Was Helen of Troy really beautiful?
Could you elaborate on the historical and cultural context surrounding the question, "Was Helen of Troy really beautiful?" Did ancient Greek poets and historians portray her as a paragon of beauty, or was her fame as the face that launched a thousand ships more of a metaphorical device? How does our modern understanding of beauty compare to the ideals of the ancient world, and how might that impact our interpretation of Helen's beauty? Additionally, what role did her beauty play in the events of the Trojan War, and how might it have been used as a tool of propaganda or manipulation by those involved?