Love, Lust, and a Right Proper Mess: Unpacking the Judgement of Paris
Alright, settle in folks, because we’re diving deep into one of the juiciest and most consequential tales from Greek mythology: the Judgement of Paris. Here at The Pagan Club, we love a bit of divine drama, and this story? This one’s got it all.
Think reality TV levels of backstabbing and competition, but with gods and goddesses throwing celestial tantrums instead of wine glasses. It all kicks off with a wedding (as so many good myths do, right?), a golden apple, and a handsome prince in a bit of a pickle.
The Spark: A Wedding and the Golden Apple of the Judgement
The Uninvited Guest: Eris and the Seeds of Discord
So, picture this: The sea nymph Thetis is marrying King Peleus. It’s the wedding of the century, the invite list is basically a who’s who of the Olympian gods and goddesses. Thetis and King Peleus invited everyone, and they were all there, feeling rather chuffed, except for one notable snub: Eris, the goddess of discord.
Now, you can imagine, leaving out the goddess of discord from a party is about as sensible as forgetting the candles on a birthday cake. Eris, understandably, is a bit miffed, perhaps even a touch insulted.
For the Fairest”: The Apple of Contention
Being a goddess of discord, Eris doesn’t just send a strongly worded RSVP. Oh no, she’s far more dramatic than that. She rocks up to the wedding uninvited (talk about crashing a party!), and with a classic passive-aggressive flourish, throws a golden apple into the midst of the gathered deities.
This wasn’t just any bog-standard apple, mind you. Eris inscribed this one with the words “καλλίστῃ” (Kallistei) – “For the Fairest.”
Contenders in the Judgement of Paris: Three Goddesses Vie for Beauty
Right away, you can imagine the celestial handbags at dawn moment that ensues. Suddenly, the wedding reception turns into a bit of a squabble. Three goddesses, in particular, are eyeing up that golden apple and feeling rather confident in their own beauty:
Hera
Hera, queen of the Gods, wife of Zeus, protector of marriage and women. So, think ultimate power and regal beauty. As a result, she’s used to getting her own way and probably assumed this apple was practically hers by divine right.
Athena
Athena, goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts. Known for her strategic mind, her intelligence, and a certain austere, powerful beauty. In essence, think sharp intellect and striking presence. Beauty of the brains, perhaps?
Aphrodite
Aphrodite, goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Need we say more? Indeed, she’s literally the embodiment of beauty itself. Therefore, she’s definitely feeling like this is a no-brainer.
Zeus’s Predicament: Passing the Apple in the Judgement of Paris
Naturally, each goddess vehemently believes she is the fairest and therefore deserving of the apple. Things are getting heated. Meanwhile, Zeus, king of the gods and host of the wedding, is watching this whole thing unfold and probably wishing he’d just eloped with Thetis in hindsight.
He knows getting involved is a recipe for disaster. He’s been married to Hera for… well, longer than anyone can remember. He is not about to tell her she’s not the fairest to her face. But he’s also not about to deal with the combined wrath of Athena and Aphrodite if he picks Hera out of favour.
The Mortal Judge: Paris and the Judgement of Beauty
A Shepherd Prince on Mount Ida
So, in a classic bit of divine dodging and weaving, Zeus decides to punt the problem down the line (sound familiar, anyone?). He declares they need a mortal judge. And not just any mortal, but someone renowned for their fairness and known to be somewhat removed from all this Olympian drama – a shepherd prince living a simple life on Mount Ida, seemingly untouched by the gods’ squabbles. Enter: Paris, Prince of Troy.
Hermes’s Delivery: A Task of Divine Importance
Now, Paris isn’t exactly living the high life of a prince at this point. To provide some context, having been abandoned at birth (long story involving prophecies and his mum having a nightmare about fire, mythological childcare can be a bit rough), shepherds raised him as a shepherd on Mount Ida.
People know him for his good looks, his fairness in settling disputes amongst shepherds, and his general rural charm. Basically, a handsome, honest bloke out in the sticks.
Zeus, the messenger god, dispatches Hermes to fetch Paris and explain his rather unusual new job. Imagine turning up to work one day and someone telling you your task is to judge a beauty contest between three goddesses, with the fate of… well, potentially quite a lot of things… hanging in the balance. So, no pressure, Paris!
