Helen Sightings

Helen Sightings

  • The Iliad by Homer 700BC - 601BC

    Helen is the whole reason for the war in Homer's famous epic poem. They weren't kidding about that whole face-that-launched-a-thousand-ships thing.


  • The Odyssey by Homer 800BC - 599

    Odysseus' son Telemachus has a lovely dinner with Helen in Homer's other super-famous poem.


  • The Trojan Women by Euripides 415BC

    In this tragedy that takes place after Greeks have won, Menelaus shows up to reclaim his wife—and to have her executed.


  • Helen by Euripides 412BC

    According to this play, the Helen that went to Troy was a phantom: the real Helen was spirited away to Egypt by Athena and Hera. Well, then.


  • Inferno by Dante 1308 - 1321

    In Dante's masterpiece, the lusty Helen is said to be trapped in the second circle of Hell.


  • Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe 1604

    The sexiest of them all leads to a pretty famous speech by the Doctor in Marlowe's play.


  • Faust: Part Two by Goethe 1832

    The man who sold his soul to the Devil falls madly in love with the ghost of Helen in Goethe's take on it.


  • "No Second Troy" by William Butler Yeats 1916

    In this already-Shmooped poem Yeats compares his lover to the alluring and troublesome Helen of Troy.


  • Helen of Troy 1956

    The most beautiful woman ever is played by Rossana Podesta in this film. Imagine landing that role.


  • Helen of Troy 2003

    What do you think, does Sienna Guillory do her justice? Either way, she has a movie named after her, which is pretty awesome.


  • Troy 2004

    Diane Kruger plays Helen opposite Orlando Bloom's Paris in this Hollywood blockbuster. Talk about a smokin' hot pair.