The Story of the Golden Apple of Discord

The Wedding and the Uninvited Guest

The wedding of Peleus and Thetis was grand and splendid, filled with divine light and music that resonated through the heavens and Earth. Olympian gods like Zeus, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite gathered to bestow their blessings on the couple. As the festivities roared in full swing, laughter filled the halls of Mount Olympus, and the gods reveled in mirth. However, in their joy, they had neglected to invite one deity—Eris, the goddess of discord and strife.

Eris, who thrived on chaos, was deeply offended by this exclusion. Determined to make her presence known, she devised a cunning plan to incite rivalry and discord among the gods. She fashioned a gleaming apple of pure gold, engraved with the word "Kallisti"—which meant "For the Fairest." She flung the golden apple into the midst of the wedding banquet, letting it roll across the floor until it caught the attention of the three goddesses: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite.

The Divine Rivalry Begins

The moment the three goddesses laid eyes on the apple, their curiosity turned into intrigue, then jealousy, and finally fierce competition. Each goddess believed herself to be the fairest and thus entitled to claim the golden apple. Hera, the queen of the gods and wife of Zeus, felt it was her right as the most powerful and stately of the goddesses. Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, saw herself as the most deserving due to her intelligence and strategic prowess. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, believed that her charm and allure made her the natural choice for such a prize.

Unable to resolve their dispute among themselves, the goddesses turned to Zeus for a decision. But even the king of the gods was wary of making such a choice, for he knew that favoring one goddess would earn him the wrath of the others. Thus, he devised a plan to choose an impartial judge.

The Choice of Paris

Zeus selected Paris, a young and handsome prince of Troy, to judge the contest. Paris was known for his fairness and wisdom, but more importantly, he was mortal, which kept the gods themselves from directly becoming embroiled in the rivalry. Zeus dispatched Hermes, the swift messenger god, to bring Paris to the foot of Mount Ida, where the goddesses awaited him.

Paris, though initially hesitant, agreed to act as the judge. The three goddesses approached him one by one, each determined to sway his decision. Each goddess offered Paris a bribe that would grant him something uniquely desirable.

The Offers of the Goddesses

Hera went first, towering over Paris with her regal presence. She promised him power and dominion, telling Paris that if he chose her as the fairest, he would become the ruler of the greatest empire on Earth. All the wealth and glory of the world would be his.

Next, Athena stepped forward, her eyes alight with wisdom. She offered Paris unparalleled skill in war and unmatched wisdom. With her favor, he would be victorious in every battle, feared by enemies, and revered by allies.

Finally, Aphrodite approached him, her beauty radiating like the dawn. She whispered to Paris that if he awarded her the golden apple, she would grant him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. That woman was Helen of Sparta, the wife of King Menelaus and famed for her unmatched beauty.

Paris's Decision

Paris, overcome by Aphrodite’s allure and the promise of love, awarded the golden apple to her, declaring her the fairest of the three goddesses. Hera and Athena were furious at this decision, feeling humiliated and slighted. Both swore that they would bring ruin to Paris and his people for this choice.

Thus, the seeds of discord were sown, and the consequences of this seemingly innocent decision would be catastrophic for all involved. Aphrodite, true to her word, helped Paris meet Helen, sparking a passion between them so intense that it would lead Helen to abandon her husband and her home in Sparta.

The Abduction of Helen

Paris journeyed to Sparta under the guise of diplomacy, but his true purpose was to claim Helen as his own. When he met her, he was captivated by her beauty, and under Aphrodite's influence, Helen reciprocated his feelings. With little regard for the consequences, they fled together to Troy.

King Menelaus, Helen’s husband, was devastated and enraged upon discovering his wife's betrayal. He called upon the other Greek kings, reminding them of an oath they had all taken to protect Helen’s marriage. This oath bound them to support Menelaus in retrieving Helen, regardless of the cost. Thus began the great alliance of Greek forces under the command of King Agamemnon, brother of Menelaus.

The March to War

The Greek fleet set sail for Troy, carrying thousands of warriors, heroes, and leaders, including the mighty Achilles, the cunning Odysseus, and the brave Ajax. The voyage was perilous and filled with omens, for the gods themselves were divided in their loyalties. Hera and Athena supported the Greeks, seeking revenge on Paris and Troy for the insult at the wedding banquet. Aphrodite, however, protected Paris and the Trojans, standing by the promise she had made.

For ten long years, the Greeks and Trojans waged war, each side gaining and losing ground. Heroes fell on both sides, and the land was soaked in blood and tears. The gods frequently intervened, sometimes in plain sight, other times subtly guiding the actions of men and warriors.

The Fall of Troy

In the final year of the siege, the Greeks devised a cunning plan to break the stalemate. Odysseus, known for his clever mind, suggested constructing a massive wooden horse, hollowed out to hide Greek soldiers inside. The Greeks would leave this "gift" as a tribute to the Trojans and then pretend to sail away.

The Trojans, seeing the departure of the Greek fleet, rejoiced, believing that the war was finally over. They brought the wooden horse within their city walls as a trophy of victory. That night, as the city slept in a haze of celebration, the Greek soldiers hidden inside the horse emerged and opened the gates of Troy, allowing the Greek army to flood into the city.

Troy was sacked, its buildings set ablaze, and its people either killed or enslaved. Paris fell in battle, and Helen was reclaimed by Menelaus. The wrath of the goddesses had come to fruition, and the once-great city of Troy was reduced to ashes.

The Aftermath and the Legacy of the Golden Apple

The story of the Golden Apple of Discord serves as a timeless reminder of the perils of pride and envy, even among the divine. The desire for beauty and power led to unspeakable suffering, shaping the course of history. For the mortals involved, the scars of the Trojan War lingered for generations, and the tales of heroism, love, and betrayal passed down as legends.

In the end, the golden apple achieved what Eris had intended: sowing discord not only among the gods but among all who touched its legacy. From that day forth, the story of the golden apple, a symbol of beauty turned to devastation, would be told and retold, serving as a cautionary tale across the ages.