The Trojan War

The Trojan War is a mythological event that occurred in ancient Greek. The war has its beginning in the marriage between Peleus and Thetis, who was a sea goddess (Graves 22). The pair did not send an invitation to Eris to attend their wedding. Eris was the goddess of discord. Disillusioned by the turn of the events, Eris attended the marriage banquet and hauled an apple on the table. Eris observed that the golden apple was to be claimed by the ‘fairest’ goddess. The three goddesses, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite demanded the golden apple. Since they could not agree among themselves as to who was fairest, they asked Zeus to pick the best among themselves (Wood 15).

Zeus refused to arbitrate among the three, but directed them to Paris, on Mount Ida, who was to make a decision as to who was fairest among the three goddesses. In order to lay claim on the golden apple, the three goddesses went to Paris and all offered a bribe if selected to get the apple. On the other hand, Hera promised to ensure Paris becomes the King over Asia and gain great wealth if he selected her (Wood 26). On the other hand, Athena promised Paris great wisdom and unseen power in any combat encounter. However, Aphrodite got the apple because she promised Paris to give him “the most beautiful woman in the world” (Thompson 72). Paris choice of Helen was not wise because it invited enmity from Hera and Athena, both of whom vowed to destroy him and Troy (Latacz 32).

After understanding that he would win the heart of Helen, Paris made a journey to Troy and made himself prince. He abandoned his wife, Oenone and sought to win the heart of Helen, the wife of Menelaus. Menelaus was the King of Sparta (Graves 28). As a result, Paris went to Sparta, where he seduced Helen and took her to Troy since her husband was away. This led to severing of ties between Sparta and Troy.

Paris’ actions led the King of Mycaene and the brother of Menelaus and the rest of the Greeks to lead an assault on Troy (Latacz 33). The city of Troy was under siege for a period of ten years because of the insult of Paris (Thompson 88). Indeed, it was the Hera and Athena who aided the Greeks with everything possible to wage a war against Paris and the City of Troy that bred him. With the help of the two, the Greeks managed to attack and massacre the Trojans. In addition, they desecrated the temples in Troy, which earned them “the wrath of the gods” (Burgess 34).

In conclusion, the Trojan War is a well-known occurrence in the Greek mythology. The war had its roots on the marriage ceremony of Peleus and Thetis, who refused to invite Eris to their wedding. The actions of Eris bring an intense argument between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. In order to win the golden apple, the three goddesses go to Paris to determine who among them was the fairest. However, Paris favors the idea of Aphrodite, who promised him Helen. The two goddesses come to hate Paris for his choice. They also hate the city that bred him, and determine to do everything possible to destroy him as well as the city of Troy.

Works Cited

Burgess, S. Jonathan. The Tradition of the Trojan War in Homer and the Epic Cycle. New York: John Hopkins. 2004. Print.

Graves, Robert. The Greek Myths. New York: Penguin Books. 1993. Print.

Latacz, Joachim. Troy and Homer: towards a solution of an old mystery. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005. Print.

Thompson, P. Diane. The Trojan War: literature and legends from the bronze age to the present. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. 2001. Print.

Wood, Michael. In Search of the Trojan War. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998.