The topic of 'Helen of Troy' is central to the two podcast episodes provided, which delve into the mythological origins, characterization, and enduring symbolism of this iconic figure from Greco-Roman antiquity.
The first episode, '457. Helen of Troy: Queen of the Greek Myths (Part 1)', examines Helen's divine birth, her portrayal in various literary sources, and her status as a semi-divine symbol of beauty and destruction. The second episode, 'Conversations: Revisiting the Cultural Memory of the Bronze Age', explores Helen's role as a 'kalon kakon' (beautiful evil) figure and the collective oral tradition behind Homer's epics, further illuminating her significance in the cultural memory of the Bronze Age.