He vied with his brother Thyestes for the throne of Mycenae. ." He has ruled in Sparta for many years but it has yet to become his home. 11:29). . Her beauty is without parallel, but she is criticized for giving in to her Trojan captors and thereby costing many Greek men their lives. חַשְׁמוֹנָאִים), title for Maccabees in Josephus (Ant., 12:263), Mishnah (Mid. Encyclopedia.com. Helen's abduction from Sparta by the Trojans sparked the Trojan War. Agamemnon raised an army of Greek warriors to retrieve Helen, reminding them of their oath to her husband. a. He joined Helen in Elysium, a place of ideal happiness in the afterlife. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/menelaus, Rappaport, Uriel "Menelaus King Priam ignored her and welcomed his estranged son back to Troy with his sons Hector and Dei… He holds huge influence in the region and is aware of Troy’s burgeoning power across the ocean. To prevent any violence against her future husband, the Greek warrior Odysseus made his countrymen swear to protect the man she agreed to wed. Helen chose Menelaus, who later became king of Sparta. Jason attempted to seize the high priesthood back from him, but Menelaus succeeded in retaining power, chiefly with the assistance of the Syrians. For Atreus it was his murder at the hand of his nephew. He was the younger brother of Agamemnon, who became a ditinguished king, and was born of the line of Tantalus. ZADOK (Heb. Bilgah was the name of one of the priestly divisions (i Chron. Myths / Mortals / Menelaus Menelaus was a king of Sparta in Greek mythology, husband of Helen. Encyclopedia.com. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Menelaus. When Thyestes seduced Atreus' wife, Aerope, in order to attain the golden ram whose possession signified kingship, Atreus, in (April 15, 2021). 13:4). When the time came for Helen to marry, she had many suitors. Menelaus, in Greek mythology, king of Sparta and younger son of Atreus, king of Mycenae; the abduction of his wife, Helen, led to the Trojan War. It seems preferable to accept the reading found in some Latin manuscripts which reads "Bilgah" instead of Benjamin. Retrieved April 15, 2021 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/menelaus. Later he lost favor in the court of the Seleucids and on the advice of Lysias was put to death (apparently in 162 b.c.e.). ), first wife of *Herod the Great, whom he married (c. 47 b.c.e.) . * Menelaus: Jewish high priest from ca. Encyclopedia.com. ." Menelaus is king of which city? The King of Sparta and the former husband of Helen, who he has fought the Trojan War for, and who he now intends to transport back to Greece and kill for her disloyalty.Although Menelaus is her enemy, Hecuba treats him with respect, and he awards her the same courtesy. epic long poem about legendary or historical heroes, written in a grand style. 1953), 303–15; V. Tcherikover, Hellenistic Civilization and the Jews (1959), 70–74, 216–20, and index; E. Bickermann, From Ezra to the Last of the Maccabees (1962), 106f. Myths and Legends of the World. Encyclopaedia Judaica. 4:24). However, the date of retrieval is often important. His appointment and policy aroused the opposition of the people and caused uprisings and disturbances. (from the Elephantine papyri) דריוש; in the Elephantine papyri also דריוהוש, דריהוש; old Persian darayavahus), name of three P…, Elam By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. His parents were Atreus and Aerope, while his brother was Agamemnon who ruled over the city of Mycenae. Although Menelaus came close to killing Paris, Aphrodite intervened and saved Paris, her personal favorite. © 2019 Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. . . 2021 . Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. עילם, ' eylam; Elamite halhatamti; Akk. Her marriage to Menelaus, king of "Menelaus (April 15, 2021). . Menelaus in Greek mythology, king of Sparta, husband of Helen and brother of Agamemnon. ." ; cf. and Aram. Aphrodite, last of the three, lifts her dress to show off a flash of leg. After Paris kidnapped his wife Menelaus sought revenge, and the Greeks sailed for Troy. The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Zadok Rappaport, Uriel "Menelaus The basic story of the Trojan War begins with Paris, as does Troy: Fall of a City.A prince of Troy, Paris steals away Helen, the wife of Troy's ally Menelaus, king of Sparta. In Greek mythology, Menelaus, king of Sparta*, was the son of King Atreus of Mycenae and the brother of the great warrior Agamemnon*. