Definition: Paris was the son of King Priam of Troy and his wife Hecuba. Hecuba had had a dream about the great trouble her unborn child would cause, so when Paris was born, instead of raising him, she ordered him to be exposed on Mt. Ida. Normally exposure of an infant meant death, but Paris was lucky. He was suckled by a bear and then raised to adulthood by a shepherd.
An apple had been given to the most beautiful goddess by Discord. The goddesses couldn't decide among themselves and couldn't prevail upon Zeus to decide who was most beautiful, so they went to Paris. The three goddesses who were vying for the honor were Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite. Each goddess offered something of great value as a bribe. Paris chose the gift of love from Aphrodite. She rewarded him by making the most beautiful mortal, Helen, wife of Menelaus, fall in love with him. Paris then abducted Helen and took her to Troy, thereby starting the Trojan War.
With some divine help, Paris killed Achilles and was later fatally wounded by one of Hercules' arrows.
An apple had been given to the most beautiful goddess by Discord. The goddesses couldn't decide among themselves and couldn't prevail upon Zeus to decide who was most beautiful, so they went to Paris. The three goddesses who were vying for the honor were Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite. Each goddess offered something of great value as a bribe. Paris chose the gift of love from Aphrodite. She rewarded him by making the most beautiful mortal, Helen, wife of Menelaus, fall in love with him. Paris then abducted Helen and took her to Troy, thereby starting the Trojan War.
With some divine help, Paris killed Achilles and was later fatally wounded by one of Hercules' arrows.
Also Known As: Alexandros, Alexander
