Paris
Paris was the Trojan prince whose judgement of three goddesses and abduction of Helen ignited the Trojan War — the most consequential act of desire in Western mythology.
The Legend of Paris
Son of Priam and Hecuba of Troy, Paris was exposed on Mount Ida after a prophecy foretold he would destroy the city. Shepherds raised him. When Eris threw a golden apple among Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, Zeus sent Hermes to lead the three goddesses to Paris for judgment. Hera offered power, Athena wisdom, Aphrodite the most beautiful woman — Helen of Sparta. Paris chose Aphrodite, sailed to Sparta, and took Helen from Menelaus. This act launched the Trojan War. Paris fought poorly but killed Achilles with an arrow guided by Apollo. He himself fell to Philoctetes' bow, and Troy soon followed.
Parents
Priam and Hecuba
Children
Corythus (by Oenone)
Symbols
Fun Fact
The "Judgement of Paris" has been painted more than almost any other Greek myth — Rubens, Cranach, Renoir, and Dalí all depicted it.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Cadmus
🗡 heroFounder of Thebes
Cadmus was the Phoenician prince who founded Thebes, sowed dragon's teeth, and brought the alphabet from Phoenicia to Greece.
Perseus
🗡 heroHero who slew Medusa
The son of Zeus and Danae who beheaded Medusa, rescued Andromeda, and founded the Perseid dynasty of Mycenae.
Jason
🗡 heroLeader of the Argonauts
The hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by Medea's sorcery.
Anchises
🗡 heroLove, royalty, Troy
Trojan prince beloved by Aphrodite and father of Aeneas, the legendary founder of Rome
Aerope
🗡 heroAdultery, royalty
Queen of Mycenae whose adultery with Thyestes caused the devastating curse upon the House of Atreus
Bellerophon
🗡 heroThe hero who tamed Pegasus
The Corinthian hero who tamed the winged horse Pegasus and slew the Chimera, but fell from heaven when he tried to reach Olympus.
Peleus
🗡 heroheroism
King of Phthia, Argonaut, and father of Achilles who wrestled the shape-shifting sea goddess Thetis to win her as his bride.
Tenes
🗡 heroPurity, Betrayal, Apollo
Prince of Colonae and first ruler of Tenedos, killed by Achilles despite his divine protection by Apollo.
Aleus
🗡 heroKingship, Arcadia
King of Tegea in Arcadia and founder of the great temple of Athena Alea
Pelops
🗡 heroFounder of the Peloponnese dynasty
Pelops was the prince served as food to the gods by his father Tantalus, restored to life with an ivory shoulder, and founder of the cursed dynasty that ruled Mycenae.
Alcmene
🗡 heroMother of Heracles
Alcmene was the mortal woman whom Zeus seduced by disguising himself as her husband — she bore Heracles, the greatest hero of Greek mythology.
Amyclas
🗡 heroKingship, Laconia
Legendary king of Sparta and founder of the ancient city of Amyclae near Sparta