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. : a king of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, and husband of the abducted Helen of Troy First Known Use of Menelaus 13th century, in the meaning defined above History and Etymology for Menelaus Classical Literature, Mythology, and Folklore. "Menelaus After the fall of Troy, Menelaus recovered Helen and brought her home. ELIZABETH KNOWLES "Menelaus His parents were Atreus and Aerope, while his brother was Agamemnon who ruled over the city of Mycenae. During the war, Menelaus played a minor role in the fighting, but he did face Paris in single combat. before he became king and while he was strategos o…, Maccabees, Books of ii Macc. This raises a difficulty and attempts have been made to amend the text, or to suggest that he belonged to a priestly family named Benjamin or Miamin (cf. ." Encyclopaedia Judaica. Meanwhile, Prince Hector and Paris (Orlando Bloom) of Troy feast in the banquet hall of King Menelaus of Sparta (Brendan Gleeson) as honored guests and peace ambassadors to their home nation. https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/menelaus, "Menelaus The story of the voyage is told in Homer's Odyssey]. Zadok established a high priestly dynasty which continued until approximat…, DARIUS (Heb. Myths and Legends of the World. ." When Helen was taken Menelaus sent a call to all the original suitors to fight the Trojans who had taken Helen. Elamtu), region on the edge of the southwestern part of the Iranian plateau, modern Khuzistan…, DORIS Mythologically (and potentially factually) a Prince of Troy named Paris took the wife of the King of The statement of Josephus (Ant., 12:238–9) that Menelaus was a brother of *Jason and a son of *Oniasiii, is certainly erroneous. Test your knowledge. But some understand the Greek to mean “each city.” * The city: Jerusalem. Myths and Legends of the World. * The city: Antioch. After a back-and-forth struggle that featured adultery, incest and cannibalism, Thyestes gained the throne after his son Aegisthus murdered Atreus. During the war Menelaus served under his elder brother Agamemnon, the commander in chief of the Greek forces. Updated January 10, 2020 In the Warner Bros. movie "Troy," Menelaus is the feeble, old husband of Helen, the ruler of Sparta, and the brother of Agamemnon, head king of all the Greeks. Encyclopaedia Judaica. Retrieved April 15, 2021 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/menelaus. According to these sources, Menelaus' father Atreus had been feuding with his brother Thyestes over the throne of Mycenae. Refer to each style’s convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. צָדוֹק, "righteous"), priest in the time of king *David. During the war Menelaus served under his elder brother Agamemnon, the commander in chief … When Menelaus died, he became immortal because he had married a daughter of Zeus. Troy was a Greek city-state on the coast of Turkey, near modern-day Hisarlik. After the Greeks defeated Troy, Menelaus returned to Sparta with Helen. For Aerope - a daughter of Catreus, the king of Crete, the wife of Atreus, and the mother of Agamemnon and Menelaus - it was the loss of her husband and royal position. Helen - Wife of Menelaus and queen of Sparta. . The war is one of the most important events in Greek mythology and has been narrated through many works of Greek literature, most notably Homer's Iliad. At the beginning of his tenure of office he plundered the Temple of its gold vessels (ibid., 4:32). Menelaus was a prominent figure in the Iliad and the Odyssey, where he was promised a place in Elysium after his death because he was married to a daughter of Zeus. He was one of the main characters involved in the Trojan War. Menelaus was still in Syria. i Chron. King Agamemnon is Menelaus’ brother and the most powerful ruler of the Greek city-states. Menelaus's beautiful wife, Helen, the daughter of Zeus* and a woman called Leda, was at the center of the events that led to the Trojan War. As they all feast, the king and queen recount with melancholy the many examples of Odysseus’s cunning at Troy. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Menelaus-Greek-mythology. This Etruscan tomb-painting shows the Judgement of Paris. Menelaus was the brother of Simeon and Lysimachus, both mentioned in ii Maccabees. According to Homer, Menelaus was a mortal, born to King Atreus of Mycenae and his wife Aerope, the grandaughter of King Minos ’. Encyclopedia.com. As leader of the Hellenists he must be considered responsible to a great extent for the persecution of Antiochus (see Bickermann in bibl. According to ii Maccabees 3:4, Simeon and Menelaus belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, and Simeon did not therefore belong to a priestly family. 