The Golden Apple – A Greek Legend
The story of the golden apple is my favourite in the Greek mythology.
It caused the bloody Trojan war.
It all started on the wedding of Thetis and Peleus. Everyone who was anyone and all the gods and goddesses were invited to the wedding except for Erin, the goddess of wrath and discord. Apparently she was deemed to be a party pooper so her invite got lost in the post.
Anyway, during the party, everyone was having a good time, lots of merriment, lots of chatting, lots of networking as one does.
It was a very vibrant, noisy affair that Erin got to hear of it. She was mighty upset that she was not invited, knowing that everyone was in the party. Quick as a flash she thought of a ploy to create discord and strife.
So she went to the party to plot her revenge. As soon as she appeared, there was a lull in the celebration.
The music stopped, the chattering ceased, it was very still you could almost hear a pin drop.
Without saying anything Erin, threw a golden apple which landed where Hera, Athena and Aphrodite were gathered together. Peleus, the groom was in their vicinity and picked up the golden apple which was inscribed ‘For the Fairest’.
Hera, the wife of Zeus, said immediately it was obviously meant for her. Athena won’t be outdone and said of course it was for her afterall it landed very near her feet. Aphrodite almost snatched the apple off Peleus, claiming that it was for her, ‘hello!”
The three goddesses started to brawl, each one claiming the apple for herself. Hera spied Zeus and called him to be the judge.
“No way, Jose” said Zeus. The man to tell who the apple belongs to is Paris, the shepherd, who lived at the foot of Mt Olympus.