One decision may
change your life, as the
young hero, Paris,
finds out in this myth.
PARIS
and the
GOLDEN APPLE
GREEK MYTH BY ETH CLIFFORD
i
'The child must die/' the old woman cackled.
Queen Hecuba stared at the old woman, then held the baby close.
"You have heard her prediction/' King Priam said in a low voice.
"Our son will bring death and ruin to his family, to all of Troy He must
die that others may live out their lives in peace."
"No," Hecuba said stubbornly "It was only a dream. I have had
dreams before."
"Not one such as this, my lady," the old woman insisted.
Hecuba had dreamed that the tiny Paris, who lay so quietly in her arms
at this moment, had turned into a burning torch that set all Troy aflame.
The old woman, a dream prophet, had then said that a terrible end would
come to Troy if the baby were allowed to live.
Priam went to Hecuba and took the baby from her "I shall do what is
necessary," he said.
Hecuba wept as Priam left the room. She saw, even as the tears rolled
down her cheeks, that the King's eyes filled, too. Much later, when Priam
returned, Hecuba gave him a searching glance.
"I had not the heart," Priam answered the look. "I gave the boy to a
shepherd. He will leave the child on the slopes of Mount Ida. He will not
live," Priam added sadly
But instead, the shepherd raised Priam's son as his own. The young boy
lived the life of a shepherd and did not know that his father was a king.
When he was a young man, Paris fell in love with Oenone, the river
god's daughter She loved him in return, for even the gods knew Paris was
Develop understanding of characters
Plan and present a dialogue
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the most handsome of all mortals Life for Paris and Oenone was sweet and
pleasant on Mount Ida.
Then one day, life for the young lovers changed suddenly The morning
began as usual. Paris, dozing in the morning sun while his flock of sheep
grazed on the slopes of the mountainside, heard a soft voice calling him.
He turned over and stretched at the sound of his name.
"Paris Paris " the voice repeated again and again.
Paris opened his eyes and smiled. When he saw Hera, the goddess
of heaven, standing over him, he murmured, "If I am dreaming, let me
dream on."
With Hera were two other goddesses "We have come to ask you to
make a judgment for us," Hera told the young man In her hands a golden
apple glittered and glowed in the sunlight On it Pans could read the words
To the Fairest.
"Know that there is a contest among the gods to pick the most
beautiful goddess," Hera went on. "The gods have narrowed it down to
Athena, Aphrodite, and me. But they cannot decide among us Help us,
Pans Choose a winner "
Paris turned from Hera to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Then he
looked at Aphrodite, the goddess of love. "How can I decide?" he asked
finally in despair "How can a mortal man succeed when the gods
have failed?"
"I can help you decide," Hera announced. "Give me the golden apple,
and in return you shall have power and riches beyond measure. I shall
make you master of the world. You shall be a mighty conqueror of nations
and the most honoured warrior in history "
Before Paris could answer, Athena spoke up "What are power and
riches without understanding and knowledge? Give the apple to me. Then
your wisdom shall bring you the respect and admiration of all humans
through the ages "
Aphrodite saw that this offer pleased Paris and spoke quickly, "But
Paris, what are any of these things—power, fame, riches, knowledge—without love? No man can live without love. Give me the apple, Pans,
and I shall help you find the most beautiful woman in the world,
a woman so lovely men would gladly die for one glance, one soft word,
one tender touch "
"Does such a woman exist?" Pans asked.
"She exists," Aphrodite answered, holding out her hand, palm up, ready
to receive the golden fruit from Paris "She exists, and she is yours when
the apple is mine."
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The dazed Paris put the apple in Aphrodite's waiting hand. The goddess
laughed joyfully and held the apple high above her head.
"So this is the judgment of Paris! " Hera cried in terrible anger.
"You shall rue this day "
"You have made two powerful enemies," Athena added darkly
Aphrodite smiled as Hera and Athena stormed away "Never fear,"
she told Paris. "I shall protect you."
"And the most beautiful woman in the world?" Paris reminded
the goddess.
"She shall be yours. You have my promise. Leave these mountains,
Paris, and go to Sparta." Tossing the golden apple in the air with delight,
the goddess disappeared.
