Paris
heroParis 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 Myth
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.
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:
Explore Further
Helen
heroThe most beautiful woman in the world, daughter of Zeus. Her elopement with Paris of Troy triggered...
Helen of Troy
heroHelen was the most beautiful woman in the world, daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction by...
Achilles
heroThe greatest warrior in the Greek army at Troy, nearly invulnerable thanks to being dipped in the...
Hecuba
heroHecuba was the queen of Troy who watched her husband, sons, and city destroyed — embodying the...
Menelaus
heroMenelaus was the king of Sparta whose stolen wife Helen was the cause of the Trojan War — yet he...
Mount Ida (Troy)
placeMount Ida near Troy was the mountain from which the gods observed the Trojan War and where Paris...
Philoctetes and the Bow
heroThe hero who possessed Heracles' bow without which Troy could not fall, abandoned on Lemnos for ten...
Priam
heroPriam was the aged king of Troy, father of fifty sons including Hector and Paris, whose night...
Eris
conceptThe goddess of strife and discord who threw the golden apple that started the chain of events...
Hecuba (Revenge)
heroQueen of Troy who survived the fall, witnessed the sacrifice of Polyxena, and took savage revenge...
Judgement of Paris (Detail)
conceptThe beauty contest between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite judged by Paris of Troy, whose choice of...
Philoctetes
heroPhiloctetes inherited Heracles' bow and was essential to Troy's fall, yet the Greeks abandoned him...