The trouble began at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, where Eris, the goddess of discord, was pointedly left off the guest list. In a fit of spite, she tossed a golden apple into the banquet hall inscribed with the words, 'To the Fairest.' Instantly, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite laid claim to the prize. Zeus, unwilling to settle a dispute among his own family, appointed Paris, a prince of Troy living as a shepherd, to be the judge. Guided by Hermes, the three goddesses appeared before the youth on Mount Ida. Each offered a bribe: Hera promised him power over all of Europe and Asia; Athena offered wisdom and skill in battle; but Aphrodite promised him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. Paris, swayed by desire, awarded the apple to Aphrodite. Though he gained his heart's desire, the choice ignited the wrath of the rejected goddesses and set in motion the decade-long Trojan War.
Choices driven by personal desire and vanity, rather than wisdom or justice, can lead to devastating consequences for oneself and others.
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Questions about this story
What is the moral of The Judgment of Paris?
The story teaches that beauty is a superficial metric for judgment and that choosing instant gratification over wisdom can have catastrophic long-term effects. It also warns against the destructive nature of pride and vanity among those in power.
Who gave Paris the golden apple?
The golden apple was originally thrown by Eris, the goddess of discord, at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. Paris was later given the apple by Hermes on behalf of Zeus to award to the goddess he deemed most beautiful.
What did the three goddesses offer Paris?
Hera offered Paris political power and the throne of all Europe and Asia. Athena offered him supreme wisdom and victory in every battle. Aphrodite offered him the hand of the most beautiful woman on Earth, Helen of Sparta.
How did the Judgment of Paris start the Trojan War?
By choosing Aphrodite, Paris was granted the love of Helen, who was already married to King Menelaus of Sparta. When Paris took Helen back to Troy, the Greeks launched a thousand ships to retrieve her, triggering the war.
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