Launching a war over the beauty of a woman was likely the first instance of it.

@BufftonBeotch Touche.

@BufftonBeotch Try the TROJAN War.

@Triphid Isn't that whee the phrase

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

Came from?

@BufftonBeotch No, Rome went to War with Egypt because of few main things historically,

1. the Grain shortage was creating a famine in Rome itself and the at made Octavian Caesar look bad (worse actually) in the eyes of the Roman citizens,
2. Marc Antony rejected Octavian's ( his lawful wife) in favour of Cleopatra,
3. the dissolution of the Octavian/Antony?Lepidus Triumvirate was a major part of Octavian's PLAN to gain total power in Rome and make himself Emperor.
4. Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar, Caesarion, was coming of age and COULD pose a great threat to Octavian's plans hence Caesarion had to be eliminated.

@BufftonBeotch The Trojan War was fought over, according to Homer, Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, taking Helen, wife of King Menelaus, back to Troy with him.
Hence the sayings of " The face that launched a thousand ships" and " Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."