The Divine Bribes: Temptation in the Judgement of Paris
Hermes leads Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite to Paris on Mount Ida. And here’s where it gets really interesting. Instead, the goddesses, being goddesses, don’t just stand there looking pretty and hoping for the best. Oh no, they come armed with bribes. Because even deities know that sometimes a little… persuasion… can go a long way.
Hera’s Offer: Power and Dominion
Hera, knowing Paris is a prince (even if he doesn’t know it yet), offers him dominion over all of Asia and immense power and wealth, appealing to his royal bloodline, even if he grew up as a shepherd. Think ruler of vast lands, unbelievably rich. Who wouldn’t want that?
Athena’s Offer: Wisdom and Glory in Battle
Athena, ever the practical goddess, offers him wisdom, glory in battle, and military prowess. Basically, she’s promising to make him the most unbeatable warrior ever, a legendary hero. Big bragging rights there.
Aphrodite’s Offer: Love and the Fairest Woman
Aphrodite, well, Aphrodite plays a different game entirely. She knows what truly motivates mortals (or at least, she thinks she does). She offers Paris the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife – Helen of Sparta. Yes, indeed, that Helen. Moreover, the one who’s already married to King Menelaus. Awkward.
The Fateful Decision in the Judgement of Paris and its Consequences
Paris is now in a bit of a dilemma. For instance, power, glory, or love and beauty? Three incredibly tempting offers, each appealing to different desires. In addition, he’s got to choose just one, and not upset the other two goddesses too much (good luck with that, mate).
After some deliberation (and let’s be honest, probably not too much deliberation), Paris chooses Aphrodite. Then, he hands her the golden apple, declaring her “fairest.” Thus, people often see this choice, driven by the promise of love and beauty, as prioritizing personal desire over the offers of power and wisdom. Aphrodite obviously shows her delight.
Hera and Athena? Less so. Understatement of the century. They are furious. Like, Olympian levels of fury. They vow vengeance, not just on Paris, but on Troy itself. This lovely little beauty contest just got a whole lot more serious.
So, what are the consequences of this judgement? Well, Aphrodite, true to her word, helps Paris to woo and abduct Helen from Sparta. Unsurprisingly, this, understandably, does not go down well with Menelaus or the rest of the Greeks. Ultimately, it kicks off the Trojan War.
Yep, that Trojan War – the one with the ten-year siege, Achilles and Hector battling it out, the Trojan Horse… all started because of a golden apple and a beauty contest judged by a shepherd prince.
Themes Unpacked: Understanding the Judgement of Paris
The Judgement of Paris is a pivotal moment in Greek mythology. Indeed, it’s the catalyst for the Trojan War, one of the most famous and epic conflicts in ancient literature. It’s a story about:
Divine Conflict
The gods are not always harmonious. For example, they have their own squabbles, biases, and vendettas, and they often drag mortals into their dramas.
The Power of Desire
Paris’s choice was ultimately driven by desire – lust for Helen, fuelled by Aphrodite’s promise. Consequently, it highlights how powerful desire can be and how it can lead to unforeseen and often devastating consequences.
Fate vs. Free Will
Was Paris destined to make this choice? Or did he have free will? Ultimately, the myth dances around this question, suggesting a complex interplay between fate and individual choices.
The Nature of Beauty
What is beauty, really? Is it power, wisdom, or romantic love? More specifically, the myth implicitly asks these questions through the offers of the goddesses and Paris’s ultimate decision.
Consequences of Choice
Paris’s seemingly simple choice has monumental repercussions. In other words, it’s a stark reminder that even seemingly small decisions can have huge and lasting impacts.
Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of the Judgement of Paris
The Judgement of Paris, therefore, isn’t just a quirky little myth about a beauty contest. The story has many themes that still resonate today. Furthermore, it’s about the egos and flaws of even the most powerful beings, the allure of temptation, and the chaotic ripple effects of our choices. And let’s be honest, it’s a cracking good story, full of drama, jealousy, and divine intervention.
So next time you’re facing a difficult decision, just be glad the situation isn’t requiring you to judge between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite with a golden apple in your hands! It just goes to show, even amongst the gods, things can get a bit… messy, right?
