Menelaus and Helen - a timeline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How old are Menelaus and Helen in the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer?

 

The ancient Greek poet does not tell us how old they are, but we can make an estimate based on what he says about them.

 

Here is a possible timeline:

 

1225 BC Menelaus is born

1220 BC Helen is born

1204 BC Menelaus and Helen are married

1199 BC The daughter Hermione is born

1194 BC Helen is abducted by Paris

The Trojan War begins 

Menelaus leaves Sparta to go to war against Troy

1184 BC The Trojan War ends

Menelaus finds Helen and he takes her back

Menelaus and Helen begin the long and difficult journey back to Sparta 

1176 BC Menelaus and Helen return to Sparta

1175 BC Menelaus and Helen celebrate the wedding of their daughter Hermione

Telemachos, son of Odysseus and Penelope, travels to Sparta where he meets Menelaus and Helen

He hopes to find some information about his father who has not yet returned to his home in Ithaca

1160 BC Menelaus dies (age 65)

1145 BC Helen dies (age 75)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Greek Myths:

The Iliad

10 episodes

(2018)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Greek Myths:

The Odyssey

10 episodes

(2020)

 

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