Definition:

Menelaus was the king of Sparta and brother of Agamemnon. When Menelaus married Helen, the most beautiful woman in Greece and the immediate cause of the Trojan War, a promise was extracted from all the rejected suitor-princes that they would come to the bridegroom's aid should anyone try to abduct Helen. Paris, a prince of Troy was a guest in the palace of Menelaus when he decided to steal Helen.

The Trojan War was fought to bring Helen back from Troy to Menelaus.

Go to Other Ancient / Classical History Glossary pages beginning with the letter

a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | wxyz

People From the Trojan War You Should Know

Pronunciation: me-ne-lay'-os (noun)

Alternate Spellings: Menelaos

Examples: After the Trojan War, Menelaus and Helen entertained Odysseus' son Telemachus in The Odyssey.