We gain a lot of evidence of the causes, catalysts and influences of the war from the infamous work by homer, "The Iliad," written in the 12th century BCE.
Yet, much of the truth is shrouded in Myth and many historians and archaeologists have difficulty separating the two.
Here is the Mythological cause. Note, Paris was indeed a real person, yet the Myth is intertwined with some truth.
Eris, the goddess of Discord, was angry that she had not been invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis and so she threw among the guests a golden apple inscribed with the words 'For the Fairest'. Three goddesses - Hera, the wife of Zeus, Athena, his daughter, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love - immediately claimed the prize. Zeus, wary of making the decision himself, sent the three contenders to Paris, a prince of Troy, temporarily acting as a shepherd.
Paris is shown on the vase seated at the far right playing a lyre, with one of his sheep beside him. The three goddesses approach him. Hera leads, holding the sceptre that indicates her regal rank and proferring the apple to Paris so that he can award it to the winner. Athena comes next, holding a spear and wearing her snake-fringed aegis. Aphrodite comes last, her charms carefully concealed, ready to be revealed at just the right moment.
According to tradition each goddess offered Paris a bribe: Hera offered wide empire, Athena military glory and Aphrodite the most beautiful woman in the world. Aphrodite's offer proved irresistible to Paris, who awarded the apple to her.
The following is an extract from The Iliad, Book One lines 1-21:
Goddess, sing me the anger, of Achilles, Peleus’ son, that fatal anger that brought countless sorrows on the Greeks, and sent many valiant souls of warriors down to Hades, leaving their bodies as spoil for dogs and carrion birds: for thus was the will of Zeus brought to fulfilment. Sing of it from the moment when Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, that king of men, parted in wrath from noble Achilles.
Which of the gods set these two to quarrel? Apollo, the son of Leto and Zeus, angered by the king, brought an evil plague on the army, so that the men were dying, for the son of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses the priest. He it was who came to the swift Achaeanships, to free his daughter, bringing a wealth of ransom, carrying a golden staff adorned with the ribbons of far-striking Apollo, and called out to the Achaeans, above all to the two leaders of armies, those sons of Atreus: ‘Atreides, and all you bronze-greaved Achaeans, may the gods who live on Olympus grant you to sack Priam’s city, and sail back home in safety; but take this ransom, and free my darling child; show reverence for Zeus’s son, far-striking Apollo.’
Yet, much of the truth is shrouded in Myth and many historians and archaeologists have difficulty separating the two.
Here is the Mythological cause. Note, Paris was indeed a real person, yet the Myth is intertwined with some truth.
Eris, the goddess of Discord, was angry that she had not been invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis and so she threw among the guests a golden apple inscribed with the words 'For the Fairest'. Three goddesses - Hera, the wife of Zeus, Athena, his daughter, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love - immediately claimed the prize. Zeus, wary of making the decision himself, sent the three contenders to Paris, a prince of Troy, temporarily acting as a shepherd.
Paris is shown on the vase seated at the far right playing a lyre, with one of his sheep beside him. The three goddesses approach him. Hera leads, holding the sceptre that indicates her regal rank and proferring the apple to Paris so that he can award it to the winner. Athena comes next, holding a spear and wearing her snake-fringed aegis. Aphrodite comes last, her charms carefully concealed, ready to be revealed at just the right moment.
According to tradition each goddess offered Paris a bribe: Hera offered wide empire, Athena military glory and Aphrodite the most beautiful woman in the world. Aphrodite's offer proved irresistible to Paris, who awarded the apple to her.
The following is an extract from The Iliad, Book One lines 1-21:
Goddess, sing me the anger, of Achilles, Peleus’ son, that fatal anger that brought countless sorrows on the Greeks, and sent many valiant souls of warriors down to Hades, leaving their bodies as spoil for dogs and carrion birds: for thus was the will of Zeus brought to fulfilment. Sing of it from the moment when Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, that king of men, parted in wrath from noble Achilles.
Which of the gods set these two to quarrel? Apollo, the son of Leto and Zeus, angered by the king, brought an evil plague on the army, so that the men were dying, for the son of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses the priest. He it was who came to the swift Achaeanships, to free his daughter, bringing a wealth of ransom, carrying a golden staff adorned with the ribbons of far-striking Apollo, and called out to the Achaeans, above all to the two leaders of armies, those sons of Atreus: ‘Atreides, and all you bronze-greaved Achaeans, may the gods who live on Olympus grant you to sack Priam’s city, and sail back home in safety; but take this ransom, and free my darling child; show reverence for Zeus’s son, far-striking Apollo.’
A hydria (a jar for carrying water) attributed to the "Painter of the Yale Oinochoe", c.470 BC. In the British Museum.
The goddess Aphrodite, having promised Paris the most beautiful woman in the world, brought him to Greece to seduce Helen, the wife of the Greek king Menelaos.
Helen is shown in the centre of this vase, adjusting her veil as she faces Paris, who holds his horse in readiness to the left. Aphrodite, at the far right, casually displaying her erotic attractions, surveys the meeting. Eros, the god of love, is seated at the bottom, apparently innocently playing with some animals, but his huge wings, extending upward behind Helen, suggest the influence he is exerting. Little surprise, then, that Helen ran off with Paris to Troy.
Before she was married, all of Helen's suitors had taken an oath to support whatever husband she chose, should anything happen. Menelaos recalled their oath to the suitors and mustered a large army to sail to Troy to recover Helen.
Thus began the Trojan War.
Helen is shown in the centre of this vase, adjusting her veil as she faces Paris, who holds his horse in readiness to the left. Aphrodite, at the far right, casually displaying her erotic attractions, surveys the meeting. Eros, the god of love, is seated at the bottom, apparently innocently playing with some animals, but his huge wings, extending upward behind Helen, suggest the influence he is exerting. Little surprise, then, that Helen ran off with Paris to Troy.
Before she was married, all of Helen's suitors had taken an oath to support whatever husband she chose, should anything happen. Menelaos recalled their oath to the suitors and mustered a large army to sail to Troy to recover Helen.
Thus began the Trojan War.
Bucket-like jar, made in Campania about 350-340 BC. Depicts Helen (centre) and Paris (left)