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9[[quoteright:300:[[Literature/TheTrojanCycle https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/helen_of_troy_5.jpg]]]]
10[[caption-width-right:300:She that far surpassed all mortals in beauty.]]
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16-> ''The extreme beauty of the countenance, that shone forth in loveliness that mocked the vain attempts of dress to augment it, was peculiarly and purely Grecian; there were the large, dark, melting eyes, the finely formed nose, the coral lips, and pearly teeth, that belonged to her race and country. And to complete the whole, Haydee was in the very springtide and fullness of youthful charm.''
17-->--'''Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo''' referring to [[BeautifulSlaveGirl Haydee]].
18
19Historically, the Hellenic people have placed great value on physical beauty since the times of UsefulNotes/AncientGreece, as it was [[ValuesDissonance considered]] to be a [[BeautyEqualsGoodness blessing from the gods]]. It's no wonder that names such as [[Literature/TheTrojanCycle Helen of Troy]] (who was actually from Sparta) are synonymous with beauty, and Myth/ClassicalMythology is overflowing with not just [[HeadTurningBeauty gorgeous girls]] but {{pretty boy}}s as well. This endured even into the [[UsefulNotes/ByzantineEmpire Byzantine period]] where according to their values, TheEmperor was a reflection of [[DivineRightOfKings heavenly authority]] and since God was perfect, the emperor also had to be [[TheBeautifulElite physically unblemished]]. It was also in that time period that both Arabic and Frankish (generic term referring to Western Europe) chronicles often described Byzantine ladies as [[FemmeFatale exotic and seductive beauties]].
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21But make no mistake: the male physique was just as idealized as the female one, if not more so. This notion comes from countless works of arts like paintings and sculptures, especially in the wake of neoclassicism during UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance. During that time period, Greece was under occupation of the UsefulNotes/OttomanEmpire ever since [[UsefulNotes/TheFallOfConstantinople the Fall of Constantinople]], which led to the diaspora of several scholars and intellectuals over Europe and many tales were spread about how [[SexSlave Greek maidens were forced into harems]] [[SoBeautifulItsACurse for their beauty]] to denounce Ottoman despotism--[[TruthInTelevision sure enough]], many [[HotConsort famous sultanas]] were previously slave concubines [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kösem_Sultan of]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emetullah_Rabia_Gülnuş_Sultan Greek]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saliha_Sultan_(wife_of_Mustafa_II) origin.]] Only the [[CircassianBeauty Circassian girls]] topped Greek girls in this regard and eventually replaced them after the Greek War of Independence and [[UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia Imperial Russia]] ended the slave trade in Southern European women, making the Ottomans turn to UsefulNotes/TheCaucasus instead.
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23At the height of Philhellenism by authors like Creator/LordByron and Creator/AlexandreDumas, female characters were popularly portrayed as tragic and ill-fated {{love interest}}s for the [[HomegrownHero Western European hero]] while male characters were as rugged and gallant in a very Balkan fashion, and they almost always wore a mustache.
24
25In some modern works, Greeks fall into [[GorgeousGaijin Foreign Fanservice]] territory, usually portrayed as idealized beauties with olive skin and dark hair, though this is not always the case as their looks can vary due to the Mediterranean being a melting pot of multiple different people and cultures. Similar to their Slavic counterparts, the appeal stems from them being caught in the bridge between East and West--being [[ButNotTooForeign both exotic and yet familiar]] at the same time.
26
27SubTrope of ForeignFanservice. Compare with EnglishRose, SexyScandinavian, SensualSlavs, GentileJewChaser, CircassianBeauty and LatinLover. Also related to TheBurlesqueOfVenus due to sharing sources. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused]] with [[RougeAnglesOfSatin Gorgeous]] ''[[NerdsAreSexy Geek]]''.
28
29----
30!!Examples:
31
32[[foldercontrol]]
33
34[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
35* ''Anime/SaintSeiya''
36** Saori Kido, the reincarnation of goddess Athena, is stated to be beautiful by numerous characters.
37** The Athena's Sanctuary is in Greece and filled with beautiful people, a great amount of them are born or raised in Greece.
38** Aiolos, Aiolia, Saga, Kanon, and Milo, part of the 12 golden knights of the Sanctuary, particularly, are known to be classic examples of bishounens.
39** Julian Solo, who is the reincarnation of Poseidon is very good looking. Other greek gods that eventually appear in the story like Hades are also classicaly beautiful.