24:14) and probably Menelaus and his brothers belonged to it. 15 Apr. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. It seems, however, that later, when it became clear that this policy brought no advantage to the Hellenists, he was partly responsible for the more conciliatory policy of Antiochus Epiphanes (164 b.c.e. . ), high priest in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. They first staye… Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Menelaus was of course also brother to the famous king, Agamemnon. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/menelaus, ELIZABETH KNOWLES "Menelaus MENELAUS, son of Atreus, was Agamemnon's brother, Helen's husband, and king of Sparta. Pylos Argos Athens Sparta LOGIN TO VIEW ANSWER Do you know the better answer! While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. However, the journey home was very difficult because he had neglected to offer sacrifices to the Trojan gods. ʾΑσαμωναίος; Heb. She offers Telemachus assistance in his quest to find his father. Before her marriage to Menelaus, Helen lived with Leda and Leda's husband, King Tyndareus of Sparta. ." . One day, Queen Hecuba of Troy had a nightmare where the city would be destroyed, and the oracle Cassandra, whom nobody believed, preached that the return of the alienated Prince Paris of Troy would bring the ruin of the city. Giacomo Brogi (1822-1881) - Rome (Vatican Museums). 172 to his execution in 162 B.C. 15 Apr. After Paris is injured, Hector kills Menelaus rather than let Menelaus kill his brother. They were reunited after the fall of Troy. All suitors, though, were bound by an oath to assist, in case Helen would be abducted in the future. Years before the war, it was brought to its knees by King Agamemnon of Athens, who brought it under his control. ELAM (Heb. When Phrontis, one of his crewmen, was killed, Menelaus delayed his voyage until the man had been buried, thus giving evidence of his strength of character. DORIS (first century b.c.e. The conflict with the Trojans was set in motion when Aphrodite, the goddess of love, took steps to win a beauty contest judged by Paris, a prince of Troy. (April 15, 2021). Maids wash, oil, and clothe the travelers and present them with food and wine. Within the “Cite this article” tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. What does menelaus mean? Helen recalls how Odysseus dressed as a beggar to infiltrate the city’s walls. 4:23–24). (13:3–8). Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Later, a number of suitors tried to win her hand, eventually Menelaus being the victor. Corrections? Menelaus.Menelaus was a king of Sparta in Greek mythology, husband of Helen. Marble bust of King Menelaus. 2021 . If declared the most beautiful goddess, Aphrodite promised to give Paris the most beautiful woman in the world—Helen. ." Menelaus was a member of the cursed House of Atreus, born of the line of Tantalus, with his father named as King Atreus of Mycenae, and his mother, Aerope, granddaughter of King Minos. Therefore, it’s best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publication’s requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. The king of Sparta at the time of the Trojan War; husband of Helen and brother of Agamemnon. In the Iliad Agamemnon assumes a greater role than the betrayed husband, Menelaus, because he is the high king of Mycenae, while Menelaus is king of a lesser city. Abel, in: Miscellanea Giovanni Mercati, 1 (1946), 52–58; Rowley, in: Studia Orientalia loanni Pedersen… Dicata (Eng. 2 vocabulary Grief (11) “lllthe black grief and the red rage came upon him, and he sent word of the wrong done him and a furious call to his brother…” - (n.) sorrow; deep anguish; heartbreak. Merelaus was one of the leaders of the Hellenists and one of the extremists among them. Menelaus, in Greek mythology, king of Sparta and younger son of Atreus, king of Mycenae; the abduction of his wife, Helen, led to the Trojan War. He was one of the main characters involved in the Trojan War. The only woman he has no respect for is Helen, who he seems to hate and distrust but also lust after. Retells the story of the 10 year siege of Troy, which occurred in the 12 or 13th century BC. History Early Years. He also instigated the murder of Onias iii (ibid., 4:34). The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Credit: Public Domain. