# Paris — The Iliad character guide

> Paris in The Iliad by Homer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Alexander, guilty Paris, graceful Paris, Prince Paris

**First appearance:** 0001-the-iliad

## Snapshot

The beautiful Trojan prince whose abduction of Helen started the war, and who now shrinks from the man he wronged.

## Who they are

Paris strides into battle in a leopard's hide, all grace and bravado, until Menelaus appears and his courage evaporates. Hector's blistering rebuke exposes the gap between Paris's looks and his substance, and the duel that should settle everything ends with him whisked away by a goddess. His charm and cowardice together make him the war's most uncomfortable mirror.

## Relationships

### [Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/helen)

_romantic_

Helen and Paris are lovers whose elopement sparked the Trojan War, though their relationship is fraught with guilt and tension.

### [Hector](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/hector)

_family_

Hector is Paris's older brother, often chiding him for his cowardice but ultimately defending him and Troy.

### [Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/helen)

_romantic_

Helen and Paris are lovers whose elopement sparked the Trojan War, though their relationship is fraught with guilt and tension.

### [Hector](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/hector)

_family_

Hector is Paris's older brother, often chiding him for his cowardice but ultimately defending him and Troy.

### [Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/helen)

_romantic_

Helen and Paris are lovers whose elopement sparked the Trojan War, though their relationship is fraught with guilt and tension.

## In the story

### [Book III: Single Combat of Menelaus and Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-iii-single-combat-of-menelaus-and-paris)

Challenges the Greeks to single combat but loses courage when Menelaus appears; after a brief duel, he is rescued by Venus and taken to Helen's chamber.

### [Book IV: The Breaking of the Truce, and the First Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-iv-the-breaking-of-the-truce-and-the-first-battle)

Mentioned as the one who would reward Pandarus for killing Menelaus; protected by Aphrodite in earlier combat.

### [Book VI: Interviews Between Glaucus and Diomed, and Hector and Andromache](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-vi-interviews-between-glaucus-and-diomed-and-hector-and-andromache)

Paris is found by Hector in his chambers, then arms himself and joins Hector to return to battle.

### [Book VII: The Combat of Hector and Ajax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-vii-the-combat-of-hector-and-ajax)

Fights alongside Hector, kills Menesthius, and refuses to return Helen but offers to restore her wealth.

### [Book XI: The Third Battle, and Exploits of Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xi-the-third-battle-and-exploits-of-agamemnon)

Wounds Diomed with an arrow from ambush, boasting of his shot.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/paris
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters