MENELAUS (king of Sparta, husband of Helen)
Hero and companion · mythical king of Sparta, husband of Helen of Troy
- Known as
- Having a loud war-cry
- Parents
- Atreus, Aerope
- Siblings
- Agamemnon, Anaxibia
- Consorts
- Helen of Troy, Cnossia
- Children
- Hermione, Nicostratus, Megapenthes, Xenodamus, Morraphius, Pleisthenes, Aethiolas, Corythus, Thronius
- Allies
- Agamemnon, Hera
- Foes
- Orestes
- Haunts and cult places
- Laconia
- In the sources
- 369 ancient passages
Menelaus is the son of Atreus and Airope. Apollodorus 3.10.8 +19 Menelaus is the husband of Helen, whom Tyndareus gave to him. Euripides, Helen 1165-1205 +12 Menelaus is the brother of Agamemnon. Euripides, Orestes 208-252 +1
Appearance
He is described as having yellow hair. Iliad 17 ¶1 +1
In the myths
Menelaus defeated Paris in single combat with the assistance of Athena. Iliad 3 ¶1 +6 Menelaus greeted Telemachus, identified him, and hosted him as a guest in his palace. Odyssey 15 ¶5 +4 Menelaus stripped the slain Euphorbus of his bloody armor and gave it to his own soldiers. Iliad 13 ¶44 +3 Menelaus gave Telemachus a silver mixing bowl inlaid with gold, which Phaedimus, king of the Sidonians, had presented to him. Odyssey 15 ¶8 +3 Menelaus arrived at Nauplia after the capture of Troy, where he found his wife preparing to leave for Sparta. Euripides, Electra 1264-1291 +2 Menelaus was proposed as the opponent for a duel with Paris to decide the fate of Helen and her wealth, with the condition that if victorious, he would take Helen and her possessions to his own home. Iliad 3 ¶7 +1 Menelaus was wounded in the body by an arrow shot by Pandarus, who aimed at him before releasing it. Iliad 4 ¶1 +1 Menelaus was wounded in the body by an arrow shot by a Trojan or Lycian archer. Iliad 4 ¶15 +1 Menelaus and Meriones were instructed to lift and carry a fallen comrade's body away from the battlefield, while Trojan warriors pursued them. Iliad 17 ¶48 +1 Menelaus hid inside the wooden horse with other Argive heroes, entering after Achilles' son. Odyssey 4 ¶22 +1
Fate
Theonoe must decide whether to ruin or save Menelaos's life, and he is reported to be alive and seeing the light of day. Euripides, Helen 528-565 +1 Paris is warned that if he fights Menelaus, he will die by his spear and lie in the dust. Iliad 3 ¶39 +1
