Greek Mythology
Beauty contest that led to war: How feuding goddesses caused the Trojan
War
All the Olympian gods were invited to the wedding of Peleus and
Thetis except Eris, the goddess of discord. Angry, Eris decided to teach
the assembled Olympians a lesson. She threw amongst them a golden
apple on which was engraved the words, ‘For the most beautiful.’ Three
goddesses – Hera, goddess of household, Athena, goddess of skills, and
Aphrodite, goddess of beauty – claimed the apple and fought over it. No
god, not even Zeus, dared judge who of the three goddesses was the
most beautiful, and hence worthy of the apple. Finally, the goddesses
were told to go to Paris, prince of Troy, known for his understanding of
female beauty and his fair judgements. The three goddesses presented
themselves to Paris and tried to impress him with their beauty. When he
could not decide, each tried to bribe him secretly. Hera promised to make
him ruler of the greatest kingdom in the world. Athena promised to make
him the most admired warrior in the world. Aphrodite promised him the
hand of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world.
Paris accepted Aphrodite’s offer. He gave her the apple and with
that, he and the land of Troy earned the enmity of Hera and Athena
forever. Thus, the cause of the Trojan War was not so much human folly
as it was the pettiness of the gods.
Mitologi Yunani
Kontes kecantikan yang menyebabkan perang: Bagaimana dewi
yang bermusuhan menyebabkan Perang Troya
Semua dewa Olimpia diundang ke pesta pernikahan Peleus dan
Thetis kecuali Eris, dewi perselisihan. Marah, Eris memutuskan untuk
mengajar pelajaran yang diadakan di Olimpiade. Tiga dewi - Hera, dewi
rumah tangga, Athena, dewi keterampilan, dan Aphrodite, dewi
kecantikan - mengklaim apel itu dan memperjuangkannya. . Tidak ada
tuhan, bahkan Zeus pun, berani menilai siapa dari ketiga dewi itu yang
paling cantik, dan karenanya layak untuk mendapatkan apel itu. Akhirnya,
para dewi diberitahu untuk pergi ke Paris, pangeran Troy, yang dikenal
karena pemahamannya tentang kecantikan wanita dan penilaiannya yang
adil. Tiga dewi mempresentasikan diri mereka ke Paris dan mencoba
membuatnya terkesan dengan kecantikan mereka. Bila dia tidak bisa
memutuskan, masing-masing mencoba menyogoknya diam-diam. Hera
berjanji untuk menjadikannya penguasa kerajaan terbesar di dunia.
Athena berjanji untuk menjadikannya sebagai pejuang yang paling
dikagumi di dunia. Aphrodite menjanjikannya tangan Helen, wanita
tercantik di dunia.
Paris menerima tawaran Aphrodite. Dia memberinya apel dan
dengan itu, dia dan tanah Troy mendapatkan permusuhan antara Hera
dan Athena selamanya. Jadi, penyebab Perang Troya tidak begitu banyak
kebodohan manusia karena itu adalah kepicikan para dewa.