The mythical episode known as The Judgement of Paris serves as the pivotal event, or casus belli (cause for war), that precipitated the decade-long Trojan War. This fateful contest, in which a mortal man was tasked with deciding which goddess was the most beautiful, set in motion a chain of events that resulted in immense suffering and the eventual downfall of the great city of Troy.
The Uninvited Guest and the Golden Apple
The genesis of the conflict lay in a celestial wedding: the union of the hero Peleus (a Thessalian king) and the sea-nymph Thetis (a powerful goddess). They were destined to become the parents of the great Greek hero, Achilles. All the gods and goddesses were invited to the lavish celebration, save for one: Eris, the goddess of discord.
Furious at the snub, Eris sought revenge. She appeared briefly at the banquet and hurled a golden apple—sometimes called the Apple of Discord—among the guests. Engraved upon the fruit were the words: "To the fairest one".
The Divine Contest and the Mortal Judge
Immediately, three powerful goddesses laid claim to the prize, each considering herself the rightful recipient:
Hera: Queen of the Gods, wife of Zeus, and patroness of marriage and empire.
Athena: Goddess of Wisdom, strategic warfare, and crafts.
Aphrodite: Goddess of Love, beauty, and desire.
The ensuing quarrel was so fierce and disruptive that Zeus, the king of the gods, refused to make the choice himself. He delegated the impossible task to a mortal: Paris (also known as Alexandros), a prince of Troy who was living as a shepherd on Mount Ida due to a prophecy foretelling he would cause the city's ruin. Paris was chosen because he was renowned for his impartial judgment (having recently judged a bull contest) and, more famously, was considered the most handsome man on earth.
The judgement took place on Mount Ida, a sacred peak near the city of Troy, Paris's homeland.
The Bribes and the Fatal Choice
To sway the judge, each goddess offered Paris an irresistible bribe, leveraging her domain of power:
Hera offered power over Europe and Asia, making him the mightiest ruler on earth, the lure of political power and a vast empire.
Athena offered unmatched strength in war, incredible skill in battle, and profound wisdom, the promise of glory and military prowess.
Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful mortal woman in the world: Helen of Sparta, the irresistible appeal of personal desire and beauty.
Paris chose Aphrodite's offer, prioritizing passion and beauty over power or wisdom, and awarded her the golden apple. This act earned him Aphrodite’s eternal favor, but the undying hatred of the two spurned goddesses, Hera and Athena.
The Abduction and the Declaration of War
The promised prize, Helen, was no ordinary woman. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leda and the wife of the powerful Spartan king, Menelaus (brother of Agamemnon, King of Mycenae). Due to her unparalleled beauty, all the great heroes of Greece had once sworn an oath (The Oath of Tyndareus) to uphold her marriage and defend her husband's honor.
Following Aphrodite’s guidance, Paris journeyed to Sparta. While a guest in Menelaus's house, he violated the sacred laws of hospitality by persuading Helen to leave with him and sail back to Troy. While the event is often termed a "kidnapping" or "abduction," Homeric tradition suggests Helen may have been a willing participant due to Aphrodite's influence.
Enraged by this profound insult, Menelaus called upon all the Greek kings and heroes bound by the oath. This mobilization resulted in a massive Achaean (Greek) army sailing across the Aegean Sea to attack Troy, marking the official beginning of the Trojan War, which would rage for ten long years.
The Gods Take Sides
The consequences of the Judgement of Paris extended to the very heart of the conflict, with the gods taking active roles on the battlefield:
Pro-Greek: Hera and Athena actively supported the Achaean forces throughout the war, seeking vengeance against Paris and the city that sheltered him.
Pro-Trojan: Aphrodite consistently championed Paris and the Trojans, ensuring his safety in battle on several occasions.
In the end, Troy fell to the cunning of the Greeks. Paris was eventually killed by an arrow shot by the archer Philoctetes, and after the Greek victory, Menelaus recovered Helen and sailed with her back to Sparta, fulfilling the prophecy born from a single, vengeful golden apple.