40* ''Manga/DontMeddleWithMyDaughter'':
41** In chapter 9, Athena Haruka is revealed to be the actual Greek goddess in [[PhysicalGod physical form.]] She's depicted as [[AmazonianBeauty an amazonian blonde]] who's so hot that her enemies, bystanders, and even ''[[ParentalIncest her own daughter]]'', all wanna bang her. Which is why she's referred to as [[StacysMom "the MILF]] [[InSeriesNickname of Steel".]]
42** Her sister Artemis also qualifies due to having a similar figure, though not as curvaceous as Athena's. Instead, she invokes the look of [[HotLibrarian a librarian]] when posing as St. Sumire's guidance counselor.
43** Clara is half-Greek and Japanese since she was fathered by the mortal, BM the Shooter. Though, unlike her mom, [[AllWomenArePrudes she's reserved]] and dresses modestly... until she dons her superhero costume.
44[[/folder]]
45
46[[folder:Arts]]
47* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greek_Slave The Greek Slave]]'' by sculptor Hiram Powers who was inspired by the Greek War of Independence portrays an [[UsefulNotes/OrthodoxChristianity Greek Orthodox Christian]] [[BeautifulSlaveGirl maiden]] made captive by the Ottomans. It also inspired Italian artist Scipione Tadolini to make his own version ''La Schiava Greca'', who is slightly older-looking and bears a necklace inscribed in Greek "elpis" (hope) and a bracelet "pistotes" (fidelity).
48[[/folder]]
49
50[[folder:Comic Books]]
51* ''ComicBook/AgentsOfAtlas'' has [[TheHeart Venus]] who was believed to be the actual Goddess of Love, but was {{retcon}}ned to be a [[OurSirensAreDifferent siren]] who is not only extremely beautiful but could [[CharmPerson supernaturally charm other people]]. Meanwhile, the true deity [[https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Aphrodite_Ourania_(Earth-616)/Gallery Aphrodite Ourania]] always portrays herself as a voluptuous redhead and a WalkingSwimsuitScene.
52* ''ComicBook/AgeOfBronze'': Since the supernatural doesn't exist here, Helen's beauty is enhanced by her Greek appearance, which is exotic to the Trojans (situated on the eastern Mediterranean).
53* ''ComicBook/AllStarSquadron'': Helena Kosmatos also known as Fury wore a golden skin-tight suit and had MysticalWhiteHair due to being magically empowered to fight the Nazis during Greece's occupation in World War II. And [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/c/c6/Helena_Kosmatos_0001.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160206190447 she wasn't hard to look at]] as [[BoobsAndButtPose her pose]] can attest.
54* ''Crusades'' features Venus Kostopikas as a hot IntrepidReporter from a dying newspaper investigating an enigmatic 11th century Crusader knight on a killing spree in modern times.
55* [[BadGirlComic Athena]] by Creator/DynamiteComics is portrayed as a voluptuous blonde LadyOfWar in ChainmailBikini.
56* ComicBook/{{Elektra}} is a Greek beauty with typical Mediterranean features such as dark hair and olive skin, she is also a seductive and very sexualized {{Love Interest|s}} to Daredevil.
57* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules'':
58** Herc himself is a [[MrFanservice male example]] being a shirtless {{hunk}} with a chiseled HeroicBuild. He also has been depicted as AmbiguouslyBi in the mainstream universe at least. In one reality, he and ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} are a BattleCouple.
59** Athena Parthenos often takes an HotLibrarian form when disguised as a mortal. She is considered very attractive in-universe, but alas she is a CelibateHeroine.
60* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'':
61** Diana herself is canonically considered WorldsMostBeautifulWoman in the DC Universe due to being blessed by Aphrodite with [[BeautyEqualsGoodness perfect beauty and a loving heart]].
62** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Pre-Crisis supervillain Silver Swan went from plain Greek ballet dancer Helena Alexandros to a woman in white [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/4/4d/Helen_Alexandros_Earth-One_001.png/revision/latest?cb=20110421215546 blonde bombshell]]. She resented her HollywoodHomely appearance in spite of being descended from/named after the mythological Helen of Troy, and struck a deal with [[BigBad Mars]] in order [[IJustWantToBeBeautiful to become beautiful]].
63* Averted or even inverted with ComicBook/{{Morbius}}: when he was human people would make fun of his fiancée behind her back for being with someone as ugly as him. Being turned into a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent living vampire]] made it even worse.
64[[/folder]]
65
66[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
67* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'':
68** The title character is a ChickMagnet in-universe, to the point his female admirers literally fight themselves over him.
69** [[LoveInterest Megara]], or "Meg", is not exactly hard to look at, as Hercules, Nessus, Adonis (her ex-boyfriend in the TV series) as well as [[spoiler:the man she sold her soul for... [[UngratefulBastard for which he was ungrateful]]]], and (briefly) Phil can all attest to.
