In Greek mythology, the Suitors of Helen of Troy came from many kingdoms of Greece to compete for the hand of the Spartan princess Helen, daughter of Zeus and Leda.
Mythology
Selection of the husband When it was time for Helen of Troy to marry, many kings and princes from around the world came to seek her hand, bringing rich gifts with them, or sent emissaries to do so on their behalf. During the contest, Castor and Pollux had a prominent role in dealing with the suitors, although the final decision was in the hands of Tyndareus.In the Hesiodic Catalogue of Women fr. 198.7–8, and 199.0–1, they are the recipients of the bridal presents. For further details, see A Catalog within a Catalog, 133–135 Her future husband Menelaus did not attend but sent his brother Agamemnon to represent him. Menelaus was chosen because he had the most wealth and offered the most bride-gifts.Hesiod. Catalogue of Women, Bk 5.
There are three available and not entirely consistent lists of suitors, compiled by Pseudo-Apollodorus (31 suitors), Hesiod (12 suitors), and Hyginus (36 suitors), for a total of 45 distinct names. There are only fragments from Hesiod's poem, so his list would have contained more. Achilles' absence from the lists is conspicuous, but Hesiod explains that he was too young to take part in the contest.Hesiod, Catalogs of Women and Eoiae, fr. 196–204; Hyginus, Fables, 81; Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca II, 10.8
* Cingano, A Catalog within a Catalog, 124; Clader, Helen, 10 Taken together, the list of suitors matches well with the captains in the Catalog of Ships from the Iliad; however, some of the names may have been placed in the list of Helen's suitors simply because they went to Troy. It is not unlikely that relatives of a suitor may have joined the war.
Name of suitors +List of Suitors of HelenNameSourcesParentageAbodeHesiodApollodorusHyginusAgapenor✓✓son of AncaeusArcadiaAjax✓✓✓son of TelamonSalamisAjax✓✓son of OileusLocrisAlcmaeon✓son of AmphiarausArgosAmphilochus✓✓son of AmphiarausArgosAmphimachus✓✓son of CteatusElisAncaeus✓son of PoseidonSamosAntilochus✓✓son of NestorPylosAscalaphus✓✓son of AresOrchomenusBlanirus✓Clytius✓CyaneDiomedes✓✓son of TydeusArgosElephenor✓✓✓son of ChalcodonEuboeaEpistrophus✓son of IphitusPhocisEumelus✓✓son of AdmetusPheraeEurypylus✓✓son of EuaemonOrmeniusIalmenus✓son of AresOrchomenusIdomeneus✓✓son of DeucalionCreteLeitus✓son of AlectorBoeotiaLeonteus✓✓son of CoronusLapithsLycomedes✓CreteMachaon✓✓son of AsclepiusTriccaMeges✓✓son of PhyleusDulichiumMenelaus✓✓✓son of AtreusSpartaMenestheus✓✓✓son of PeteosAthensMeriones✓son of MolusCreteNireus✓son of CharopusSymeOdysseus✓✓✓son of LaertesCephallenia (Ithaca)Patroclus✓✓son of MenoetiusOpusPeneleos✓✓son of HippalcimusBoeotia (Thebes)Phemius✓Phidippus✓son of ThessalusCosPhiloctetes✓✓✓son of PoeasMeliboeaPodalirius✓✓son of AsclepiusTriccaPodarces✓son of IphiclesPhylacePolypoetes✓✓son of PirithousLapithsPolyxenus✓✓son of AgasthenesElisProtesilaus✓✓✓son of IphiclesPhylaceProthous✓son of TenthredonMagnesiaSchedius✓son of IphitusPhocisSthenelus✓✓son of CapaneusArgosTeucer✓son of TelamonSalamisThalpius✓✓son of EurytusElisThoas✓son of AndraemonAetoliaTlepolemus✓son of HeraclesRhodesNumber123136
Oath of Tyndareus Tyndareus was afraid to select a husband for his daughter, or send any of the suitors away, for fear of offending them and giving grounds for a quarrel. Odysseus was one of the suitors, but had brought no gifts because he believed he had little chance to win the contest. He thus promised to solve the problem, if Tyndareus in turn would support him in his courting of Penelope, the daughter of Icarius. Tyndareus readily agreed, and Odysseus proposed that, before the decision was made, all the suitors should swear a most solemn oath to defend the chosen husband against whoever should quarrel with him. After the suitors had sworn not to retaliate, Menelaus was chosen to be Helen's husband.
See also Achaean Leaders Marriage in ancient Greece
References
Works cited Cingano, Ettore. "A Catalogue within a Catalogue: Helen’s Suitors in the Hesiodic Catalogue of Women (frr. 196–204)." In The Hesiodic Catalogue of Women: Constructions and Reconstructions (2005), p. 118-152. Clader, Linda Lee. Helen: the evolution from divine to heroic in Greek epic tradition. Leiden: Brill, 1976.