The Judgement of Paris: An Echo

Aphrodite and The Golden Apple of Discord from jcogtas

                 A mistake in judgement is fatal. It marks someones feeble heart and fragile mind. The little pearl you saw on the beach earlier is doubting itself thinking that they might not be real but a hoax. As the man of both kind, you shall excel in both aspects if you want to continue feeling good about who you are right now because some details shouldn't go unnoticed from both side of the coin.  The one who judges isn't judging enough to notice that their victim is in pain from the stares and glances they gave the fragile little being inside of the person. They create a martyr because of their judgement towards the person they think who doesn't mind. But every single mistake in judgement you make, you may have wronged someone. 

                Frankly, this picture depicts society quite well. They are willing to say anything in their power just to get something for their own good. They look out for their selves. One word I could use to describe the society we live in today is that they are very insensitive. About everything. Their empathy for the people that surrounds them is at its lowest. And I really find that bitter.

                The Judgment of Paris was a contest between the three most beautiful goddesses of Olympus such as Aphrodite, Hera and Athena for the prize of a golden apple addressed "To the Fairest." The story began with the wedding of Peleus and Thetis which all the gods had been invited to attend except for Eris, goddess of discord. When Eris appeared at the festivities she was turned away and in her anger cast the golden apple amongst the assembled goddesses addressed "To the Fairest." Three goddesses laid claim to the apple, Aphrodite, Hera and Athena. Zeus was asked to mediate and he commanded Hermes to lead the three goddesses to Paris of Troy to decide the issue. The three goddesses appearing before the shepherd prince, each offering him gifts for favour. He chose Aphrodite, swayed by her promise to bestow upon him Helen, the most beautiful woman, for wife.

              As he chose Aphrodite as the fairest of them all, I don't think he chose her because she really was the fairest but he chose her because of the gift. It was bias. Aphrodite wasn't the fairest. It was the gift was the fairest of them all. I has stood out against the royalty Hera offered and the wisdom and skills that Athena offered. The gift won, not Aphrodite. 

             The insensitivity that Aphrodite showed has sparked one of the greatest war in our literature books, the Trojan War. She's not even sorry for taking a woman with a husband and gave it just a random mortal in the other side. Helen was married to the king of Sparta, Menelaus. Paris also showed his selfishness by accepting a gift that already has a holder. That just shows how powerful gifts can be, as well as greed.

           Of all that happened, the war had an frivolous reason. The judgment was the cause and it was petty. I didn't understand how a golden apple could represent one's fairness. Other than that, all wasn't worthy at all. To today's society, this story is the exact depiction of what a little thing can result to something so vast. 



References: 

• Theio Project 2000, Judgement of Paris Available from: <https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/JudgementParis.html> [30 October 2019]
• Gree Legends and Myths 2012, The Judgement of Paris In Greek Mythology Available from: <https://www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/judgement-of-paris.html> [30 October 2019]