Читать книгу The Herodotus Encyclopedia - Группа авторов - Страница 279

MICHAEL LLOYD

University College Dublin

Mythical Trojan prince, also known as Paris, whose abduction of HELEN from SPARTA was the cause of the TROJAN WAR (1.3; 2.112–20). Alexander’s exploit is the fourth and last in the sequence of mythical abductions of women which began hostilities between East and West. Herodotus attributes these stories to “learned Persians” (1.1.1), but it has been argued that they are Greek in origin and that the alleged source is fictitious (Fehling 1989, 50–57).

In Herodotus’ other version of the story (2.112–20), attributed to “Egyptian priests,” Alexander is diverted to EGYPT by adverse WINDS, and the king PROTEUS keeps Helen there until she is reclaimed by MENELAUS. Herodotus cites HOMER in support (Il. 6.289–92), contrasting the version in the EPIC Cypria (PEG F14) in which Alexander has an untroubled voyage back to TROY (2.116.3). Proteus criticizes him for his breach of hospitality, seduction of Helen, and THEFT of Menelaus’ property (for the stolen property, see Hom. Il. 3.70, 285, etc.). Helen in this version may never have reached Troy, but as Herodotus concludes, Alexander and the Trojans are nevertheless destroyed: “for great crimes there are great punishments from the gods” (2.120.5).

SEE ALSO: Guest‐friendship; “Liar School”; Myth; Poetry; Prologue; Proof; Rape; Reciprocity; Source Citations