Helen of Troy

The origin's of Helen's Myth date back to the Mycenaean age. 
In the 'Helen of Troy' version, the Iliad describes the differences between Achilles and his leader Agamenon, and between the Greeks and the Trojans, following the abduction of Agamenon's sister-in-law Helen of Sparta. Though it is still unclear if Helen chose to go or was forced to leave Sparta, it still ignited the battle between Sparta and Troy. Helen is the object of one of the most dramatic love stories of all time, and one of the main reasons for a ten-year war between the Greeks and Trojans.

A different version of the story is 'Abduction by Theseus and youth'.  Athenians, Theseus and Pirithous, thought that since they were both sons of Gods, that both should have devine wives; so they pledged to help each other abduct two daughters of Zeus. Thesus chose Helen, and Pirithous vowed to marry Persephone, the wife of Hades. Theseus took Helen and left her with his mother Aethra or his associate Aphindnus  at Athens. Theseus and Pirithous then traveled to the underworld, the domain of Hades, to kidnap Persephone. Hades pretended to offer them hospitality and set a feast, but, as soon as the pair sat down, snakes coiled around their feet and held them there. Helen's abduction caused an invasion of Athens by Castor and Pollux, who captured Aethra in revenge, and returned their sister to Sparta.

There are many other versions to the the story of Helen. It was clear in all stories that Helen was a wanted woman, and that she played a factor on the Trojan War. I feel that although Helen's "abduction" cause quite a stir, the Greeks and the Trojans wanted to fight each other anyway. The Greeks and Trojans had their differences, I highly doubt that one woman was the "ultimate reason" for a whole entire ten-year battle. According to the true facts about Helen, 'Helen of Troy' is a more accurate story then 'Abduction by Theseus and youth'. The main question is; "Did Helen choose to go for love?" or "Was she really abducted against her will?" Some versions state that she was married at the time of her abduction, and that she was cheating on her husband with the enemy's prince. Some versions state that she was abducted by the one who longed to marry her. Helen was not only an inspiration for many poems and love stories, she is also an inspiration for many beauty products.