The Judgment of Paris

It began with a quarrel among three goddesses—Juno, Venus, and Minerva—that would lead to the sad fate of the nymph Œnone and the destruction of Troy. The strife arose at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. Peleus was a king of Thessaly in Greece, a great hero. Thetis was a daughter of the sea god Nereus, who had fifty daughters, all beautiful sea nymphs called Nereids. Their duty was to attend the greater sea gods and obey Neptune.

Thetis was so lovely that Jupiter himself wished to marry her, but the Fates told him she would have a son greater than his father. Not wanting a son mightier than himself, Jupiter gave up the idea and allowed her to marry Peleus, who had long loved her. But Thetis, being a goddess, was unwilling to marry a mortal. Yet she finally consented, and all the gods and goddesses—except one—came to the wedding feast.

For in the elder time, when truth and worth were still revered and cherished here on earth, the tenants of the skies would often descend to heroes' spotless homes, as friend to friend; there meet them face to face, and freely share in all that stirred the hearts of mortals there. (Catullus, Martin's translation)

The one exception was Eris, or Discord, the goddess of discord. This evil-minded deity had once lived on Olympus, but she caused so much quarreling that Jupiter banished her forever. No one wanted such a being at a happy event, so no invitation was sent to her.

Thus slighted, the goddess of discord resolved to take revenge by disturbing the peace of the wedding feast. With this evil purpose, she suddenly appeared among the guests and threw onto the table a beautiful golden apple, inscribed with the words: "Let it be given to the fairest."

This was cast upon the board, when all the full-faced presence of the gods ranged in the halls of Peleus; whereupon rose feud, with question unto whom 'twere due. (Tennyson, Œnone)

At once all the goddesses began to claim the glittering prize. Each contended that she was the "fairest" and should have the fruit of pure Hesperian gold that smelt ambrosially. But soon the only competitors were Juno, Venus, and Minerva, the others having withdrawn their claims. The contest grew bitter, and finally Jupiter was called upon to judge. The king of heaven declined. He knew that whichever way he decided, he would offend two of the three goddesses and destroy the peace of his own household. An umpire had to be chosen, and it was perhaps the decree of the Fates that the lot fell on the handsome young shepherd of Mount Ida. His wisdom was well known to the gods, and all agreed that he was a fit person to decide so great a contest.

Paris was appointed umpire. By Jupiter's command, the golden apple was sent to him, to be given to the goddess he judged most beautiful. The goddesses themselves were to appear before him on Mount Ida, so that beholding their charms, he might give a just decision. The English poet Tennyson, in his poem "Œnone," gives a fine description of the three deities standing before the Trojan prince, each in turn trying to persuade him with promises of great reward. Juno spoke first, offering kingly power and immense wealth if he awarded the prize to her.

She to Paris made proffer of royal power, ample rule unquestioned. 'Honor,' she said, 'and homage, tax and toll, from many an inland town and haven large.'

Minerva next addressed the judge, promising great wisdom and knowledge, as well as success in war, if he would give the apple to her.

Then Venus approached the young prince, who still held the golden prize. She had few words to say, confident in her beauty and the tempting bribe she was about to offer.

She with a subtle smile in her mild eyes, the herald of her triumph, drawing nigh half-whispered in his ear, 'I promise thee the fairest and most loving wife in Greece.' She spoke and laughed.

The subtle smile and whispered promise won the heart of Paris. Forgetful of Œnone and disregarding the promises of the other goddesses, he awarded the prize to Venus.

He consigned to her soft hand the fruit of burnished rind; and foam-born Venus grasped the graceful meed, of war, of evil war, the quickening seed. (Coluthus, Elton's translation)

Such was the famous judgment of Paris. It may have been a just decision, for Venus, being the goddess of beauty, was likely the most beautiful. But the story does not give us a high idea of Paris's character. He no longer took pleasure in Œnone's company. All his thoughts turned away from her because of Venus's promise. He had grown weary of his simple life among his flocks on the mountain. He wished for some adventure to take him away from scenes that had become distasteful.

The opportunity soon came. A member of King Priam's family had died, and it was announced that the funeral would be celebrated with athletic games, as was the custom. Paris resolved to go down to the city and take part. Prizes were offered, and one was the finest bull from the herds on Mount Ida. It happened that the bull belonged to Paris himself, but it could not be taken without his consent. He agreed to give it for the games on condition that he be allowed to compete.

