The causes of war in the Trojan plays of Euripides are presented as multiple and sometimes contradictory depending on the views of the characters and on the dramatic needs of the moment. In general the gods are not accountable for the war. Although its traditional cause, the judgement of Paris, is brought up, it is undermined by the dramatic action. Similarly,Zeus’ traditional plan to relief earth from overpopulation through war does not negate human responsibility. The responsibility for the war is attributed to men, is both personal and collective and is shared between victors and defeated. But the alleged causations of the war are undermined by the dramatic action in several ways. For example, the report of the first fall of Troy raises some skepticism about the causation of the Trojan War (Andr.). Menelaus relativizes the cause of war, when for him this cause is what one needs (Andr.). In Helen, the image of Helen suggests that the war would take place regardless of whether she goes or does not go to Troy. After all, those responsible for the war are the people who do not follow the voice of reason and do not resolve their disputes through negotiations (Hel.).