70* ''WesternAnimation/SinbadLegendOfTheSevenSeas'': Eris, the greek goddess of chaos, has an elegant figure and long hair that's constantly flowing around her. She alternates between threatening Sinbad with horrific punishments and flirting with him, promising him outrageous rewards if he serves her whims. Sinbad is tempted, but [[SingleTargetSexuality he's already smitten with someone else]].
71[[/folder]]
72
73[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
74* ''Film/ThreeHundred'':
75** The titular Spartan warriors are an army of muscle-bound, shirtless warriors wearing little more than leather straps and loincloths with their [[FemaleGaze thighs, abs, and biceps in full display]].
76** Though not as prominent as their male counterparts, Gorgo and the Pythia are female Spartan ladies whose outfit reveal more skin than clothe it.
77* ''Film/{{Alexander}}'' has Creator/AngelinaJolie, of all people, playing Olympias, mother of Alexander the Great.
78* ''Film/AsterixAtTheOlympicGames'' features Greek princess Irina, who is a lovely young lady but somewhat of a SatelliteLoveInterest to side character Lovesicx.
79* ''Film/BenHur2016'' uses this trope in the chariot race. The racers are all shown to be champions representing different Mediterranean countries which are all part of the the Roman Empire. Naturally, the Greek racer is presented as the most beautiful, with cherubs on his chariot and flowers woven into his hair, even though he is presented as no less masculine than the other racers.
80* Naturally, Elektra in ''Film/Daredevil2003'' and her own [[Film/{{Elektra}} spin-off movie]]. She is established to be Greek in the first movie due to speaking the language among her father and bodyguards and dons a [[HellBentForLeather leather outfit]] that bares her abs and later a [[LadyInRed red version of said costume]] in the second movie.
81* Mita Xemakis in ''Film/EurovisionSongContestTheStoryOfFireSaga''. Her BadGirlSong shows the extent of how gorgeous she is, and she's not above trying to seduce IdiotHero Lars Erricksong. [[spoiler:Except she can't, because of his SingleTargetSexuality for Sigrit.]]
82* ''Film/TheGodfather'': Apollonia, beloved of Michael Corleone during his exile in Sicily, has her beauty explicitly pointed out as being more of a Greek nature than a local one.
83* ''Franchise/JamesBond'':
84** Melina Havelock in ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly'' is the half-Greek, half-British [[GirlOfTheWeek Bond girl of the movie]] with her mother Iona counting as a full example due to looking extremely good for her age.
85** ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'' has Bond briefly retiring with an unnamed Greek lover by his side played by model Creator/ToniaSotiropoulou.
86* [[Literature/TheTrojanCycle Helen of Troy]], portrayed in different movies:
87** Irene Papas portrayed Helen in 'The Trojan Women'
88** Bella Dayne portrayed Helen in 'Troy: Fall of a city'
89** Sienna Guillory portrayed Helen in 'Helen of Troy'
90** Katrina Grey portrayed Helen in 'Troy the Odyssey'
91** Diane Kruger portrayed Helen in ''Film/{{Troy}}''
92** Elizabeth Taylor portrayed Helen in 'Doctor Faustus'
93* The harem girl Jamilla in ''Film/Kismet1944'' is mentioned to be Macedonian in origin which goes a long way explaining why there is a blue-eyed, fair-skinned, blonde in Baghdad's court.
94* In the 2009 romantic film ''Film/MyLifeInRuins'', Greek studies teacher-turned-tour guide Georgia, after lightening up to her job and to her tour group, falls in love with the bus driver Poupi; at one point, the bus almost crashes since they can't resist each other.
95* ''Film/{{Troy}}'': Achilles, played by Creator/BradPitt, since he is a tall, muscled, blonde ChickMagnet who is introduced in a BedFullOfWomen. Not even Trojan ProperLady Briseis can resist his charm. Helen of Troy also counts as a female example (even appearing naked at the beginning of the movie), but she is DemotedToExtra in comparison to Achilles.
96[[/folder]]
97
98[[folder:Literature]]
99* Haydee in ''Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo'' is probably the TropeCodifier in literature. The daughter of Albanian nobleman Ali Pasha and his Greek concubine Kyra Vassiliki, she was sold to slavery after her parents' deaths until her freedom was bought by Edmond Dantès and becomes his MoralityPet. The page quote above taken from the narration details how exotic and nubile the fair Greek lady is. [[spoiler:By the end of the book, she becomes Edmond's lover]].
