How the Trojan War Started

The Beginning• At a wedding dinner that the Greek gods and

goddesses were attending, which was between a nymph and a king, the goddess Eris, who was associated with discord, was not invited, and decided to instigate because of not being invited

• She threw an apple onto the table, and on the fruit she had written that it was to be given to the fairest of the goddesses.

• This caused the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite to debate which one of them was to receive the apple, and hold the designation as the fairest of goddesses.

Paris

• Paris was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, the rulers of Troy. Because Priam had been informed by way of a prophecy that this son would cause the downfall of Troy, he brought Paris out of the city when he was young and abandoned him in the wilderness. Paris grew up a shepherd and cowherd as he lived with a nymph, and he became to be known for his fairness and judgment abilities. Paris had fairly judged a contest among prize bulls that the god Ares had won, and this prompted Zeus, who refused to decide which of the three goddesses was fairest, to enlist Paris of Troy as judge.

Paris Chooses

• Paris was in the land of Phrygia when the goddesses appeared before him and asked him to decide which one was the fairest. Hera offered him sovereignty over Europe and Asia if he chose her, and Athena offered him wisdom, strategy, and skill at war. But it was the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, that Paris selected, for she offered him the most beautiful woman in the world. His selection was the cause of the Trojan War.

Helen

Helen of Sparta• Helen of Sparta was the daughter of Leda and Zeus, sister of

Clytemnestra, Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri), and wife of Menelaus. She was abducted by Paris and later known as Helen of Troy. Helen of Sparta is referred to as the face that launched

a thousand ships.

Helen Leaves With Paris

• King Menelaus invites Paris to his Kingdom for Nine days to Party as a guest

• On the last day Menelaus had to go to his grandfather’s funeral and when he left Paris took Helen with him.

Helen Leaves

• When King Menelaus comes back to Sparta from the funeral he finds out that Paris has taken Helen.

• He goes to the Palace and reminds everyone in his Palace that they made an oath that they would bring back Helen.

• Then they take the Greek army to Troy.

Helen Leaves

• While on the boat to Troy Paris tells Hector and shows him that he is taking Helen back with them to Troy. Hector told him to go back to Sparta and leave her but Paris said no.