The Judgement of Paris is a story from Greek mythology, in which the legendary roots of the Trojan War can be found. As with many mythological tales, details vary depending on the source. (For a more complete treatment, see Paris)

Zeus (Jupiter) held a banquet in celebration of the marriage of Peleus and Thetis. Left off the guest list was Eris (goddess of discord), and upon turning up uninvited she threw a golden apple on to the table, with the inscription καλλιστι ('for the fairest'). Three goddesses claimed the apple: Hera (Juno), Athena (Minerva) and Aphrodite (Venus). They asked Zeus to judge which of them was fairest, and eventually Zeus declared that Paris, a Phrygian mortal, would judge their cases.

All three of the candidates attempted to bribe Paris; Hera offered to make him king of Europe and Asia, Athena offered skill in wisdom and war, and Aphrodite offered the love of the world's most beautiful woman. This was Helen of Sparta, wife of the Greek king Menelaus. Paris accepted Aphrodite's gift, receiving Helen and the enmity of the Greeks. The Greeks' expedition to retrieve Helen is the borderline mythological basis of the Trojan War.

External links

• The Judgement of Paris