THE JUDGEMENT OF PARIS was a

contest between the three most

beautiu! "o##esses o O!$m%os&&
A%hro#ite' Hera an# Athena&&or the
%ri(e o a "o!#en a%%!e a##resse# to
)the airest)
The stor$ be"ins at the *e##in" o
Pe!eus an# Thetis to which a!! o the
"o#s were in+ite#' a!! e,ce%t Eris' the
"o##ess o #iscor#- *hen she
a%%eare# at the esti+ities' she was
turne# awa$' an# in her an"er cast a
"o!#en a%%!e amon"st the assemb!e#
"o##esses a##resse# )To the Fairest-)
Three "o##esses !ai# c!aim to the
a%%!e&&A%hro#ite' Hera an#
Athena- .eus was as/e# to me#iate
an# he comman#e# Hermes to !ea#
the three "o##esses to Paris o Tro$ to
#eci#e the issue- The three "o##esses
a%%earin" beore the she%her# %rince'
each o0erin" him "its or a+our- He
chose A%hro#ite' swa$e# b$ her
%romise to bestow u%on him He!ene'
the most beautiu! woman' or wie-
The subse1uent ab#uction o He!ene
!e# #irect!$ to the Tro2an *ar an# the
a!! o the cit$-
In Gree/ m$tho!o"$' the Tro2an
*ar was a !e"en#ar$ ten&$ear con3ict
in which Gree/ warriors
!ai# siege to Tro$' a cit$ on the
northwestern coast o Asia Minor4-
Homer5s4
"reat epic the Iliad #escribes the
acti+ities o "o#s' "o##esses' an#
human heroes #urin" the 6na! $ear o
the war- Some scho!ars thin/ that the
stor$ o the Tro2an *ar ma$ ha+e been
base# on memories o #istant
historica! e+ents' which became m$ths
with the %assa"e o time-
Accor#in" to these m$ths' the Tro2an
*ar was roote# in +anit$ an# %assion-
A $outh name# Paris' one o the sons
o 7in" Priam o Tro$' was as/e# to
choose the airest o three "o##esses8
A%hro#ite4' Athena4' an# Hera4- Each
"o##ess o0ere# Paris a s%ecia! "it i
he #ec!are# her the airest- Paris
se!ecte# A%hro#ite' who ha# %romise#
him the most beautiu! woman in the
wor!#-
A%hro#ite !e# Paris to S%arta' the
home o a Gree/ %rince
name# Mene!aus- He!en' the wie o
Mene!aus' was consi#ere# the wor!#5s
most beautiu! woman- Paris e!! in
!o+e with He!en an# carrie# her o0 to
Tro$- Mene!aus as/e# his brother 7in"
A"amemnon4 to !ea# the %rinces an#
warriors o Greece a"ainst Tro$ to
reco+er He!en an# to %unish the
Tro2ans-
siege attem%t to con1uer a cit$
or ortress b$ surroun#in" it with
troo%s an# cuttin" o0 su%%!ies
epic !on" %oem about !e"en#ar$ or
historica! heroes' written in a "ran#
st$!e
Ater some #e!a$s' the Gree/s arri+e#
outsi#e Tro$- The$ besie"e# the cit$
but ma#e !itt!e %ro"ress in the war or
more than nine $ears- The Iliad ta/es
u% the stor$ 2ust when A"amemnon
The Gree/s bui!t a !ar"e ho!!ow horse
out o woo# an# hi# in it to "et
throu"h the "ates o Tro$- Once insi#e'
the Gree/s set 6re to the cit$ an#
#eeate# the Tro2ans-
insu!te# Achi!!es4' his bra+est warrior-
Furious with A"amemnon' Achi!!es
with#rew rom the con3ict an# curse#
his Gree/ comra#es-
Meanwhi!e' Hector' another o Priam5s
sons an# the !ea#in" Tro2an warrior'
!e# a orce out o the besie"e# cit$ to
attac/ the Gree/s- He /i!!e# Patroc!us'
who ha# borrowe# the armor o his
rien# Achi!!es- Fi!!e# with "rie an#
ra"e' Achi!!es returne# to the batt!e
an# s!ew Hector- Then he #ra""e#
Hector5s bo#$ behin# his chariot'
%re+entin" the Tro2ans rom ho!#in" a
%ro%er unera!- This #ishonorab!e act
an"ere# the "o#s' who %ersua#e#
Achi!!es to return the bo#$ to Hector5s
ami!$-
Paris /i!!e# Achi!!es with a we!!&aime#
arrow' on!$ to be /i!!e# in turn b$ a
Gree/ archer- Ater the #eath o
Achi!!es' the Gree/s reco"ni(e#
O#$sseus4 as their 6nest warrior- The
+a!iant A2a,' an"r$ at bein" %asse# b$'
attem%te# to /i!! the other Gree/
!ea#ers an# 6na!!$ committe# suici#e-
Meanwhi!e' the c!e+er O#$sseus came
u% with a %!an to #eeat Tro$
b$ tric/er$ rather than #irect orce- He
instructe# the Gree/s to bui!# an
enormous' ho!!ow woo#en horse on
whee!s- Gree/ so!#iers hi# insi#e the
