Pre-modern Helen of Troy

christopher marlowe s play tragical history of doctor faustus (1604) source of famous quote face launched thousand ships / , burnt topless towers of ilium? , although line derived quotation in lucian s dialogues of death.

helen appeared in athenian comedies of fifth century bc caricature of pericles s mistress aspasia. in hellenistic times, associated moon due similarity of name greek word Σελήνη (selēnē), meaning moon . 1 pythagorean source claimed helen had come colony on moon, people larger, stronger, , fifteen times more beautiful ordinary mortals. dio chrysostom absolved helen of guilt trojan war making paris first, original husband , claiming greeks started war out of jealousy. virgil, in aeneid, makes aeneas 1 spare helen s life, rather menelaus, , instead portrays act lofty example of self-control. meanwhile, virgil makes helen more vicious having betray own husband deiphobos , give him on menelaus peace offering. satirist lucian of samosata features helen in famous dialogues of dead, in portrays deceased spirit aged , withered.

in middle ages, after rise of christianity, helen seen pagan equivalent eve book of genesis. helen beloved medieval christians took on of roles of virgin mary. during renaissance, french poet pierre de ronsard wrote 142 sonnets addressed woman named hélène de surgères, in declared true , french helen, rather lie of greeks.

helen appears in various versions of faust myth, including christopher marlowe s 1604 play tragical history of doctor faustus, in faustus famously marvels, face launched thousand ships / , burnt topless towers of ilium? upon seeing demon impersonating helen. line, quoted out of context, paraphrase of statement lucian s dialogues of dead. debated whether phrase conveys astonishment @ helen s beauty, or disappointment not more beautiful. german poet , polymath johann wolfgang von goethe re-envisioned meeting of faust , helen. in faust: second part of tragedy, union of helen , faust becomes complex allegory of meeting of classical-ideal , modern worlds.