Paris, Judgment of.
At the wedding feast of Peleus and Thetis, the goddess Eris (Discord) threw down a golden apple (“the apple of Discord”) inscribed with the words “to the fairest.” Hera (Juno), Athena (Minerva), and Aphrodite (Venus) each claimed the apple as her own. They appealed to Paris, thought to be the handsomest of mortal men, to choose which of them should win the title. While Paris was tending his herds on Mount Ida, Hermes led the three goddesses to him. Each deity offered Paris a bribe: Hera, greatness; Athena, success in battle; Aphrodite, the world’s most beautiful woman as his wife. Paris awarded the apple to Aphrodite, and in exchange she helped him to win Helen. In this way, although Homer does not allude to it in the Iliad, the Judgment of Paris brought about the ten-year Trojan War, in which Hera and Athena sided with the Greeks and Aphrodite aided the Trojans, especially Paris.

    Treatments of the theme in postclassical art usually depict the three goddesses posing for the herdsman Paris. In statuary, particularly. Aphrodite (“Venus Victrix”) is often seen holding the golden apple.

     Further Reference: Damisch, Hubert. 1996. The Judgment of Paris, trans. by J. Goodman. University of Chicago Press.