The Rape Of Helen, From The Greek Of Coluthus: With Miscellaneous Notes

by William Beloe Colluthus

The Rape of Helen, from the Greek of with Miscellaneous Notes, is a book written by Colluthus and translated into English by William Beloe in 1786. The book tells the story of the abduction of Helen of Troy by Paris, which eventually leads to the Trojan War. The story is told in epic poetry form and is based on ancient Greek mythology. The book also includes various notes and commentary by Beloe, providing context and analysis of the story. Overall, The Rape of Helen offers a unique perspective on one of the most famous stories in Greek mythology, and provides an interesting glimpse into the literary and cultural traditions of ancient Greece.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction

70 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 500

Reviews

[Yann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce petit poème grec écrit par Coluthus reprend un épisode bien connu : l'enlèvement d'Hélène. Après que la redoutable Éris soit allée chercher au jardin des Hespérides l'une des fameuses pommes d'or, l'ai jetée au milieu du banquet des Dieux d'où elle avait été rejetée, et qu'Athéna, Héra et Aphrodite se soit disputées cette pomme destinée "à la plus belle", le pâtre Alexandre est appelé à prononcer sur ce délicat jugement.

Chacune tente alors d'acheter le juge par des présents, et notre juge se laisse corrompre par sa concupiscence, Aphrodite lui promettant l'amour de la plus belle des femmes, celle qui est déjà mariée au Spartiate Ménélas. Notre héros se précipite dans le Péloponnèse, ravit les yeux et le cœur de sa dulcinée, laquelle s'empresse de s'informer de l'identité du bel inconnu. Il n'a qu'à préciser que la déesse à voulu qu'il l'enlève pour qu'elle se rendre à cet arrêt divin.

Un joli petit poème grec, bien mené.

[Jesús De la Jara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este poema breve de Catulo abarca de manera simple el rapto de Helena a manos de Paris o Alejandro, príncipe troyano. Cuenta el incidente de la elección de la más bella de las diosas durante las bodas de Peleo y Tetis, por lo cual Atenea, Afrodita y Hera se enemistan por cada una creerse la más hermosa.
El juicio en sí se describe de forma extensa y me agradó el conocer más acerca de los detalles también de la llegada a Paris a Esparta y los lamentos de la pequeña Hermione.

[Santiago González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante para ver como las bodas de Tetis y Peleo por la manzana que arroja Discordia/Eris acaba en el juicio de Paris, decidiéndose por Afrodita, que enseña sus senos y le promete a Helena. Interesante la discusión entre las diosas y como Afrodita le hace un roast a Atenea. Después se narra el voluntario "rapto" de Helena, la cual es bastante idiota e irresponsable, abandonando a su marido y a su hija y diciendo que le daba igual que le viese Menelao. Todo un martir Menelao que, como se ve en la Odisea, tras décadas de guerra de Troya la perdona y sigue con ella.

[Sarah Wahl]

a short but interesting perspective of Helen's abduction & the actions that led to the occurrence! this will definitely help with my thesis :)

[Siem Lowis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I really liked about this book is that it contains part of the "Paris was chosen to pick a goddess" story and its details.

[· · Rating 3 out of 5]

(1 October, 2022)

I always thought Paris and Helen were idiots but not to the degree they are shown here. In 'The Rape Of Helen', the word rape is used in the sense of kidnapping but even that is wrong. Helen tells Paris she is not afraid of her husband, Menelaus, before getting the Hell out of Sparta with her new boy-toy. Afterward, Hermione, her daughter, dreams of mummy dearest and is told, by Helen herself, she was carried away by the "deceitful" Paris. Simple dream or actual message?

Paris, the so-called judge and tender of herds, is the perfect example of the uneducated farmhand he has always seemed (to me). Easily duped by smarter, more powerful women, he judges Aphrodite as most beautiful simply because he can get a bigger kickback from her.

Lying mother and oblivious horn dog, boy oh boy, 'Dumb and Dumber' deserve each other! Too bad a whole city had to die for their folly.

Good but no more. The difference between this poem and a brief account of this story is slim. I expected a lot more drama.

[Nikhil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great translation in iambic pentameter. Short, and covers only Helen's seduction and flight from Sparta, ending as Paris approaches Troy, promised bride in tow.