100* Creator/LordByron's ''Literature/DonJuan'': Haidée is native from the Cyclades isles, and the main character falls in love with her after she saves him from a shipwreck, despite being unable to understand each other's language.
101* ''Literature/TheEgyptianCinderella'': Rhodopis, the titular character herself is actually Greek by birth and was sold to slavery in Egypt. She has distinctive foreign looks like [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold blonde hair]] which make her stand easily out from the others.
102* ''Histoire d'une Grecque moderne'' by Antoine François Prévost tells about the tragic romance between an French diplomat to Constantinople with [[BeautifulSlaveGirl Théophé]], an Greek concubine whom he frees from an harem.
103* Literature/JamesBond's novel ''Literature/ColonelSun'': Ariadne Alexandrou, a beautiful GRU agent that serves as love interest of the week.
104* ''Literature/TheMarkAndTheVoid'': Ariadne, a Greek waitress whom the protagonist Claude is infatuated with, but is so awkward talking with her (she must be really that distractingly beautiful).
105* ''A Night in a Moorish Harem'': The Grecian lady Helene is one of the resident [[RoyalHarem harem girls]] that entertains the main protagonist and has an entire chapter dedicated telling her backstory. She is described as being 22-years old and "about medium height, very slender, but graceful and well rounded, and her skin was as white as alabaster. Her features were of the perfect antique mould and were lighted with fine grey eyes. Her glossy black hair was all brushed back to a knot just below the back of the neck, from which but a single curl escaped on either side and toyed with her firm but finely rounded bosom".
106* ''Literature/OnTheEdgeOfEureka'': Deliberately invoked with Dahlia when she wears an elaborate Greco-Roman toga when meeting Mira for the first time.
107* ''Literature/TheCampHalfBloodSeries'' Percy Jackson does not dwell on his own looks in his own pov, but later on Hazel, a Roman demigod mistakes him for a god when she first lays eyes on him due to his good looks. Another Roman demigod, Reyna pretty much propositions him to become a RulingCouple with her.
108** Apollo, the sun god is also described as incredibly good looking by everyone that interacts with him.
109* ''Literature/TheSisterhoodOfTheTravelingPants'': Lena, a teen girl of Greek heritage, is said to be considered incredibly beautiful by everyone.
110* ''Literature/TheSookieStackhouseMysteries'': Dahlia is said to be of Greek origin, having lived during ancient times and interacted with [[Literature/TheOdyssey Ulysses]]. She is also described as having a petite build with large green eyes, [[RavenHairIvorySkin pale skin and long black hair]].
111[[/folder]]
112
113[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
114* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'': Stella Bonasera is a FairCop of half-Greek heritage. It helps that [[ActorSharedBackground her actress is a second-generation Greek immigrant]].
115* ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'': For the Netflix show, Elektra is only Greek by adoption, and is implied to have French-Cambodian roots, much like Creator/ElodieYung, who plays her.
116* ''Series/FullHouse'': Jesse Katsopolis is the handsomest of the three male leads, swooned over by women both in the show and the audience. Played by RealLife example John Stamos.
117* Discussed in 'Series/TheGoodPlace'. Eleanor states that she always pictures the historical philosophers Chidi talks about as super hot. Her image of Aristole is "John Stamos with a beard". Chidi admits that this is his image of Aristole as well.
118* ''Series/MagnificentCenturyKosem'': Anastasia (later on [[HistoricalDomainCharacter Kösem Sultan]]) is a sexy Greek harem girl who enters the seraglio and quickly becomes the Sultan's favorite.
119* ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'' features a number of Greek {{beautiful slave girl}}s among the Roman Republic with the most prominent examples being [[TheCutie Sybil]] and [[EveryoneLovesBlondes Chadara]].
120* ''Series/{{Vikings}}'': Kassia in Season 5 is a Byzantine {{Naughty Nun|s}} who uses her feminine wiles to wrap [[AristocratsAreEvil emir Ziyadat Allah]] around her fingers.
121[[/folder]]
122
123[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
124* Former Wrestling/{{WWE}} Diva Wrestling/DawnMarie is of Greco-[[EveryoneLooksSexierIfFrench French]]-[[SpicyLatina Italian]] descent. She was a {{Heel}} MsFanservice. WWE never emphasized her ethnicity, pretty much portraying her as a {{Manipulative B|astard}}itch from {{Joisey}}.
125[[/folder]]
126
127[[folder:Video Games]]
128* ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'':
129** [[TheVamp Lysistrata]] in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'' is a wealthy Byzantine noblewoman in league with the [[KnightTemplar Templars]], and uses her seductive charisma to entrap Ottoman officials. She is one of Ezio's minor targets during the story mode and playable in the multiplayer mode as "The Thespian" avatar.
130** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOdyssey'' is set in Ancient Greece, so naturally there will be characters of both genders that fill this trope like [[PlayerCharacter Kassandra/Alexios]] and specially, their love interests who are designed to be appealing.
131* ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'':
132** Byzantine Empress Theodora in ''Civilization V'' is a FemmeFatale reclining seductively on her bed.
133** Queen Gorgo of Sparta in ''Civilization VI'' is portrayed as a stern-looking AmazonianBeauty dressed in [[LadyInRed red]].
134** Alexander in ''Civ VI'' is also portrayed as exceptionally handsome. When you [[https://cdn.2kgames.com/civilization.com/a_steamcommunity.gif first meet him,]] he takes off his helmet to dramatically reveal his long, flowing locks underneath, while his breastplate has distinctly drawn abs and pecs.
135* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': Commonplace in the games set in ancient Greece where several goddesses (Aphrodite, Eos and Lachesis) and female mortals (Lora, Zora, Leda, Persephone and Poseidon's Princess, to name a few) are featured in varying states of undress. Also OncePerEpisode until ''VideoGame/GodOfWarAscension'', Kratos could have an OptionalSexualEncounter with semi-naked Greek babes in exchange for experience points, including [[DivineDate Aphrodite herself]].
136* ''VideoGame/{{Smite}}'':
137** The demigod Achilles is a LongHairedPrettyBoy who gets to show off his ripped body whenever he forgoes his armor. Even his victory animation pokes fun at his status as MrFanservice!
138** Aphrodite, unsurprisingly due to being the Goddess of Beauty and [[ProudBeauty very aware of it]].
139* ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'':
140** [[LadyOfWar Sophitia Alexandra]] might be the most shining example in gaming. Even though shed lived in the 16th-Century during a time Greece was under the UsefulNotes/OttomanEmpire, Sophitia dresses like an ancient Greek warrior in a skimpy fashion and is more or less the poster girl for the series.
141** Her sister Cassandra also qualifies though she is more of a HotBlooded {{Tomboy}} example that downplays the Greek motif.
142** Sophitia's children Patroklos and Pyrrha in ''VideoGame/SoulCaliburV'' also [[StrongFamilyResemblance inherited their mother's good looks]]. The former in particular has a mop of cherubic blond hair, evoking Classical Greek sculptures of [[PrettyBoy beautiful young men]].
143** ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburVI'' turns Sophitia's husband [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rothion1.jpg Rothion]] into this trope. After portrayed as average and plain-looking, he gets ProgressivelyPrettier in this game.
144[[/folder]]
145
146[[folder:Visual Novels]]
147* ''Franchise/FateSeries'':
148** ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': Rider is a StatuesqueStunner with purple hair and DressedLikeADominatrix who turns out to be [[spoiler: the mythological gorgon [[GorgeousGorgon Medusa]]. The reason why she doesn't look monstrous is that her current look is the same one before she was cursed by Athena, meaning this is the same one that enchanted Poseidon]].
149** ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'': The Lostbelt Lancer is Greek heroine Caenis who appears as a tall and voluptuous warrior in ChainmailBikini.
150[[/folder]]
151
152[[folder:Web Animation]]
153* Played with in ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''. While the nation and culture of Greece does not exist in Remnant, the character Pyrrha Nikos, who is based on Achilles, has a Greek name, has weapons and armor inspired but Athenian warriors and is presented as an astonishingly beautiful green-eyed redhead.
154[[/folder]]
155[[folder:Western Animation]]
156* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': David Xanatos is a suave and charismatic EvilGenius who was the son of a Greek immigrant. And he manages to win Janine "Fox" Renard's heart.
157* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'': Eris is the Greek [[HotGod goddess]] of chaos and is a voluptuous woman in a white toga. Yet [[UnexplainedAccent for some reason]], she speaks with a British accent.
158* ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries'' has Adonis as the epitome of male with long golden hair and tanned skin and [[EveryoneLovesBlondes Helen of Troy]], naturally.
159* ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfTheThreeCaballeros'': Xandra, the Goddess of Adventure and the heroes' guide, is dressed in a {{stripperiffic}} Hellenic-styled armor in addition to her name. It's pretty much all but spelled out she is Greek in contrast to the leads (an American, a Mexican, and a Brazilian).
160* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Parodied/Invoked in "the Girl Code" subplot where Homer gets a job in a Greek restaurant and styles himself as a Greek with a big mustache which Marge finds irresistible.
161[[/folder]]

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