Let’s Marry Helen! Mythmaking Marriage in Lacedaemon
Summary
Host Liv Albert explores the origins of the Trojan War, focusing on Helen of Sparta’s birth, her abduction by Theseus, and the courtship of her suitors. The episode examines the Oath of Tyndareus, which bound Greek leaders to defend Helen, and analyzes conflicting ancient sources regarding her parentage. This installment serves as a prelude to the upcoming series on Homer’s Iliad, setting the stage for the Judgment of Paris and the divine conflicts that sparked the war.
Topics discussed
Book promotion and Scribd sponsorship
Helen's introduction and the Judgment of Paris
Host introduction and return to basics
Origins of the Trojan War and Euripides' Helen
Helen's birth and Leda's parentage
Reconstructing the story from ancient sources
Leda, Tyndareus, and the children of Sparta
The myth of Leda and the Swan
The Dioscuri and their cultural significance
Helen's childhood and abduction by Theseus
Pseudo-Apollodorus and the Nemesis variant
Quince and GameTime sponsorships
The suitors of Helen and the courtship
The list of suitors and Athenian propaganda
The Oath of Tyndareus and the Catalogue of Women
Pseudo-Apollodorus' list of wooers
The oath of the suitors and Helen's choice
Helen's marriage to Menelaus and timeline issues
Peace in Sparta and the birth of Hermione
Teaser for Thetis and closing remarks
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