The Judgement of Paris Trivia Quiz

Answer: Eris

Eris was the goddess of discord. Poor thing - her "job" was to cause trouble everywhere she went. No one wanted to hang out with her, and because of this she was typically excluded from activities on Mt. Olympus. Angry, resentful, and the only deity not invited to the big wedding, Eris showed up at the banqueting hall with the golden apple.

Answer: to the fairest

When the guests at the wedding saw the golden apple, they immediately began to discuss who should receive it. Needless to say, the apple created quite a bit of a stir - exactly the trouble that was anticipated - and drew everyone's attention from the wedding to the issue at hand - who is the fairest?

Answer: Peleus and Thetis

Peleus, a grandson of Zeus, eventually became king of Phthia. The sea nymph, Thetis, was his third wife. Apparently both Zeus and Poseidon had been interested in her, but were put off by the prophecy of Proteus, who said that the son born of Thetis would be mightier than his father.

Indeed, Peleus and Thetis were the parents of the great Achilles. Thetis left Peleus when he would not allow her to make her son immortal, but several years later returned to grant Peleus immortality (he was one of the few mortals privileged enough to hear the Muses sing) and live together in her father's home.

Answer: Artemis

By this time, I am sure that everyone has forgotten about the wedding! Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite turned to Zeus for a decision. He wisely declined their request, but told them that he knew a mortal who might be able to help them.

Answer: Zeus felt he would be an impartial judge

Paris had shown his ability to be an impartial judge at a bull-judging contest. Zeus had sent Ares to the contest disguised as a bull. Of course, the Ares/bull was perfect in every way. Paris awarded him the Golden Laurels, rather than giving them to his own prize bull. Zeus gave the apple to Hermes to deliver to Paris along with the message that the goddesses would accept his decision. What Zeus didn't consider, however, was the fact that Paris was a man who might be swayed by a bribe.

Answer: He was tending his father's sheep

Shortly before Paris was born, his mother dreamed she gave birth to a flaming torch; a seer said the dream meant that the child would someday be the ruin of the country. King Priam, the father of Paris and the king of Troy, sent Paris away to be abandoned on Mt. Ida. To make a long story short, Paris was not killed; instead, he was raised by a shepherd. His sister, Cassandra, when visiting the area, recognized Paris as her brother. In a day's time he went from being a shepherd to being a prince.

Answer: False

Paris was involved in a relationship with the sea nymph Oenone, who was abandoned and forgotten until Paris was fatally wounded during the Trojan War. Oenone's refusal to help him led to his death; filled with grief and remorse, Oenone committed suicide.

Answer: He would be awarded the love of the most beautiful mortal woman

So the three goddesses traveled to Mt. Ida to appear before Paris, each with their own bribe to offer. Paris really wasn't even asked to view the goddesses and choose which one was the fairest, he was to consider them in terms of who offered the best bribe.

Answer: Aphrodite

Hera said she would make him king of Europe and Asia, Athena promised wisdom and skill in war - even above what some of the gods possessed - and Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.

Answer: False

The beautiful Helen had so many suitors that it was difficult for her father to choose a husband for her. He was afraid the rejected men would harbor ill will toward Helen's husband. In the end, he made all of the them take a vow that they will come to the aid of her husband if he ever needed assistance.

When Helen's husband, Menelaus, was called to Crete, Paris was a guest in his home. Upon his return, Menelaus discovered that that Paris had broken the sacred trust given a guest in a Greek home and had taken Helen. All of the Greek chieftains were bound by their vow to help Menelaus bring Helen back home to Sparta.