Her parents were Zeus and Leda. Legend has it that her exceptional beauty caused the Trojan War. Who was she?

The legendary figure described is Helen of Troy, a central character in Greek mythology. She was renowned as the most beautiful woman in the world, a beauty so profound it was said to have launched a thousand ships. Her divine parentage traces back to Zeus, the king of the gods, and Leda, the queen of Sparta. Zeus famously appeared to Leda in the form of a swan, leading to the birth of Helen and her siblings from an egg.

Helen was initially married to Menelaus, the king of Sparta. However, her life took a dramatic turn when Paris, a prince of Troy, visited Sparta. Enticed by Aphrodite's promise of the most beautiful woman as a reward for judging her the fairest goddess, Paris either seduced or abducted Helen, taking her back to Troy with him. This act of betrayal and the perceived insult to Menelaus ignited the Trojan War, a decade-long conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans, famously chronicled in Homer's Iliad.

The narrative of Helen of Troy explores complex themes of beauty, desire, and the devastating consequences of human and divine actions. While sometimes depicted as a victim of circumstance, other accounts suggest her willing complicity in leaving Sparta. Regardless, her extraordinary beauty served as the catalyst for one of the most iconic and tragic wars in ancient literature, solidifying her place as a legendary figure whose story continues to captivate audiences.