Could a decision be so important that it led to the most famous war in Greek History?

It began at a wedding.

During the celebration of the Greek hero Peleus and the sea-nymph Thetis, something small and seemingly trivial set in motion a chain of events that would alter the course of history forever.

The Uninvited Guest

The banquet was hosted by Zeus himself, and every major deity and Olympian was invited, except one. Eris, the Goddess of Discord, was deliberately excluded. Zeus feared her disruptive influence would ruin the festivities.

Understandably furious, Eris took her revenge. She arrived uninvited and tossed a golden apple (The Apple of Discord) into the middle of the celebration. Inscribed on it was a single word: KALLISTI — “To the fairest.”

Every goddess believed it was meant for her.

The competition quickly narrowed to three heavyweights: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. All three turned to Zeus to settle the matter. But Zeus, unwilling to risk the wrath of any of them, passed the responsibility to a mortal, a young man named Paris.

Why Paris?

Was this a dumb move by Zeus? Not really, there were mainly two reasons why Paris was chosen

Zeus’s Cowardice

Zeus was related to all the goddesses in one way or the other (Hera’s husband and Athena’s father).

No matter whom he chose, he would face eternal resentment from the others.

Paris was his convenient fall guy.

Paris’s reputation for Fairness

Paris was no ordinary shepherd. He was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. He didn’t know it though.

Before his birth, his mother Hecuba dreamed she gave birth to a flaming torch. The Trojan seer Aesacus interpreted this as a terrible omen, that the child would bring about the downfall of Troy and must be killed.

Unable to carry out the act, the king’s herdsman Agelaus raised Paris by himself.

Paris grew up tending cattle, completely unaware of his royal blood. He became known for his extraordinary skill, and his integrity.

That integrity was tested when Ares, the god of war, disguised himself and entered a divine bull into a contest against Paris’s prized animal.

Ares’s bull won.

And despite his pride, Paris awarded the prize fairly, impressing the gods and earning him a reputation for justice.

That reputation is exactly why Zeus pointed the finger at him.

The JUDGEMENT

Paris met the three goddesses at Mount Ida, where each attempted to bribe him.

Hera	Offered him ultimate political power. Dominion over Europe and Asia
Athena	Immense wisdom and the ability to lead Troy to victory in every war
Aphrodite	The love of the most beautiful woman in the world

And that woman was HELEN, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. She’s really said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world.

Diane Kruger played Helen in the 2004 movie Troy. Wise choice, I would say.

Paris chose to think from his heart instead of his head and chose Love. He awarded the golden apple to Aphrodite.

The Consequences

True to her word, Aphrodite helped Paris take Helen back to Troy. In some accounts, she went willingly. In others, she was abducted.

Either way, her departure from Sparta ignited one of the most legendary conflicts in history.

The Trojan War, a brutal ten year siege that ended with the complete destruction of Troy.

The prophecy Hecuba feared had come true. Paris had brought Troy to ruin.

Which would you choose?

If you were in Paris’s place, what would you have chosen — power, wisdom, or love?

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