Deciding between Goddesses

 

 

This is the judging of three fair goddesses, Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera. Paris is the lucky one to be judging them.

Some back story:

Zeus threw a wedding celebration for Peleus and Thetis (parents of Achilles) but he did not invite Eris, the goddess of discord, to the party for she would have not been a happy party goer. So, the story goes that she created a golden apple with an inscription on it reading "for the fairest one."

Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera each claimed the golden apple for themselves. They asked Zeus to decide for them who got it but Zeus, being smart in this, decided to shove the decision on to Paris. The goddesses, trying to persuade Paris, offered him each something that was in their skill level. Aphrodite offered him the most beautiful girl in all the land. Athena offered him wisdom and to be a skillful warrior. Hera offered him wealth, power, and to be king.

Paris, being a man, took Aphrodite up on her offer. The most beautiful woman was Helen of Troy.

This is said to be the reason for the Trojan War.