Once, long ago, Queen Hecuba, wife of King Priam of Troy, awoke from a terrible nightmare. Hecuba was pregnant, and that night, just weeks before the child’s birth, she dreamed that Troy was burning.

When Hecuba told Priam her dream, he listened closely. He never could have imagined that his wife’s dream might change the course of the country, but he decided he must seek the wisdom of Aisacros, a seer. It was his duty to keep his country safe.

“Tell me,” said the king to the seer, “what will happen when my child is born?”

Aisacros answered solemnly. “One day your son will be the cause of Troy’s destruction.”

Horrified, Priam knew he must not let this happen. When his son, Paris, was born, Priam ordered his servants to take Paris away to Mount Ida. “Leave him to die there.” Priam’s heart broke with these words, but he had to protect Troy.

But Paris did not die. He was found by a shepherd, who brought him up as his own son. He grew to be a handsome, proud young man, wise and witty, and he earned the admiration of the gods. Years passed.

The day came for Peleus, a hero warrior, to wed beautiful Thetis, a goddess. Thetis invited all the gods and goddesses to Mount Pelion to join in the celebration. She invited all of them, that is, but Eris, goddess of strife. Eris was too hideous and unpleasant.

When Eris heard about the wedding, she flew into a rage. In the middle of the party, she strode into the hall atop Mount Pelion and rolled a golden apple into the midst of the crowd. Just as Eris had planned, the apple landed at the feet of the three most powerful goddesses, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite.

Zeus picked up the apple and discovered inscribed in the fruit’s shimmering skin three words: “For the Fairest.”

“And who is the fairest?” everyone asked, looking in turn at Hera, Zeus’s wife, at powerful Athena, and at magnificent Aphrodite.

The goddesses stared at Zeus, each one waiting for the apple.

But Zeus knew he could never select one of these goddesses as fairest of them all. “I will send for a judge,” he announced, and he sent his messenger, Hermes, to fetch Paris. “The shepherd will be able to choose the one who should receive the apple.”

When Paris learned that Zeus had sent for him, he naturally agreed to judge. The goddesses, it was decided, would appear before him atop Mount Ida.

Paris eagerly awaited the day. Sitting upon the mountaintop, he counted himself a lucky man and smiled at the blue sky and the clouds drifting overhead. He was dreaming of greatness when suddenly a great light fell upon the mountains. Paris understood the goddesses were arriving, but the shower of light was so bright, he was blinded by it.

When the goddesses realized this, they cloaked themselves in the clouds to save their judge, and once again Paris could see.

And what a sight! Three glorious goddesses, radiating the light of wisdom, the glow of power, the sheen of beauty, stood before him.

Paris sighed. “Thank you for coming,” he said just as Hera stepped forward. “Young shepherd,” Hera said, “I am the fairest,” and she whirled to show him how lovely she was. “Award me the apple, and you will have wealth and power. You will rule over the Earth. This I shall bestow upon you.”

Paris lighted up with pleasure at the thought. As a boy he had been abandoned. Now he could seize the power he once had thought was forever lost to him.

As he dreamed of himself upon a throne, Athena walked forward. Her gray eyes and quiet beauty were gentle and soothing. “Award me the apple,” she said softly. Paris could not take his gaze from hers. “If you do, you will win every battle you fight, whether by strength or cunning. Glory will be yours. Everyone will admire and fear you.”

Paris imagined men standing before him in awe of his knowledge and others quivering at the very sight of a man with such strength as his. And as he dreamed this dream, Aphrodite approached him. Her face was aflame with the blush of her beauty. Her body was as smooth and pure as ivory. Her hair glowed like a halo. Paris gasped at the sight of her, and when she spoke, he thought her voice the sweetest he had ever heard.

“Give me the apple,” Aphrodite said. Paris’ heart leaped. His head swam. “I will give you the gift of love,” she whispered. She stood so close, he could smell her heavenly scent.

Suddenly Paris was deaf and blind to all others. “You will love and possess the most beautiful woman in the world,” Aphrodite promised. “She will be a woman equal to me in perfection.”

“Impossible,” Paris gasped, and intoxicated by the thought, he handed the golden apple to Aphrodite.

Before Paris could stop to think of what he had just done, Hera and Athena flew into a rage. “You will be sorry,” they said, and they departed Mount Ida, swearing to be the shepherd’s enemies forever.

Paris soon returned to Troy, and Aphrodite kept her promise. No one is certain how, but she somehow led Paris to the palace of Menelaus, king of Greece.

“She is here,” Aphrodite said, “the woman you will love.” And there she was, Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, and the one most sought after.

Many men had loved Helen, but when Menelaus won her hand, his people swore they would help to keep peace in their land. They vowed to punish anyone who tried to come between their king and his wife.

So as Paris sailed away from Greece, taking with him the marvelous Helen, Menelaus and his brother, Agamemnon, easily gathered a huge and loyal army of men.

Greece declared war on Troy.

And so it was that King Priam’s sacrifice of his son was not powerful enough to overcome one queen’s dream, and 10 years of terrible war and many deaths and other tragedies followed.

In the end, Troy burned to the ground.

STORY WORDS

vowed, radiating, abandoned, destruction, solemnly, shimmering

ABOUT ANCIENT GREECE

It is thought the ancient city of Troy was at a site where several cities were built on top of the ruins of another — with the Troy of the story labeled Troy VII (the seventh layer). The city may have begun as far back as 1325-1275 B.C.

The famous Trojan horse was conceived by Odysseus. The people of Troy were so happy to end 10 years of fighting they dragged the wooden horse into their walled city and began to celebrate. While they slept, the Greek army hiding inside the horse sneaked out and attacked, destroying Troy.

Aphrodite was the goddess of beauty and love.

Athena was known as the goddess of war, peace and wisdom. She was the favorite daughter of Zeus and shared power over storms and lightning. The capital of Greece, Athens, is named for her.

Hera was Zeus’ wife and the queen of Olympus (home of the gods). She was the protector of women and marriage.

Think About It

1. Based on your reading, what do you think is the meaning of the word “discord” in the title and why do you think the author gave the story that particular title? Is it appropriate? Explain your response.

2. How is the character trait of citizenship demonstrated in this story?

3. If you had to help Paris make his decision so that everybody would be pleased, what would your recommendations be?

4. Why did Zeus select Paris to decide who would get the apple? Explain your thinking.

Questions developed by Bari Laakmann, a teacher at Riverside Elementary School, Coral Springs.