Editing Iliad (section)

=== The Duel of Paris and Menelaus (Ἰλιάς Γ - Iliás G) ===
The Trojans, led by Hector (Ἕκτωρ, Héktōr), march out from Troy, facing the Achaean army. Paris, also known as Alexandros (Ἀλέξανδρος, Aléxandros), steps forward, offering to end the war by fighting a duel with any Achaean champion. Menelaus, eager for revenge for Paris's abduction of his wife, accepts the challenge. A truce is declared for the duel; both sides prepare with sacrifices to ensure the gods witness their agreements. This act formalizes the duel as a sacred event, overseen by '''Priam''' (Πρίαμος, Príamos), the king of Troy.  The text specifies the sacrifice of lambs (one male and one female) to Zeus, symbolizing the solemnity of the oaths being taken. The use of lambs underscores the innocence and purity associated with sacrificial rites, aiming to please the gods and secure their favor or witness. Zeus (Ζεύς) is the primary deity invoked during the preparations for the duel; as king of the gods and the god of the sky and thunder, Zeus was often appealed to in matters of oaths, justice, and the fate of mortals. His role as the overseer of oaths and agreements made him a critical figure in ensuring the sanctity and seriousness of the truce and the duel. The ritual included the pouring of libations, the cutting of the animals' throats, and prayers to Zeus, asking for his witnessing of the oaths and, if necessary, the avenging of perjury. 

Priam calls Helen to the walls of the city to identify the Achaean leaders. This scene serves to recount the prominent warriors on the Achaean side and provides insight into Helen's feelings of sorrow and guilt; Helen had personal connections with many of the heroes, either through her own family ties, marriage to Menelaus, or the suitors who vied for her hand before her marriage. Helen is acutely aware that her abduction by Paris (whether she went willingly varies by source) is the cause of the war; this awareness brings a heavy burden of guilt, as she recognizes the immense loss of life and suffering that the war has caused. Helen's portrayal in the Iliad oscillates between being seen as a victim of divine machinations (with Aphrodite playing a significant role in her fate) and an agent in her destiny. This duality contributes to her guilt, as she navigates the fine line between compulsion and choice. Paris and Menelaus arm themselves and meet between the two armies: both warriors opened the duel by throwing their spears, and then engaged in close combat. Menelaus proved to be the stronger combatant; he managed to grab Paris by his helmet strap and began dragging him towards the Achaean lines. At this moment, when Paris was in imminent danger and Menelaus seemed on the verge of winning the duel, '''Aphrodite''' intervened directly; she broke the helmet strap that Menelaus was using to drag her favored, which prevented him from being taken away as a captive. Then, enveloping Paris in a thick mist to hide him from the battlefield, she transported him safely back to his chambers in Troy. This act of divine rescue ensured Paris's survival and abruptly ended the duel without a clear resolution. Paris's decision to engage in the duel and then his rescue by Aphrodite contribute to his controversial reputation; he is often seen as embodying the negative aspects of romantic love - impulsiveness, irresponsibility, and cowardice - contrasting with the heroic ideals valorized in the epic.

Aphrodite then forcefully compels Helen to join Paris, despite her reluctance. Helen's feelings toward Paris are complex and conflicted. By this point in the story, she has spent ten years in Troy, away from her homeland and her husband, Menelaus. Her relationship with Paris is marked by the guilt and sorrow of the war's devastation, for which she blames herself, and possibly resentment or disillusionment towards Paris for his role in her fate. Helen's reaction to being with Paris is influenced by many emotions, the immediate context is Aphrodite's power over her rather than a reaction to Paris's performance in the duel. However, the culture of honor and shame pervasive in the Iliad does affect how Helen views herself and her situation. She is aware of the judgments of others and her own feelings of responsibility for the war; and this episode serves as a reflection on Helen's lack of autonomy. Despite her pivotal role in the story, her choices are often constrained by the actions of the men around her and the whims of the gods. Aphrodite's compulsion is a literal manifestation of the broader constraints on Helen's agency; when Helen meets Paris in his chambers, her initial reaction is one of rebuke. She chides him for not standing his ground against Menelaus, which indicates her complex feelings about honor and courage. Yet, under Aphrodite's influence, she is drawn back to Paris, highlighting the tension between divine influence and human emotion. The book concludes with Paris, saved by divine intervention, reuniting with Helen, while the truce and the duel's outcome leave the broader conflict unresolved. The anticipation of continued hostilities sets the stage for the epic's ensuing battles.