Neither Aphrodite nor Paris had given any thought to Oenone, who had
been hiding in a nearby grove of trees.
Now, with the goddesses gone, Oenone stepped forward. "Paris,"
Oenone said, "I beg you. Do not go. If you do, you will die, and many men
and a city will die with you."
Paris smiled. "Can you read the future, then?" he teased.
"You will die," Oenone repeated.
Suddenly Paris grew angry "I'm tired of living a shepherd's life,"
he shouted, although he had been content enough before the goddesses
came. "It's time for me to see more of the world. I shall go to Sparta as
Aphrodite directs."
"If you leave me now," Oenone announced, "you will beg for my help
when it matters most. And I shall refuse to help you, Paris."
"My mind is made up," Paris said shortly
E
When Paris arrived in Sparta, he found that Aphrodite had spoken the
truth. The most beautiful woman in the world did live in Sparta. Her name
was Helen. What Aphrodite had failed to tell Paris was that Helen was
already the beloved wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta.
"We bid you welcome," Menelaus greeted Paris.
Helen smiled, and Paris's heart leaped within him at the sight. Suddenly
no one existed for Paris except Helen—not Oenone, whom he had once
loved, nor Helen's husband Menelaus. Before her marriage, many men had
tried to win her, but Helen had never responded. Now, as if she were
bewitched, she allowed Paris to speak words of love.
"Leave Menelaus, and come away with me," Paris begged.
"I cannot," Helen replied, but still she listened.
"Menelaus leaves for Crete tomorrow," Paris whispered. "While he is
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gone, come away with me."
"I cannot/7 Helen repeated. But when Menelaus left for Crete, Helen
fled to Troy with Paris.
When Menelaus found that his wife was gone, he swore he would not
rest until Helen returned to Sparta.
Menelaus sent word to all the kings and princes of Greece. "Before
Helen married, we took an oath that we would band together to protect
her if the time should come when that might be necessary. That time has
come. I ask your help in rescuing Helen/7
Achilles, King of the Myrmidons and bravest of all Greeks, was first to
answer. Then others joined the cause. Among them were the huge Ajax the
Great; Diomedes, King of Aetolia; Odysseus, who left his wife and child
unwillingly; Nestor, King of Pylos; and Agamemnon, King of Mycenae,
brother to Menelaus.
Time passed slowly while Menelaus and the Greeks prepared to attack
Troy. Two years went by before a fleet of over one thousand ships stood
ready to sail from Greek shores. More than one hundred thousand men
looked to Agamemnon for direction, for Agamemnon was commander-inchief of the war party.
The Trojans, too, prepared for war. King Priam had discovered that Paris
was his son. However he felt about Paris7s actions, he made up his mind to
stand by the son who had been saved.
For nine years, the Greeks laid siege to Troy. But the city, protected by
strong, high walls, was not touched. It was well defended by Hector, oldest
son of King Priam, and by Paris and the other brave Trojans.
At last Odysseus called a council of Greek warriors. "We cannot take
Troy by force, 77 he said. "So we must take it by trickery.77
"And what does Odysseus mean?77 Menelaus asked.
"The goddess Athena has helped me draw up a plan,77 Odysseus
answered. "Let7s have one of our artists design a huge wooden horse... 77
"Have you gone mad?77 Agamemnon yelled. "Are we children that play
games with wooden horses?77
"Hear me out,77 Odysseus pleaded. "We will have the horse built in
such a way that one hundred warriors will be able to hide inside. In the
dark of the night we will leave the horse outside the walls of Troy. In the
morning, our ships will pretend to leave. When they see Greek ships sailing
away, the Trojans will think we have lost heart for battle. We will also
leave a man behind to be captured. When the Trojans bring the wooden
horse into the city, the man will let our soldiers out to destroy the Trojan
army. Troy will be ours, and Helen will be returned to Menelaus.77
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"The goddess Athena helped you with this plan?7' Agamemnon asked
in surprise.
"The goddess of wisdom herself/7 Odysseus replied firmly.
