Helena Menelaij regis coniuge · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Helena Menelaij regis coniuge
Subject: Paris; The Trojan War; Important Women; Famous Women; Greek Mythology; Helen
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Sparta; Ancient Greece; Troy; Asia Minor; Lacedaemon
Description: This engraving depicts prince Paris of Troy leaving the shores of Lacedaemon on a ship that carries queen Helen, wife of King Menelaus. Boccaccio explains that Paris had fallen in love with Helen while he was a guest in King Menelaus’ home. It is debated whether Helen’s feelings towards Paris were mutual and she willingly went with him, or if he had taken her by force. This image depicts Paris sitting on the right side of the ship and Helen sitting on the left side. Lacedaemon is illustrated on the left side of the engraving, while the city of Troy is on the right side. The ship is pointing towards Troy as that is their destination. Paris and Helen going to Troy is the cause of one of the greatest wars of all time: The Trojan War.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18155
Language: lat
Source Name: Iohannis Bocacij in librum de claris mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1487 Leuven; 1487 Leuven
Image: mta_18155_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Paris; The Trojan War; Important Women; Famous Women; Greek Mythology; Helen