Although Odysseus is married to Penelope, it was well known that he was first a suitor to her cousin, Helen of Troy. Helen was known for her amazing beauty. She had so many suitors, in fact, that her father feared the wrath of her dismissed suitors in the eventuality that she chose a husband. Odysseus solved this problem by having every suitor take an oath to defend Helen’s chosen husband. When the suitors, including Odysseus, took this oath, Helen chose Menelaus. Afterwards, Odysseus chose Penelope as his mate.