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Who was the king of Troy during the Trojan War? In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta. The Trojans wars origins are subject to debate but many agree that a series of political issues between Mycenae and Troy led to the war breaking out. HASMONEANS Menelaus also spelled Menalaos was the son of Atreus, the grim King of Sparta, and the brother of Agamemnon, High King of the Argives and King of Mycenae.. By 1240 BC, when many Argive (Greek) princes asked for Helen's hand, her father Tyndareus had them all swear loyalty to the one she would choose for her mate. The story of the war between Greece and Troy appears in Homer's* epic the Iliad. With Louis Hunter, Christiaan Schoombie, Bella Dayne, Chloe Pirrie. See also Agamemnon; Greek Mythology; Helen Of Troy; Paris; Trojan War. Helen is already married to Menelaus, king of the Greek city of Sparta. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Retrieved April 15, 2021 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/menelaus. Aphrodite won the contest; Paris went to Sparta and took Helen away with him to Troy. Menelaus tells his aide Eteoneus to invite the strangers to feast with them; that way, he says, he can honor the hospitality he received from strangers during his travels. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Menelaus was a king of Sparta, and husband of Helen of Troy. ." At the left, Paris awaits the three goddesses. Created by David Farr. . Menelaus tells the famous story of the Trojan horse, Odysseus’s masterful gambit that allowed the Greeks to sneak into Troy and slaughter the Trojans. The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES 2021 . F.M. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Omissions? The two books of the Maccabees deal substantially with the same theme: the history of how the Jews, under the inspirational leade…, Hasmoneans The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Although early authors such as Aeschylus refer in passing to Menenaclaus’ early life, detailed sources are quite late, post-dating 5th-century BC Greek tragedy. During the war Menelaus served under his elder brother Agamemnon, the commander in chief of the Greek forces. Take the quiz. ." Agamemnon was the most powerful king … Encyclopedia.com. MENELAUS (d. c. 162 b.c.e. However, young Paris sneaks away to be with Menelaus' beautiful wife, Helen ( … * Mallus: a city of Cilicia (v. 36) in southeastern Asia Minor, about thirty miles east of Tarsus. When sent by the high priest Jason to Antiochus Epiphanes, he intrigued against his principal, bribed Antiochus and received from him appointment as high priest (ii Macc. 1:6), and Talm…, Menendez Brothers' Trials: 1993-94 & 1995-96, Menéndez De Avilés, Pedro, Colonization Efforts of, https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/menelaus, https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/menelaus, https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/menelaus. HASMONEANS (Gr. He remained loyal to Antiochus and sent him large amounts of money. Menelaus (mĕnəlā`əs), in Greek mythology, king of Sparta, son of Atreus Atreus, in Greek mythology, the son of Pelops and the father of Agamemnon and Menelaus. The Trojans refused to send her back. 15 Apr. ; ii Macc. Who was Troy’s greatest warrior, who was killed by Achilles? Among the brave heroes that were on those ships were Agamemnon, Ajax the Greater, Akhilles, Thoas, … The poet Stesichorus (flourished 6th century bce) introduced a refinement to the story that was used by Euripides in his play Helen: it was a phantom that was taken to Troy, while the real Helen went to Egypt, from where she was rescued by Menelaus after he had been wrecked on his way home from Troy and the phantom Helen had disappeared. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. ELIZABETH KNOWLES "Menelaus In Greek mythology, Menelaus (Ancient Greek: Μενέλαος, Menelaos) was a king of Mycenaean (pre-Dorian) Sparta, the husband of Helen of Troy, and a central figure in the Trojan War. Updates? Menelaus, in Greek mythology, king of Sparta and younger son of Atreus, king of Mycenae; the abduction of his wife, Helen, led to the Trojan War. Place: King Menelaus’s palace in Sparta, Greece, High Seas, City of Troy Ch. Helen then chose Menelaus as such, and they had a child. As a result, Atreus’ sons, Menelaus and Agamemnon, went into exile. (noun) Menelaus was born in Mycenae, which he considers the true cradle of civilisation. Encyclopedia.com. Rappaport, Uriel "Menelaus Paris seeks Menelaus for hand-to-hand combat for the hand of Helen. Helen was stolen from him by Paris, an event which provoked the Trojan War. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Telemachus and Pisistratus arrive at Menelaus's palace, where the king is celebrating the two separate marriages of his son and his daughter. Meanwhile Menelaus appealed to his brother Agamemnon, king of Argive Mycenae, to help rescue his wife.