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Vol. 7 : The Judgement of Paris

Many years had passed since the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. But still the goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite fought over the golden apple.

"Enough!" Zeus cried. "You will drive me mad with your arguing. There is a man. His name is Paris. He is simple and innocent, a perfect judge. He will choose which of you is the most beautiful."

"This is outrageous," Hera said angrily. "A mortal cannot judge us."

Aphrodite laughed. "Hera says this because she knows she will lose."

"And that Paris will choose me," said Athena.

"Quiet, toad," Hera said.

"Silence!" Zeus shouted. "Hermes, take them to Paris. Now."

So Hermes led the three goddesses to Mt. Ida.

"Zeus demands that you give this golden apple to the most beautiful goddess here," Hermes told Paris.

"But they are all so beautiful," said Paris in wonder. "I cannot chose. I will cut the apple into three pieces and give one piece to each goddess."

The three goddesses looked at him angrily.

Then Hera, queen of the gods, stepped forward.

"If you give me the apple, Paris," she said, "I will give you power. You will rule the world."

Then Athena, goddess of wisdom, stepped forward.

"If you give me the apple, Paris," she said, "I will give you wisdom. You will be wisest man in the world."

Then Aphrodite, goddess of love, stepped forward with a smile, took Paris by the hand and pressed it against her breast.

"Paris," she said, "I will give you the most beautiful woman in the world."

"But Oenone is the most beautiful woman in the world," said Paris, blushing.

"How innocent you are," Aphrodite laughed and she pointed.

An image of a beautiful woman appeared. Her hair was more golden than the sun, her eyes were bluer than the sea, her skin was like ivory.

"Who is she?" gasped Paris.

"She, my dear Paris, is Helen."