horse' which was then whee!e# to the
"ates o Tro$- The Tro2ans awo/e to
6n# this mar+e! outsi#e their "ates
an# brou"ht it into the cit$- That ni"ht
the Gree/ so!#iers c!imbe# out o the
horse an# o%ene# the cit$ "ates to
a#mit more Gree/s- Then the$ set Tro$
a6re' /i!!in" Priam an# his ami!$- The
term Tro2an horse is use# to this #a$ to
reer to somethin" that a%%ears to be
a harm!ess "it but carries
unsus%ecte# #an"er or #estruction
within-
medieval re!atin" to the Mi##!e
A"es in Euro%e' a %erio# rom
about A-D- 9:: to ;9::
The Tro2an *ar a!so %ro+i#e#
m$tho!o"ica! materia! or the Romans'
who trace# their ancestr$ to Aeneas' a
Tro2an nob!eman who esca%e# the
#estruction o
Tro$- Medieval Euro%eans create#
new %oems an# !e"en#s about the
Tro2an *ar' oten %resentin" the Tro2an
%oint o +iew- A <ritish !e"en#' or
e,am%!e' c!aime# that <ritain ha#
been oun#e# b$ #escen#ants o
Aeneas an# the !ast Tro2ans-
The fall of troy
As the Iliad o%ens' a #is%ute between
two Gree/ !ea#ers=the hero Achi!!es4
an# 7in" A"amemnon4 o M$cenae'
comman#er o the Gree/ armies=sets
in motion e+ents that sha%e the
course o the war- The troub!e be"ins
when A"amemnon recei+es a $oun"
woman' the #au"hter o a %riest o
A%o!!o4' as a %ri(e o war- The %riest
a%%ea!s to A%o!!o' who sen#s a %!a"ue
to the Gree/ cam%- *hen the Gree/s
!earn the cause o the sic/ness' the$
orce A"amemnon to "i+e u% his %ri(e-
To ma/e u% or his !oss' A"amemnon
#eman#s the woman who was
awar#e# to Achi!!es- Furious' Achi!!es
%uts #own his wea%ons an# reuses to
6"ht an$ !on"er' thus #e%ri+in" the
Gree/s o their most ormi#ab!e
warrior- Meanwhi!e' the sea "o##ess
Thetis' Achi!!es5 mother' %ersua#es
.eus4 to !et the Gree/s su0er !osses in
combat to show how crucia! her son is
to their +ictor$-
*ithout Achi!!es' the Gree/s be"in to
!ose "roun# to the Tro2ans- Durin" the
course o batt!e' Paris an# Mene!aus
6"ht each other' but neither can c!aim
+ictor$ At one %oint' Hector' !ea#er o
the Tro2an orces' !ea+es the batt!e6e!#
an# enters Tro$- Te!!in" the Tro2an
women to %ra$ or he!% rom the "o#s'
he bi#s arewe!! to his wie'
An#romache' an# his $oun" son- He
/nows that he wi!! #ie soon an# that
the Gree/s wi!! #estro$ the cit$ an# its
%eo%!e-
Ater su0erin" si"ni6cant !osses'
se+era! Gree/ !ea#ers' inc!u#in"
O#$sseus4' "o to Achi!!es an# as/ him
to re2oin them- E+en A"amemnon
sen#s a number o "its an# %romises
to rewar#
Paris %!a$e# a minor ro!e in the Tro2an
*ar- As a warrior he was !ess s/i!!e#
than his brother Hector' an# his
cowar#!$ nature won him !itt!e res%ect-
This %aintin" shows Hector orcin"
Paris to 6"ht a batt!e-
Achi!!es when the war is o+er- <ut
Achi!!es reuses to reconsi#er his
#ecision-
Soon ater' Achi!!es5 be!o+e#
rien# Patroc!us con+inces the hero to
!et him wear his armor so that the
Tro2ans wi!! thin/ that Achi!!es is
6"htin" a"ain- The si"ht o the warrior
in Achi!!es5 armor worries the Tro2ans'
an# the Gree/s are ab!e to %ush them
bac/- <ut the "o# A%o!!o !ets Hector
see that another warrior is wearin"
Achi!!es5 armor' an# Hector /i!!s
Patroc!us an# ta/es the armor-
*hen Achi!!es !earns that his be!o+e#
rien# has been /i!!e#' he is
o+erwhe!me# with "rie an#
#etermine# to a+en"e his rien#5s
#eath- *earin" new armor rom his
mother' Achi!!es reenters the batt!e
an# s!au"hters man$ Tro2ans whi!e
searchin" or Hector- *hen the two
warriors 6na!!$ meet' Hector 3ees an#
Achi!!es chases him aroun# the wa!!s
o Tro$-
The "o##ess Athena4 tric/s Hector b$
a%%earin" as his $oun"er brother an#
te!!in" him to stan# an# 6"ht- *hen
Hector #oes so' Achi!!es /i!!s him-
Achi!!es remo+es his o!# armor rom
Hector5s bo#$ an# then #ra"s the
cor%se behin# his chariot-
Meanwhi!e the Tro2ans' an"r$ because
Achi!!es wi!! not return Hector5s cor%se
or %ro%er unera!