"Why does Athena help us instead of the Trojans?77 Menelaus asked.
"Long ago, Paris chose Aphrodite over Athena, 77 Odysseus answered.
"Athena swore that she would get even with him. 77
Menelaus was impressed. "Let7s start to build our wooden horse at
once,77 he said.
And it came to pass just as Odysseus had promised. The horse was built.
Odysseus, Menelaus, and other warriors hid inside. The Greek ships moved
away from the shores.
A cry of victory rose from the throats of the Trojans when they saw
the fleet vanish into the mists at sea. "We have won! We have won!77
they shouted.
"Not so,77 said one of the priests. "It is a trick. I fear the Greeks, even
when bringing gifts.77
"What? Do our eyes betray us then? Are not the Greek ships passing
from sight?77 the Trojans called out.
They did not listen to the priest and opened the gates of Troy. People
streamed out of the city to see the strange wooden sculpture the Greeks
had left behind. Then a group of Trojan soldiers captured a Greek soldier,
the man left behind by Odysseus as part of his plan.
"Save me, 77 the Greek soldier babbled. "They left me here. I am lost/ 7
"Tell us, Greek,77 one of the Trojans asked. "What is the meaning of this
huge wooden horse?77
"It is an offering to Athena,77 the Greek answered.
"Then let us take this offering inside the gates,77 another Trojan
shouted. "It is not right that an offering to Athena be left here on the
shores of the sea/7
Once again the Trojan priest raised his voice in warning. But, overcome
with joy at their victory, the Trojans would not listen. Pushing and pulling,
Trojan soldiers rolled the giant wooden horse inside the city.
That night they celebrated late and long. And while they sang and
danced and gave thanks to the gods, the Greek soldier crept to the wooden
horse. He opened the bolts that locked a door in its side and motioned
quietly for the Greek soldiers to come out. Silently the Greeks ran through
the city. They opened the gates of Troy, and the Greek soldiers, who had
returned in their ships under cover of darkness, slipped into the city.
A terrible battle followed. But the Trojans, taken by surprise, were not
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prepared to fight an enemy inside their walls and were beaten.
Paris killed the great Achilles, who all men said could not be defeated.
But he himself was badly wounded by another Greek soldier.
Knowing himself to be dying, Paris's thoughts turned to Oenone. "Send
for Oenone," Paris begged.
At first Oenone would not come. Then, overcome with memories of her
husband, she went at last to Troy.
"Sweet Oenone/7 Paris pleaded when he saw her "I know you have the
art of healing. Only you can help me now "
"Why doesn't Paris ask Helen for help?/; Oenone answered coldly
"Please/' Paris said softly, tossing his head from side to side in pain.
"I am dying, Oenone. I pray you. Help me./;
Oenone moved back, away from Paris;s reaching hands. "Once, a long
time ago, I told you that you would beg for my help when it mattered most.
And I said that I would refuse/7
"Will you stand by and let me die?" Paris moaned.
"There are many ways of dying/7 Oenone answered with bitterness.
"I died ten years ago. Can you ask a dead woman for help?77
Paris knew now that there was no one to save him. He turned his face
away from Oenone, and his spirit fled from his body
Oenone wept beside his body. "Oh, Paris/7 she sobbed. "When the
goddesses came that fateful day, why did you give the golden apple to
Aphrodite? How different our lives could have been.77
Oenone looked up, Queen Hecuba had entered the room. Looking down
at Paris, she said sombrely, "Do not long for what might have been,
Oenone. Paris could not have changed his fate. It was ordained at his birth
that he would be a burning torch that would set all Troy aflame. Now the
prophecy has come true. The king is dead; Troy is destroyed. And Menelaus
has reclaimed Helen.77
So the story of Paris ended, and the city of Troy vanished into the mists
of time.
1. RESPONDING TO THE MYTH
a. With a partner, discuss the myth, and develop a time line of the events.
Make a chart to help you understand all the characters and their roles.
Include names, where they go, and what they do.
b. Are there elements of this myth that you find hard to believe? Explain
fully. How are these elements an essential part of myths?
c. Would you describe Paris as a hero? Explain your answer
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