What did Helen of Troy look like? The Trojan War & Facial Re-Creations | Royalty Now
Royalty Now Studios・2 minutes read
Helen of Troy's legendary beauty led to the Trojan War, with her elopement with Paris resulting in the fall of Troy. Her features are said to adhere to the golden ratio, embodying Greek beauty ideals of symmetry and purity.
Insights
- Helen of Troy, renowned for her unparalleled beauty, was at the center of the Trojan War, sparking conflict between the Greeks and Trojans.
- The depiction of Helen's beauty in Greek mythology, including her facial proportions based on the golden ratio and the cultural beauty standards of the time, showcases the significance of aesthetics and symmetry in ancient Greek society.
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Who was known as the most beautiful woman in Greek mythology?
Helen of Troy
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Summary
00:00
The Legendary Tale of Helen and Troy
- Helen of Troy is known as the most beautiful woman in Greek mythology, leading to the Trojan War.
- Helen, originally Helen of Sparta, attracted many suitors due to her legendary beauty.
- Menelaus of Mycenae, brother of King Agamemnon, was chosen by Helen as her husband.
- The Trojan King Priam had a son, Prince Hector, a respected warrior, and another son, Paris, who was prophesied to bring destruction to Troy.
- The goddess of Discord, Eris, created chaos by offering a golden apple to the most beautiful goddess, leading to Paris choosing Aphrodite for love.
- Paris was instructed by Aphrodite to go to Sparta and find Helen, leading to their elopement to Troy.
- The Greeks, led by Agamemnon and Menelaus, sailed to Troy with a thousand ships to retrieve Helen.
- The Trojan War lasted for nine years, with Achilles, the son of Zeus, playing a crucial role as the greatest warrior.
- Paris and Menelaus were to fight for Helen's fate, but Paris was saved by Aphrodite, leading to Hector's death at Achilles' hands.
- The fall of Troy came with the Greeks' deceptive Trojan Horse, resulting in the city's destruction, including the deaths of Hector, Paris, and King Priam. Helen returned to Sparta with Menelaus.
18:46
Ideal Proportions of Helen's Face in Greek Beauty
- Helen's face is constructed using the golden ratio, inspired by the features of the statue of Aphrodite. The golden ratio, a principle of ideal proportion, dictates that a balanced face should be 1.6 times longer than wide, with eyes 1.6 times wider than lips, and lower lip 1.6 times larger than the upper lip. Greek beauty culture involved fair skin, white makeup, beetroot dyes for lips and cheeks, coal-lined eyes, and bold dark eyebrows, with a preference for symmetry and purity.
- A Meenan-style Helen is also depicted, inspired by a plaster head from that era with dark hair and eyes, and red rosette makeup. The myth of Helen of Troy, possibly originating from Homer's time, is recreated in modern interpretations, incorporating historical elements into her appearance.