The condition was accepted, and so the shepherd prince parted from Œnone and went to the funeral games at Troy. He may have intended to return, but it was many years before he saw the fair nymph again—not until he was about to die of a wound from a Greek in the Trojan War. Œnone knew what would happen, for Apollo had given her the gift of prophecy. She warned Paris that if he left, he would bring ruin on himself and his country, and that he would seek her help when it was too late. These predictions, as we shall see, came true. Œnone's grief and despair after Paris's departure are touchingly described in Tennyson's poem:

'O happy Heaven, how canst thou see my face? O happy earth, how canst thou bear my weight? O death, death, death, thou ever-floating cloud, there are enough unhappy on this earth, pass by the happy souls, that love to live: I pray thee, pass before my light of life, and shadow all my soul, that I may die. Thou weighest heavy on the heart within, weigh heavy on my eyelids: let me die.'

At the games in Troy, everyone admired the noble appearance of Paris, but no one knew who he was. He won all the first prizes, for Venus had given him godlike strength and swiftness. He even defeated Hector, the greatest athlete of Troy. Hector, angry at being beaten by an unknown stranger, resolved to kill him, and Paris would probably have died had he not fled into the temple of Jupiter. Cassandra, who happened to be there, noticed Paris closely. She observed that he bore a strong resemblance to her brothers and asked about his birth and age. From his answers, she was satisfied that he was her brother and introduced him to the king. Further inquiries were made. The old shepherd Archelaus, to whom Paris had been given as an infant to be exposed on Mount Ida, was still living. He came and told his story.

Then King Priam and Queen Hecuba joyfully embraced and welcomed their son, never thinking of the terrible dream or the prophecy of Æsacus. Hector, no longer angry, was glad to see his brother and proud of his victories. Everyone rejoiced except Cassandra. She knew the evil that would come to Troy through Paris, but no one believed the "mad prophetess."

Thus restored to his position as a prince of Troy, Paris now lived in his father's palace, apparently contented and happy. But the promise made on Mount Ida, which he carefully concealed from his family, was always in his mind. His thoughts turned toward Greece, where dwelt the fairest woman of those times. This was Helen, wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta, celebrated throughout the ancient world for her matchless beauty. Paris had been promised the fairest woman for his wife, and he felt sure it could be no other than the far-famed Helen. To Greece he resolved to go, as soon as there was an excuse for undertaking what was then a long and dangerous voyage of many weeks, though in our day it is no more than a few hours' sail.

The occasion came when King Priam decided to send ambassadors to the island of Salamis to demand the return of his sister Hesione, whom Hercules had carried off years before. Her husband Telamon was dead, but his son Ajax still held her prisoner. Priam had never forgotten his sister's love, for she had redeemed him from slavery and placed him on his father's throne. He now determined to bring her back, and Paris eagerly begged permission to lead the expedition. Priam consented, and a fleet worthy of the son of the king of Troy was built by Phereclus, a skillful Trojan craftsman whom Minerva (Pallas) had instructed in all kinds of workmanship.

For loved by Pallas, Pallas did impart to him the shipwright's and the builder's art. Beneath his hand the fleet of Paris rose, the fatal cause of all his country's woes. (Pope, Iliad, Book V)

Before the fleet departed, Cassandra raised her voice in warning, but as usual her words were ignored. Paris set sail. He reached Greece safely, but instead of going to Salamis to demand Hesione, he steered his ships to the coast of Sparta. He did this under the guidance of Venus, who was now about to fulfill the promise by which she had won the golden apple on Mount Ida.

Landing in Sparta, Paris hastened to the court of Menelaus, where he was hospitably received. The king gave banquets in his honor and invited him to stay, and the beautiful Queen Helen joined in her husband's kind attentions.

Soon after Paris's arrival, Menelaus received an invitation to a hunting expedition in Crete. Suspecting nothing, he accepted and departed, leaving his queen to entertain the Trojan prince until his return. Then Paris, taking advantage of the king's absence, persuaded Helen to desert her husband and home and go with him to Troy. He told her of Venus's promise and assured her that she would be received with great honor in his father's palace and protected against Menelaus's anger.

From her husband's stranger-sheltering home he tempted Helen o'er the ocean foam. (Coluthus, Elton's translation)

Helen consented, and Paris carried her off in his fleet. At the same time, he took a vast treasure in gold and other costly things belonging to Menelaus. On the voyage home, the ships were driven by a storm to the shores of the island of Cranae, where Paris and Helen stayed for some time. When at last they reached Troy, they were cordially welcomed by King Priam and Queen Hecuba. Soon they were married, and the event was celebrated with great rejoicing.

But not all the people of Troy joined in the celebration. Hector and other wise counselors strongly criticized Paris's conduct and advised the king to send Helen back to Sparta. But Priam would not listen, and so she remained in Troy.

The great beauty of Helen has been celebrated by poets ancient and modern. Tennyson, in his "Dream of Fair Women," introduces her as one of the forms in his vision: "I saw a lady within call, stiller than chiseled marble, standing there; a daughter of the gods, divinely tall, and most divinely fair."