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When Menelaus discovers Helen has eloped with Paris he issues an ultimatum to Troy: return Helen immediately or face war.

Synopsis:

Menelaus returns to find that Helen has gone to Troy with Paris. It turns out that when Menelaus married Helen her father insisted that all her other suitors should come to the aid of Menelaus should she ever elope with anyone - so Menelaus calls in those promises. Initially he turns to his brother Agamemnon, who will be in charge of the army and to whom the Soldier is now assigned.

Their first job is to persuade two heroes - Achilles and Odysseus - to support the venture. Then the Greeks sail to Troy and hand King Priam their ultimatum: return Helen plus compensation or Troy will be destroyed.

Holy moussaka! This place is immense!
The Old Soldier on Troy

See Resources below for a quiz about the story episode.

Resources

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Episode 2 - transcript

More episodes from Ancient Greece: The Trojan War

Episode 1. video

Paris is blown off-course and lands his ship at Sparta, where he meets Menelaus and his queen - Helen.

Episode 1

Episode 3. video

The Greeks invade and the Trojans retreat behind the city walls...it's the start of 10 years of stalemate.

Episode 3

Episode 4. video

Achilles is refusing to fight and sends cousin Patroclus into battle wearing the hero's armour.

Episode 4