Talk:Menelaus

Cleanup

Perhaps his life should be split up according to his roles in the different epics? aka Iliad section, Odyssey section, etc. ~ Jared ~ 20:55, 4 September 2006 (UTC) this dosent help at all! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.210.105.145 (talk) 00:08, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

The page is on the character and it seems more appropriate to discuss this outside of the epics. Except to point out a marked change in personality or lifestyle, the Iliad, Odyssey, and other works in which the character appears should be referenced in the article as texts containing the character--the reader can reference those articles for more background on his roles. (Community editor (talk) 01:47, 20 May 2009 (UTC))

~ Jared ~, did you add the cleanup tag for this reason? (Community editor (talk) 01:49, 20 May 2009 (UTC))

Requested move

Menelaus (king) → Menelaus – The overwhelming majority of references to Menelaus mean the mythical king of Sparta and brother of Agamemnon, so this page should be at Menelaus, with other things named "Menelaus" listed at Menelaus (disambiguation); if a disambiguating title for the mythological character is really needed, however, it should be Menelaus (mythology) for consistency. (the above statement is false there is clear evedence that that a king of Sparta really existed named Menelaus during that time period, belived to be the brother of Agamemnon).--Akhilleus (talk) 18:22, 3 October 2006 (UTC)

As a Greek lover of history, I would like to see the "clear evidence that a king of Sparta really existed named Menelaus during that time period, belived to be the brother of Agamemnon". Which document or archaeological find backs this claim? Apostolos Vranas (talk) 19:45, 6 October 2011 (UTC)

Survey

Add "* Support" or "* Oppose" followed by an optional one-sentence explanation, then sign your opinion with ~~~~

• Support, exactly per nom. Aquilina 11:26, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
• Support, who exactly would he be confused with? Some obscure Macedonians? john k 12:55, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
• Support per jk; although there was also a sculptor. Septentrionalis

Discussion

Add any additional comments

I don't see as we need to do an RM. Somebody just moved the page like a week ago. Would anyone object if I just go ahead and move Menelaus to Menelaus (disambiguation) and this page to Menelaus? john k 12:56, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

The good soul edited Menelaus after the move, so it needs an admin to fix; if you are or can find one, I support speedy movement. Septentrionalis 05:24, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

I am indeed. Will do so immediatelyjohn k 09:34, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

Dont really know what im doing here, but I got to this menelaus page through an internal link from an article about salamis (cyprus), and the menelaus relevant to that article, I think, is not the same as any that I see discussed here. 75.68.249.71 07:24, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Considering that Menelaus is mythical is an exact date for his supposed reign really necessary? T@nn 18:15, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

It's not clear to me what you're referencing--the reference I see to date is for the artistic work and describes the origin of the art. (Community editor (talk) 01:52, 20 May 2009 (UTC))

I don't have any ideas, but, honestly, this article sucks. Sorry to be anon, I keep forgetting my password.

An idea: add a "character" category which could be organized chronologically, beginning with his representation in Homer and moving through the dramatists into the modern day. The comments on his character here are not really on the mark, being just an excuse to use the word "bromide."TomODonnell (talk) 20:06, 4 April 2009 (UTC)

Did a rewrite.

Enjoy! Ifnkovhg (talk) 07:47, 16 June 2009 (UTC)

How does this article not mention that Menelaus is a member of the House of Atreus? Saying that he is Atreus' son hardly suffices. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.166.41.146 (talk) 15:53, 20 August 2009 (UTC)

Question and comment

1. "Together, Menelaus and Helen had a daughter, Hermione, and some variations of the myth suggest they had two sons as well."

What is the source for such variation?

I added a source (Sappho) for Hermione ... I haven't found yet something concrete about their reputed sons ... Apostolos Vranas (talk) 19:34, 6 October 2011 (UTC)

2. I don't understand the sequence of the events described in the second part of the article. Menelaus killed Helen, then the marriage is stranded and finally Helen cannot provide male heirs. Things do not seem in the right sequence.

ICE77 (talk) 23:11, 1 June 2011 (UTC)

The Etymologies of Menelaus' name Are Necessary!

I inserted the two possible etymologies of the King's name Μένος + Λαὸς (Passion/Impetus of the People) and Μῆνις + Λαὸς (Wrath of the people) and someone edited them out. It's not that I am offended but I seriously think that they are needed. Most of us would agree that Menelaus is a legendary King - an anonymous historical King of mycenean Sparta may have joined the expedition against Troy but we all got to know the Homeric fictional character with the name that fits his "epic" role. In that aspect I would ask that the etymologies of Menelaus' name be restored. Apostolos Vranas (talk) 19:46, 6 October 2011 (UTC)

It looks like the more probable of the hypotheses is now included. Μῆνις for the first elements is probably impossible, since the root vowel is long, and corresponds to a long -a- in Doric (so can't alternate with short -e- through ablaut. Another possibility that West kind of hints at but doesn't openly propose is that the first element is related to the 'moon' root *meh1n, probably in the zero grade (typical of first elements of compound names). This would fit with his wife having solar associations, and with her cognate Baltic deity having their moon deity as one of here most prominent suitors. If anyone finds a scholarly source that proposes any such thing, please let me know.Johundhar (talk) 01:27, 20 June 2022 (UTC)

Helen of Sparta

Shouldn't we be identifying her as "of Sparta" in this article, considering she was of Spartan origin and the wife of a Spartan? 99.54.188.176 (talk) 12:01, 2 November 2014 (UTC)

IPA

The IPA listed is how I pronounce this name as an American, but the UK pronunciation is much more similar to the Greek, "menahlahohs". But I suck at IPA. I think both pronunciations should be listed. ResultingConstant (talk) 15:41, 22 November 2017 (UTC)