Apple of Discord
conceptGolden apple thrown by Eris inscribed "for the fairest" that triggered the divine beauty contest leading to the Trojan War.
The Myth
One uninvited goddess threw one golden apple — and it killed more people than any weapon in mythology. Eris, goddess of discord, was not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. She arrived anyway and threw a golden apple inscribed kalliste ("for the fairest") among Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. The resulting quarrel led to the Judgment of Paris, Paris's abduction of Helen, and the ten-year Trojan War. The apple is the original butterfly effect in Western storytelling — a single small act cascading into catastrophe. The phrase "apple of discord" is still used in European languages to describe any small catalyst that triggers a large conflict.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The phrase apple of discord entered political vocabulary — it describes any small trigger for a large conflict.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Trojan War
conceptThe Trojan War was the central event of Greek mythology — a ten-year siege of Troy by a Greek...
Eris
conceptThe goddess of strife and discord who threw the golden apple that started the chain of events...
Judgment of Paris
conceptThe beauty contest between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite judged by Paris of Troy that caused the...
Golden Fleece
conceptThe fleece of a golden-wooled ram, hung in a sacred grove in Colchis and guarded by a sleepless...
Trojan Horse
conceptThe hollow wooden horse used by the Greeks to infiltrate and destroy Troy. Devised by Odysseus, it...
Golden Fleece (Origin)
conceptThe fleece of the golden ram Chrysomallus that carried Phrixus to Colchis, becoming the object of...
Helen
heroThe most beautiful woman in the world, daughter of Zeus. Her elopement with Paris of Troy triggered...
Paris
heroParis was the Trojan prince whose judgement of three goddesses and abduction of Helen ignited the...
Aphrodite
godGoddess of love and beauty, born from the sea foam. Aphrodite's power to inspire desire was so...
Athena
godGoddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, born fully armored from the head of Zeus. Patron deity of...
Athena (Warrior)
godAthena was the goddess of wisdom, strategic war, and craftsmanship — born fully armoured from...
Athena Promachos
godAn epithet of Athena meaning "the Champion" or "who fights in front," represented by a colossal...