and true events

[austinquick]

yall are reading my mind.. when yall were doing the french revolution, i was reading charles dickens, tolstoy, schama, dumas, now as SOOOON as i pick up a few translations of the ILIAD, yall wanna move on to Helen of Troy. lol, you gotta be freaking kidding me. this is great.

[pbohearn]

Wow, this was an incredible university level lecture that I listened to in pretty much one sitting and was enthralled about 95% of the time. I am becoming a real ancient Greek and Roman nerd thank you for that illuminating discussion of Helen of Troy. By the way in high school Mounted, “the Trojan women.“ And it was a dark and tragic play but very interesting to hear now about who Helen of Troy was.

[Rikalonius]

This has been a fascinating episode. I really enjoyed it. The first time I read Homer's hymn to Aphrodite I said, "this is like ancient Penthouse letters." Studly shepherd, minding his own business on Mt. Edna, and some goddess is eyeballing him for his beauty from Olympus and then spends all day doing her hair and make up and then descends down to have a tryst with him in a farmhouse. One thing, mythologically speaking, about Helen going willingly with Paris or not, she does have an argument with Aphrodite in the Iliad after Aphrodite rescues Paris from death. She tells Helen to go to his bedside and she as much as says --why don't you go be his wife. When threatened she goes and mocks Paris. Aphrodite had threatened to make her loathsome to both Greek and Trojans, which maybe she did.

[ceilingsintheireyes]

Just found this channel and loved this video. I've heard of Tom before but didn't realise it was him until half way through! Great to listen to, very knowledgable.

[johnking]

Achilles of heel fame ! From Greek hero to a sports injury I find your discussions of history oh so interesting and entertaining at the same time. Thanks and hopefully you can keep it up 👍

[ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΊΑΜΟΙΡΑ]

I'm Greek I've studied Homer in highschool in the prototype and later read Odyssey and Iliad!One gets really obsessed by the stories! Helen is the bright one from Hel that comes Helios the sun and so Hellas name means Hel(sun)las(two L's)Las means stone or rock!By the way Eleni is one of the most usual names in Greece and elsewhere!

[russellboyd]

I consider myself a amateur historian.im from the first state Delaware.im into alot of different historical subjects.most is European history.i started watching these getleman about the french revolution.i always say America doesn't have history compared to europe.this subject of custard i really didn't know much more then he was a civil war hero and was flamboyantly dressed.after watching this whole thing.i learned so much.espescailly about the sue and custard of course.thank u very much.u guys are awesome

[kealani]

Her importance as a high priestess has been practically ignored.

[andreaspetrou]

Guys you are just a blessing to listen to

[ravenj]

mythology, legend, Bible stories… so much of it just makes me want to curl into a little ball like an armadillo and roll out into space like an asteroid

[janesmith]

I love these two! Always fascinating even if it's a subject I am not familiar with and they bounce off each other brilliantly.

[lynngreyling]

Intriguing and positively phantasmagorical - remind me to never go near any swans in Greece. Thank you for a detailed rendition of "Helen".

[Janika-xjbv]

"Beware of eagles carrying tortuses, Dominic"
😂