Judgement of Paris (Detail)
conceptThe beauty contest between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite judged by Paris of Troy, whose choice of Aphrodite triggered the Trojan War.
The Myth
The Judgement of Paris began at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis on Mount Pelion, where every god was invited except Eris, goddess of Discord. In revenge, Eris threw a golden apple inscribed "to the fairest" among the guests. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite each claimed it. Zeus, unwilling to judge between his wife and daughters, appointed Paris, a prince of Troy living as a shepherd on Mount Ida, who was reputed the handsomest mortal alive. Each goddess offered a bribe: Hera promised dominion over Asia, Athena offered wisdom and victory in war, and Aphrodite offered the most beautiful woman in the world — Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta. Paris chose Aphrodite and sailed to Sparta, where he violated the sacred bond of xenia by seducing Helen while guest of Menelaus. This act united all Greece against Troy and launched the war that destroyed both houses.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The phrase "apple of discord" — meaning a cause of dispute — comes directly from Eris's golden apple. It has been used to describe everything from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand to disputed electoral results. Isaac Newton supposedly chose the apple as his gravity symbol partly because of this mythological resonance. The original beauty contest didn't end with a crown and a sash — it ended with a ten-year war and the destruction of a civilisation.
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...
Trojan Horse
conceptThe hollow wooden horse used by the Greeks to infiltrate and destroy Troy. Devised by Odysseus, it...
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...
Amyclae Throne
conceptThe colossal throne-statue of Apollo at Amyclae near Sparta, one of the most sacred objects in the...
Mount Ida (Troy)
placeMount Ida near Troy was the mountain from which the gods observed the Trojan War and where Paris...
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...
Helen of Troy
heroHelen was the most beautiful woman in the world, daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction by...