Chapter Zero

The Iliad is a story filled with violence because of the fighting between the Trojans and the Greeks. The conflict roots to the event when Paris took Helen away from Menelaus. Because of this event, the Greeks waged war against the Trojans. They sailed from Greece to Troy to get back what was rightfully theirs and to have the city of Troy for themselves. The story started with people shouting at each other and fighting one another and ended with innumerable deaths. This is indeed one of the bloodiest stories ever written but also one of the most filled with emotions.
There was this instance in the story when Menelaus challenged Paris to a single battle. Whoever wins will keep Helen for him and the war will be over. They started engaging each other in battle, blow by blow, they fought relentlessly. But Menelaus had the upper hand, he was stronger and faster that Paris. Paris struggled to fight Menelaus. When Menelaus was about to finish Paris, Aphrodite interfered and saved Paris from death. Because of this, the war continued to ensue between the Achaeans and the Trojans. If I were given the chance to rewrite a part of the Iliad, it would be this part. And it goes like this.

Menelaus challenged Paris to a duel, whoever wins will have Helen and that’s it for the war. If Paris decides to fight, the war will be over with only one casualty. At first, Paris was reluctant to fight Menelaus for he knew that Menelaus was far superior to him. He tried not to show his cowardice to his brother, Hector, because he knew Hector was a great warrior and he could not accept that his brother is afraid of an Achaean. Instead, he goes and asks the help of the God, Aphrodite. Aphrodite agreed to help Paris in battle but Athena knew of this agreement between Paris and Aphrodite. Paris also asked Hephaestus to make an armor for him, an armor so light that he would be able to outmaneuver him because he believes that he has an advantage in terms of speed.

The next day, Paris set out to fight Menelaus. Everyone was watching, from the King to the slave. They were all ready for whatever might happen. Helen told Paris that she loves her and she does not regret coming with Paris. Menelaus taunted Paris but Paris did not flinch, he did not show any sign that he is scared of Menelaus, that he was scared of losing Helen. They fought relentlessly, blow by blow, they hit each other. Menelaus tried to finish him by thrusting his spear but Paris blocked it with his shield and threw a spear thrust of his own. It hit Menelaus’ leg, because of this, Paris grew confident. He played with Menelaus because he was limping around the battlefield. When Paris was about to finish Menelaus off, Menelaus pounced on Paris and stabbed him 19 times in the chest. Paris was severely injured, and asked for the help of Aphrodite. Aphrodite put a cloud over Paris but they didn’t know that Menelaus was also helped by Athena, he was able to see Aphrodite and Paris despite of the cloud. He rushed over to Paris and Aphrodite and beat the hell out of them two. Paris died, Aphrodite was injured. Helen was returned to Menelaus and the war was over. No more Iliad. The end.