Paris was a key figure in Greek mythology, who is mostly remembered for his role in the events leading up to the legendary Trojan War.
As a sought-after prince of the powerful city of Troy, his decisions and actions had implications that defined the fate of the ancient world and influenced the direction of the epic war that echoes through the millennia: that of the Greeks against the Trojans.
Who was Paris according to Greek mythology?
Paris was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecabe (Hecuba, also spelled in modern Greek as Ekavi) of Troy. Hecabe had a predisposition to prophesize the future and, one night, she had a prophetic dream prior to his birth.
During that dream, Hecabe discovered that her upcoming offspring would bring about the ruin of mighty Troy. Petrified by the negative omen, Paris was abandoned by his mother on Mount Ida. Despite this tragic turn, which only lasted for hours in his young life, Paris miraculously survived. He was found and adopted by shepherds, who were completely oblivious to his royal heritage and important background. One of these shepherds was Agelaus.
They named him Alexander, and the young boy grew up completely unaware of his family and royal lineage. He grew up living an entirely simplistic life in the countryside, unaware of the fate that was before him. Paris displayed natural talents in areas such as music, poetry, archery, and hunting. He also became known by people around him for his exceptional beauty and charisma, and many people realized that this boy had something unique in him.
This humble upbringing of Paris, according to Greek mythology, as a shepherd boy on Mount Ida, far from the beauty and luxury of his family’s palace in Troy, became the foundational stone upon which the eventual discovery of his true heritage would take place.
The exact moment that this happened is a matter of contest, as different versions of the myth have differing narratives. At some point as a young man, Paris competed in a boxing contest or some sort of other competition at a Trojan festival.
There, the young boy defeated King Priam’s other sons. Some versions of the myth suggest that after this victory, his true identity was revealed, and he was welcomed back home by Priam as the true prince he was.
The defining moment of the ”Judgement of Paris”
The famous “Judgement of Paris” was another quite important moment in Paris’ history in Greek mythology.
Zeus, the legendary king of the gods, picked Paris as the one who would determine which deity was the fairest: Hera, Athena, or Aphrodite.
During this strange competition, each of the Greek goddesses offered Paris a bribe. Hera promised him strength and tremendous power, Athena promised to equip him with wisdom and fighting prowess, and Aphrodite told him he could have the love of the world’s most beautiful lady, Helen of Sparta.
Paris was immediately startled by his options. However, one of them was much too promising to ignore. Seduced by Aphrodite’s offer, he chose her as the fairest. This presumably simple choice was meant to initiate a chain of events that would lead to conflict.
With the crucial assistance of Aphrodite, Paris traveled all the way to mainland Greece to visit Sparta, where he was welcomed as a guest by King Menelaus, the husband of Helen. In a move that was going to define the fate of ancient Greece, according to Greek mythology, Paris kidnapped Helen and carried her back to Troy.
This happened through seduction and force, elements regarded as a grievous violation of hospitality and a complete and utter disgrace to the king of Sparta, Menelaus. This event outraged the Greek city-states, and they decided to join forces together under the leadership of Menelaus’ brother, Agamemnon.
It was the moment when the Greeks agreed to wage a war against Troy in order to bring Helen back and restore the honor of Menelaus and his royal family.
The legendary Trojan War
During the Trojan War, Paris was not regarded as the most powerful warrior, as he would very soon be eclipsed by his brother Hector and other Greek heroes determined to help Menelaus. Paris was nearly killed in an actual one-to-one fight with Menelaus, but Aphrodite intervened to save him.
By far, the most important contribution to the war was the fatal blow and the wounds he inflicted on the legendary Greek warrior Achilles. Paris, with the help of Apollo, shoots an arrow into Achilles’ vulnerable heel, killing the hero and establishing in this way the phrase we use to this day.
Towards the end of the Trojan War, Paris was actually wounded by an arrow fired by the Greek archer Philoctetes. The wound was unfortunately fatal, and Paris died before he could witness the fall of Troy.
In all accounts of this story in Greek mythology, motivated by love and desire, Paris’ choices had disastrous implications for his family and city. His tale has inspired numerous works of literature and art, being a captivating and significant cautionary tale about the long-term consequences of one’s personal decisions.
While opinions on Paris’ character differ depending on the point of view one takes, his role in the Trojan War and place in the pantheon of Greek mythology are undeniable, as his decisions influenced not only the outcome of one of the most famous wars in ancient literature but also of the entire Greek mythological world as we know it today.
In conclusion, the character of Paris is a figure in Greek mythology whose actions and choices profoundly shaped the Greek world. His role in the Judgment of Paris and subsequent abduction of Helen set in motion events nobody could have predicted, leading to probably one of the most epic wars in human history and mythology, that of Troy.
The life of Paris was one of love, desire, fate, and, most importantly, the peculiar nature of the Greek gods, who wanted to interfere in the mortals’ affairs quite often.
Works of art inspired by Paris’ life
Understandably, Paris has inspired countless works of art across various forms and talents. In literature, Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid both feature Paris as a central character, demonstrating aspects of his fateful life.
Even William Shakespeare’s play Troilus and Cressida draws upon the Paris narrative and uses his life as an inspiration.
In visual art, the Judgment of Paris has been a popular subject for centuries with many painters drawing inspiration from this. Notable examples of this theme include Peter Paul Rubens’s Baroque painting The Judgment of Paris (c. 1636) and Enrique Simonet’s 19th-century work The Judgment of Paris (1904).
The abduction of Helen has also been frequently depicted, such as in Gavin Hamilton’s Neoclassical painting The Abduction of Helen (1784).
