In this episode of "What a Classic!", war comes back to the fore once again as we dive into the drama of Book 3 of The Iliad.  

After shying from death itself and shrinking back into the ranks when confronted by Menelaus, Paris receives a dressing-down from Hector, accused of being a ' seducer of women'! To salvage his honour, Paris proposes a duel to the death for Helen and her treasure, but this doesn’t work out how either side would have hoped! 

Key events of Book 3: 

• Paris's Cowardice and Hector's Rebuke: Paris initially retreats from Menelaus, prompting a scathing reprimand from Hector about his cowardice. 

• Single Combat Proposed & Agreed: To salvage his honour, Paris proposes a single combat to settle the war, and after some debate the terms are broadly agreed. 

• Oaths and Sacrifices: Priam is summoned, and oaths are made to the gods with sacrificial offerings to formalise the combat's agreed resolution, though Priam can't bear to watch and heads back to Troy 

• The Duel Interrupted: Paris and Menelaus engage in combat, but Aphrodite intervenes to save Paris, preventing a clear victory, and undermining everything that was agreed in the oaths. 

• Greek’s Remain Battle Hungry: After this divine intervention, it seems the Greeks are hungrier than ever for battle and victory. 

What do the meddling gods and battle-hungry heroes have in store? How does Helen react to Paris's rescue? Tune in to explore the passion, fury, and divine deception of Book 3!