Chapter 16, The Trojan War
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♠ Paus 3.22.1 – Pausanias, Description of Greece
Before Gythium lies the island Cranae, and Homer says that when Alexander had carried off Helen he had intercourse with her there for the first time. Greek Text
♠ Str 9.1.22 – Strabo, Geography
This island, they say, is mentioned by the poet where Alexander says to Helen: “Not even when first I snatched thee from lovely Lacedaemon and sailed with thee on the seafaring ships, and in the island Cranaë joined with thee in love and couch”; for he calls Cranaë the island now called Helene from the fact that the intercourse took place there. Greek Text
♠ Lyk 110-11 – Lykophron, Alexandra
And in the Dragon’s Isle of Acte, dominion of the twyformed son of earth, thou shalt put from thee thy desire. Greek Text
♠ Il 3.67-72 – Homer, Iliad
But now, if thou wilt have me war and do battle, make the other Trojans to sit down and all the Achaeans, but set ye me in the midst and Menelaus, dear to Ares, [70] to do battle for Helen and all her possessions. And whichsoever of us twain shall win, and prove him the better man, let him duly take all the wealth and the woman, and bear them to his home. Greek Text
♠ Il 7.362-64 – Homer, Iliad
my wife will I not give back; but the treasure that I brought from Argos to our home, all this am I minded to give, and to add thereto from mine own store.” Greek Text
♠ Kypria , Argumentum – Poetae Epici Graeci 1, pp. 38-43, ed. A. Bernabé. Leipzig 1987.
♠ Kypria fr 12 PEG – Poetae Epici Graeci 1, p. 51, ed. A. Bernabé. Leipzig 1987.
♠ Hdt 2.117 – Herodotos, Historiae
These verses and this passage prove most clearly that the Cyprian poems are not the work of Homer but of someone else. For the Cyprian poems relate that Alexandrus reached Ilion with Helen in three days from Sparta, having a fair wind and a smooth sea; but according to the Iliad, he wandered from his course in bringing her. Greek Text
♠ Dik 1.5 – Diktys of Krete
These, on coming to Troy within a few days, did not find Alexander at home; for when he had sailed from Sparta, hastily and taking no thought of the weather, the winds had forced him to Cyprus. After obtaining some ships, he had then gone on to Phoenicia, where the king of the Sidonians received him kindly. But he treacherously slaughtered the king at night and, venting again that criminal lust he had shown at Sparta, pillaged the palace. He shamelessly ordered his men to seize everything the purpose of which was to show the royal magnificence, and carry it off to the ships. The Sidonians, however, who escaped the general destruction, raised a huge tumult, bewailing the fate of their ruler. All of their people rushed to the palace, and then, arming themselves as best they were able, rushed to the ships; for Alexander had already seized whatever he wanted and now as hastening to sail. A raging battle arose, and very many men fell on both sides. While the Sidonians fought fiercely in the cause of their murdered king, the Trojans strove with all their might to keep the booty they had gained. Two of their ships were fired; but finally, after a terrible struggle, they freed the others. And thus, having broken the strength of their foe, they escaped. Latin Text
- ♠ ApE 3.3-4 – Apollodoros, Epitome
For nine days he was entertained by Menelaus; but on the tenth day, Menelaus having gone on a journey to Crete to perform the obsequies of his mother’s father Catreus, Alexander persuaded Helen to go off with him. And she abandoned Hermione, then nine years old, and putting most of the property on board, she set sail with him by night. [4] But Hera sent them a heavy storm which forced them to put in at Sidon. And fearing lest he should be pursued, Alexander spent much time in Phoenicia and Cyprus. But when he thought that all chance of pursuit was over, he came to Troy with Helen. Greek Text
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Edited by Elena Bianchelli, Retired Senior Lecturer of Classical Languages and Culture, Univ. of Georgia, January 2023
