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Zeus threw a banquet to celebrate the marriage of Peleus and Thetis (the parents of Achilles). Left off the guest list, Eris, a daughter of Ares and goddess of Discord, arrive uninvited and tossed a golden apple into the middle of the event, on which was inscribed "to the fairest". Three goddesses laid claim to the apple: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite.

Knowing that no normal mortal and certainly no god could be an unbiased judge, Zeus remembered that Paris, a young price of Troy was known for being level-headed and fair. Paris was to judge a competition of bulls, and Zeus, wanting to test his judgement, sent Ares in disguise to participate. Being a god, Ares was of perfect dimension and easily won, so Zeus gave the apple to Paris and bid the goddesses to make their cases.

Hera offered to make him a famous king, but Paris was already the son of Priam, King of Troy and content in his station. Athena offered god-like wisdom, which again, Paris saw little use for, since he did not wish to be important beyond his station. Aphrodite, however, offered to make the most beautiful woman in the world his bride, and to her he gave the apple.

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14y ago

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