Helen of Troy
Basic elements of story of Helen
Fictional representations
- Euripedes, Helen
- The Cypria (ancient epic)
- The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927 film)
- Helen of Troy" (2003 TV miniseries)
- Kolchak: The Night Stalker" episode "The Youth Killer" (a villainous Helen sacrificed young people throughout history to retain her own youth and beauty)
- Troy (2004 film)
- Sheri Tepper, The Gate to Women's Country
Xena: Warrior Princess episode "Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts"
Helen was portrayed by Galan Görg, aka Gaylyn Görg, Galyn Görg, a woman of color--a relative rarity.
This is a rather feminist take on the Helen story: It starts with the common characterization of Helen, trapped and feeling to blame; but it's made clear that the fall of Troy is not Helen's fault, but the fault of "two kings ... bent on destruction" (Xena). Helen repeatedly offers to end the needless bloodshed, to be told by Xena that it is pointless. (And it's clear that Helen's first marriage to Menelaus was not her choice.)
Xena helps Helen see her way out of the situation:
- Xena: What do you want to do?
- Helen: No one has ever asked me before.
Later, at the end of the episode, Helen tells Paris that she will leave him because he wanted to own her, not love her. At the very end she thanks Xena for helping her be able to choose:
- Helen: You've done a lot for me, Xena. You've shown me the only person that can make me happy, is me.
- Xena: What's next for you?
- Helen: I don't know, but ... for the first time, it's my decision.
Rather than being portrayed as flighty, willing to sacrifice others' lives for her own pleasure, Helen is shown as willing to sacrifice herself to end the war. She is not addicted to vanity and service by others. At the end, Helen rejects the pomp and glory of her fame, choosing to be "treated like a normal person for a change."
As she leaves, Xena mockingly places Helen's tiara on Deiphobus' dead body.