How The Trojan War Began

As usual, it’s all the fault of some women. (Clue: I’m being facetious.)

It’s a long and involved story, so here’s the short version: The goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite were arguing over which of them was most beautiful. They decided to have Paris (a prince of Troy) decide. He chose Aphrodite as the most beautiful and, as his reward, Aphrodite made the most beautiful human woman in the world fall in love with him. Paris picks her up from her home island and sails off into the sunset with her to live happily ever after.

Her name? Helen! Helen…of Troy! But she wasn’t Helen of Troy then. She was, rather, Helen — sister in law of Agamemnon, the Achaean king. Yeah, you’ve heard of him.

The Trojan war began because Agamemnon wanted to avenge this insult to his brother and bring his brother’s wife back home.

Alrighty then. To tell the truth, the only reason I’m giving this explanation is so I’ll have an excuse to show you this painting by Rubens of The Judgement of Paris. Here he is, deciding which of the goddesses is most beautiful. I love this painting. It makes me feel so much better about having had pizza for dinner last night!

(click on the picture for a bigger version)