Leda and the Swan

So, why is Helen of Troy beautiful enough to start a war? While the idea of Helen being the impetus for a long drawn out 10 year battle is suspect, there is a reason, albeit an odd one, that she is so darn pretty to look at.

Helen herself tells us this in Euripides version of Helen:


 "My own fatherland, Sparta, is not without fame, and my father is Tyndareus; but there is indeed a story that Zeus flew to my mother Leda, taking the form of a bird, a swan, [20] which accomplished the deceitful union" ~Eurpides 16 - 20


Mortal man cannot look upon the true appearance of Zeus, therefore his escapades generally involve his taking the form of an animal. Here he takes on the guise of a swan, a creature known for extreme grace and beauty if not often unwarranted aggression. The swan and Leda, herself a beauty, create Helen and her sister. 
Collection of The J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, California Malibu 86.AE.680


Of course, there is much more to the story, including one being that Zeus' fatherhood evidenced when Leda lays an egg, while the sister is of the mortal father. And, in true Greek myth, other stories branch off into the realm of goddesses throwing the egg between Leda's legs as she gives birth. This story led Spartans to worship Helen as a goddess. But the point remains, there is a practical explanation for Helen's extreme beauty. 

Certainly there are many other more plausible explanations for the battle of Troy. Agamemnon believes empires expand through conquest. He uses his brother's rage at the affront of losing Helen to further increase his domain. While more likely, this story is not nearly as fun to retell as that of Helen and her prince.

Euripides. The Complete Greek Drama, edited by Whitney J. Oates and Eugene O'Neill, Jr. in two volumes. 2. Helen, translated by E. P. Coleridge. New York. Random House. 1938.

Borrowed from the Perseus Project