the judgement of paris

the judgement of paris

Ebeling&King
When Peleus and Thetis were to be wed, the gods held a
grand party in their honor.

The most noble and honored gods were in attendence,

so not all gods were invited.
Out in the darkness, Eris plotted.
She wrote on the side of a golden apple kallisti, for the
most beautiful.
The gods were shocked, none could decide to whom the
apple should go.
Hera, wife of Zeus, whose bearing was that of the perfect
mother, learned in all things.

or Athena, virgin goddess of wisdom, whose purity and

knowledge shone through to all who laid eyes upon her.

or Aphrodite, the goddess who owns all hearts, the

spark of passion, whose very being is dedicated to
desire.
With no way to resolve the dispute, Hermes was
dispatched to find an innocent mortal to bear the
responsibility.
In the fields outside Troy, a fair boy sat daydreaming
instead of tending his flock.

Recognizing him as royalty, Hermes drew closer.

“Boy, it falls to you to settle a disagreement amongst
the Olympians. You must choose from these three
which is the most beautiful, and thereby which receives
the golden apple.”

Astonished the young boy looked to the three.

He absorbed each one in turn.

Hera and her stately pose,

Athena, driven, determined and steadfast,

and Aphrodite, brimming with excitement.

Poor Paris gazed helplessly, powerless to decide.

Hermes prompted, “Perhaps in their natural state, with-
out their clothes to hide their form, can you then detect
the truth of their beauty”

Taking the trickster’s advice, Paris gazed upon their

deific beauty.
Paris remained powerless.

At Herme’s behest, each goddess offered a gift to

Paris.
From Hera, “If I am judged most beautiful, then you,
young Paris shall receive all of Europe and Asia as your
Kingdom.”
Then Athena, “Young Paris, if I am shown to be the
most beautiful, all the wisdom of the great heroes and
the great rulers will be yours.”
Finally Aphrodite, “Paris declare me the most beautiful
goddess, and as a prize you you will receive the
adoration of the most beautiful woman in all the world.”
For Paris there was no solution for the dilemma Eris
caused, but the God of Thresholds, the Bold Liar, had
suggested one of his own.

“Paris,” the god whispered, “rulers are misunderstood

and overthrown, and wisdom in its turn is shown as
folly. Only by stealing a beauty’s heart can you be sure
of your reward.”
With those words from the Shadow Diety, Paris announced
his decision.

Aphrodite won the prize. Paris presented the apple to her.

She whispered solemnly, “The most beautiful woman in all

the world belongs to you.”
What Paris hadn’t known was that she, who was the
most beautiful, was already married to Menelaus,
King of the Spartans.