The Rape of Helen
poem by Colluthus
Quick Summary
The Rape of Helen is a short, 394-verse epic poem by Colluthus of Lycopolis, a Greek poet who flourished around 500 AD. The poem imitates the style of Homer and Nonnus.1
It recounts the story of Paris and Helen, beginning with the wedding of Peleus and Thetis and concluding with Helen's arrival in Troy. This narrative covers the events that led to the Trojan War, initiated by the abduction or elopement of Helen, wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta.12
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.