Helen of Troy is one of the most enduring and enigmatic figures in Greek literature. She appears variously as an epitome of wanton destruction, a faithless wife, and a blameless beauty. She reveals how Greek society thought about women, human agency, and the divine. In this course, we will focus on her presentation in Euripides’ Helen, a tragedy which transforms Helen of Troy into Helen of Egypt. We will consider issues of meter and performance, and we will compare the play with the presentations of Helen in other Greek authors, including Homer, Sappho, Herodotus, and the philosopher Gorgias.
- Teacher: Amelia Bensch-Schaus