fury

Menelaus was outraged to find that Paris had taken Helen. Menelaus then called upon all of Helen's old suitors, as all of the suitors had made an oath long ago that they would all back Helen's husband to defend her honor. This oath was made by Odysseus, once Helen's suitor, but he instead married Helen's cousin Penelope and created the oath in which all suitors would defend the honor of the wronged groom. In this case, it meant Menelaus.

Many of the suitors did not wish to go to war. Odysseus pretended to be insane but this trick was uncovered by Palamedes. Achilles, though not one of the previous suitors, was sought after because the seer Calchas had stated that Troy would not be taken unless Achilles would fight.

The Greek fleet assembled, under Agamemnon's inspection, in Aulis. However, Agamemnon either killed one of Diana's sacred stags or made a careless boast. Either way, Diana was outraged and she calmed the seas so that the fleet could not take off. The seer Calchas proclaimed that Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, must be sacrificed before the fleet could set sail. This was done, and the Greek ships set off in search of Troy.

Important to note... Menelaus believed that they were sailing to right the wrong that had been done against him. In other words, he wanted Helen back and he wanted Paris dead. Agamemnon went to conquer Troy itself, which has been unable to be conquered for it had high walls and was watched over and protected by various gods.

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