The Myth of Helen's Elopement with Paris

The story of why Helen was persuaded by the goddess Aphrodite to elope with Paris is a central part of the narrative of the Trojan War, one of the most famous moments in Greek Mythology.

Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, promised Paris, a Trojan prince, the most beautiful woman in the world as a prize in a divine beauty contest. This woman was Helen, the wife of Menelaus, the king of Sparta. Aphrodite facilitated the meeting of Helen and Paris, and then cast a spell that made Helen fall in love with Paris, which resulted in her leaving with him of her own accord to Troy, causing the onset of the Trojan War.

This tale has been passed down through history via works such as Homer's epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey and represents themes of love, betrayal, and divine intervention that were central to Greek mythology.