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Description[]
Menelaus was the King of Sparta. When his wife was abducted, in order to free her Menelaus led Sparta into the Trojan Wars. When one of Menelaus’ men died on the voyage, Menelaus delayed the whole voyage until his crewmen was properly buried. Menelaus’ journey home from Troy was documented by Homer in the “Odyssey”.
Origin[]
Menelaus was the son of king Atreus of Mycenae. He grew up in Mycenae, in the Peloponnesian region of Greece, southwest of Athens.
Family[]
Menelaus was married to Helen, one of Zeus’ daughters and the most beautiful women in Greece. He was also the son of the king of Mycenae, Atreus. Menelaus also has an older brother named Agamemnon. When Menelaus died he became immortal because of his relationship with Zeus’ daughter, Helen.
Myths[]
After Helen left Sparta with Paris, Menelaus got together with the other Greek leaders and formed an army to retrieve her. In order to penetrate the city walls of Troy a plan was hatched to build a giant wooden horse to give to the Trojans as a gift. The horse would be hollow and filled with troops that would attack the city when it was off guard. This plan worked and the Trojans accepted the gift. When the sun went down, the soldiers exited the horse and attacked the city. Menelaus dueled with Paris, the leader of Troy. Before Menelaus killed Paris, Aphrodite stepped in and saved him. Due to the surprise attack, the Trojans were defeated and Helen was brought back to Sparta.
Powers[]
Menelaus’ did not have any supernatural powers. However he was a very skilled sword fighter. During the Trojan Wars, Menelaus successfully dulled Paris, the prince of Troy.
Interesting Facts[]
· Homer’s the “Odyssey” and the “Iliad” are about the Greek war led by Menelaus and the trip back to Greece.
· Menelaus was often depicted on Greek pottery.
· Menelaus appears as a character in a number of 5th-century Greek tragedies.
· Menelaus was stranded in Egypt when winds blew his ship off course on the return trip from Troy.
Citations
1) Myths Encyclopedia." Menelaus. Mythencyclopedia, 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2013.
2) "Menelaus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
3) Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2013.
4) Hunter, James. "Menelaus." Menelaus. Encyclopedia Mythica, 2001. Web. 12 Apr. 2013.
5) "Menelaus." Encyclopedia.com. Encyclopedia.com, 2013. Web.