Histories

Now, then, since I make it a point not to kill strangers, I shall not let you take away this woman and the wealth, but I shall watch them for the Greek stranger, until he come and take them away; but as for you and your sailors, I warn you to leave my country for another within three days, and if you do not, I will declare war on you.”

This, the priests said, was how Helen came to Proteus. And, in my opinion, Homer knew this story, too; but seeing that it was not so well suited to epic poetry as the tale of which he made use, he rejected it, showing that he knew it.

This is apparent from the passage in the Iliad (and nowhere else does he return to the story) where he relates the wanderings of Alexander, and shows how he and Helen were carried off course, and wandered to, among other places, +Sidon [35.366,33.55] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Sidon in +Phoenicia (region (general)), Asia Phoenicia.

This is in the story of the Prowess of Diomedes, where the verses run as follows:

1. There were the robes, all embroidered,
2. The work of women of +Sidon [35.366,33.55] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Sidon, whom godlike Alexandrus himself
3. Brought from +Sidon [35.366,33.55] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Sidon, crossing the broad sea,
4. The same voyage on which he brought back Helen of noble descent.