THE TROJAN WAR, PART ONE: THE APPLE OF DISCORD

A mortal named Peleus was set to marry the sea nymph Thetis. All of the gods and goddesses were invited to the wedding except for the Goddess of Discord, Eris. In a fit of rage, Eris decided to stir up trouble by throwing a golden apple into the reception. On this apple was marked the Greek word, “Kallisti,” which translates, “For the most beautiful.”

Gods and goddesses are notorious for their vanity, so naturally a fight erupted over who was the most beautiful. Eventually, the contest was narrowed down to Juno (the queen of the gods and wife of Jupiter), Venus (the goddess of love and beaty), and Minerva (the goddess of war and wisdom, as well as Jupiter’s daughter).

Jupiter refused to be the judge because he did not want to be on the bad side of any of the the goddesses (one of whom was his wife and another of whom was his daughter). Jupiter’s son Mercury, the messenger god, brought the three goddess down to the mortal prince of Troy named Paris. It was determined that Paris would judge the contest.

At the time, Paris was living outside the walls of the palace as a shepherd. He had been banished as a youth because a prophecy stated that he would bring about the downfall of Troy. Paris, a 2 nd century CE marble statue, the King’s Library, British Museum

Each of the goddess attempted to bribe Paris so that he would pick her as the most beautiful and therefore the recipient of the golden apple: Juno said she would make him give him the most powerful man in the world. Minerva said she would give him wisdom beyond that of any mortal. Venus said she would give him the most beautiful maiden there was, Helen, Queen of Sparta. The Judgement of Paris, Greek Attic Red Figure, ca. 440 BCE

Paris decided to award Venus the apple. Helen was married to Menelaus, King of Sparta in Greece. Paris disregarded this and went to secure his new bride, although this would stir up trouble because she was already married. Bust of Helen (1807) Antonio Canova

Helen was the daughter of Jupiter, king of the gods, and was exceptionally beautiful, as Venus had promised. Before Helen had married Menelaus, her stepfather, Tyndareus, was worried that all of the suitors courting his stepdaughter would riot if they were not chosen as her spouse. As a result, he made all potential suitors promise that, regardless of whom he picked to marry Helen, they would swear to be supportive and would even help her chosen husband if he ever needed. Bust of Helen (1807) Antonio Canova

Paris went to Sparta under the pretense of a peaceful visit, and then departed with Helen when Menelaus went away for a short time. Naturally, Menelaus wanted his wife back and was determined to get revenge. The Trojan War resulted as Paris ’ father Priam, the king of Troy and Meneleas, the king of Sparta, along with other Greek kings, went to battle over Paris ’ kidnapping and marrying of Helen. Bust of Helen (1807) Antonio Canova

Menelaus’ brother, Agamemnon, was married to Clytemnestra, Helen’s sister. He happened to be the Commander in Chief of the united Greek armies, and therefore was willing to help Menelaus in his quest for revenge. Furthermore, many of Helen’s former suitors (who had previously promised to help whomever King Tyndareus chose to marry Helen) were powerful Greek leaders who were now compelled to help Menelaus fight his enemy. All of the Greek leaders rallied behind Menelaus, except for two who were unwilling… The Mask of Agamemnon Discovered by Heinrich Schleimann, 1876