ceremonies' mourn the #eath o their
hero- A"ain the "o#s inter+ene' orcin"
Achi!!es to acce%t a ransom o "its
rom Hector5s ather' 7in" Priam' an#
return the bo#$ o his son-
The stor$ in the Iliad en#s as the
Tro2ans ho!# a unera! or their a!!en
hero- <ut the Tro2an *ar continues-
Ta!es o the #eaths o Paris an#
Achi!!es' the Gree/5s cunnin" use o
the Tro2an horse to "et insi#e the cit$
wa!!s' an# the #eeat an# #estruction
o Tro$ are to!# in other wor/s-
Signifcance of the Iliad. The Iliad is
more than 2ust a stor$ about ancient
heroes' "o#s' an# "o##esses- For the
Gree/s o !ater centuries' the %oem
was a histor$ o their ancestors that
a!so re+ea!e# mora! !essons about
heroism' %ri#e' re+en"e' an# honor- As
such' it a!so ha# "reat +a!ue as a
s$mbo! o Gree/ unit$ an# cu!ture-
Mo#ern scho!ars be!ie+e that certain
e!ements o the stor$ in the Iliad ma$
be base# on historica! e+ents rom
more than >'::: $ears a"o- A!most
certain!$' the %oem re3ects the +a!ues
an# i#ea!s o Gree/ societ$ at that
time- Perha%s more im%ortant!$' as a
wor/ o !iterature' the Iliad i!!ustrates
+arious uni+ersa! themes an# %ro+i#es
a rea!istic +iew o the human
con#ition- Its ma2or characters' thou"h
shrou#e# in the #istant %ast' e,hibit
%ersona!it$ 3aws an# stren"ths that
are as rea! or %eo%!e to#a$ as when
the wor/ 6rst a%%eare#-
Achaeans?e#it@
The Achaeans ABCDEFGH = a!so
ca!!e# He!!enes
AGree/sH' Danaans AIDJDFGH' or Ar"i+es
ABKLMNFEH-
A"amemnon = 7in"
o M$cenae' !ea#er o the Gree/s-
Achi!!es = Oea#er o
the M$rmi#ons' hero' son o a
#i+ine mother' Thetis-
O#$sseus = 7in" o Ithaca'
Gree/ comman#er-
A2a, the Greater = son
o Te!amon an# /in" o Sa!amis-
Mene!aus = 7in" o S%arta'
husban# o He!en an# brother o
A"amemnon-
Diome#es = son o T$#eus'
7in" o Ar"os-
A2a, the Oesser = son o
Oi!eus' oten %artner o A2a, the
Greater-
Patroc!us = Achi!!es5 c!osest
com%anion-
Nestor = 7in" o P$!os' an#
truste# a#+isor to A"amemnon-
Trojans?e#it@
The Tro2an men
Hector = son o 7in" Priam
an# the oremost Tro2an warrior-
Aeneas = son o Anchises
an# A%hro#ite-
Dei%hobus = brother o
Hector an# Paris-
Paris = He!en5s !o+er&
ab#uctor-
Priam = the a"e# 7in" o
Tro$-
Po!$#amas = a %ru#ent
comman#er whose a#+ice is
i"nore#P he is Hector5s oi!-
A"enor = a Tro2an warrior'
son o Antenor' who attem%ts to
6"ht Achi!!es A<oo/ QQIH-
Sar%e#on' son o .eus =
/i!!e# b$ Patroc!us- *as rien# o
G!aucus an# co&!ea#er o the
O$cians Aou"ht or the Tro2ansH-
G!aucus' son o
Hi%%o!ochus = rien# o Sar%e#on
an# co&!ea#er o the O$cians
Aou"ht or the Tro2ansH-
Eu%horbus = 6rst Tro2an
warrior to woun# Patroc!us-
Do!on = a s%$ u%on the
Gree/ cam% A<oo/ QH-
Antenor = 7in" Priam5s
a#+isor' who ar"ues or returnin"
He!en to en# the war-
Po!$#orus = son o Priam
an# Oaothoe-
Pan#arus = amous archer
an# son o O$caon-
The Tro2an women
Hecuba ARSTUV' HekabeH =
Priam5s wie' mother o Hector'
Wassan#ra' Paris' an# others-
He!en ARXYJVH = #au"hter
o .eusP Mene!aus5s wieP
es%ouse# 6rst to Paris' then to
Dei%hobusP her ab#uction b$ Paris
%reci%itate# the war-
An#romache = Hector5s
wie' mother o Ast$ana,-
Wassan#ra = Priam5s
#au"hterP courte# b$ A%o!!o' who
bestows the "it o %ro%hec$ to
herP u%on bein" re2ecte# b$ her' he
curses her' an# her warnin"s o
Tro2an #oom "o unhee#e#-
<riseis = a Tro2an woman
ca%ture# b$ the Gree/sP she was
Achi!!es5 %ri(e o the Tro2an war-