It all began with a wedding.

Peleus, a mortal hero, was going to marry Thetis - a sea nymph so beautiful that even Zeus wanted her.

But there was a prophecy: Thetis's son would be Greater than his father! Zeus didn't want a son more powerful than himself! So he forced Thetis to marry a mortal!

(Note: The son of Peleus and Thetis would be Achilles - the greatest warrior in Greece!)

For the wedding, ALL the gods and goddesses were invited.

All... except one.

Eris, the goddess of Discord and Chaos, was NOT invited! Nobody wanted trouble at the wedding!

Eris was Furious.

During the banquet, while everyone celebrated, a golden apple rolled across the floor.

The apple glowed with its own light! And on it was written:

"FOR THE FAIREST"

Eris had thrown the apple on purpose! She knew exactly what would happen!

Three goddesses saw the apple at the same time:

Hera - queen of the gods, Zeus's wife, goddess of marriage.

Athena - goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare.

Aphrodite - goddess of love and beauty.

Each grabbed the apple! "It's mine! I am the fairest!"

The three goddesses began to argue! Each had their arguments!

"I am QUEEN of Olympus!" said Hera. "Of course I am the fairest!"

"Beauty without wisdom is empty!" said Athena. "My beauty has purpose!"

"Ridiculous!" laughed Aphrodite. "I am LITERALLY the goddess of beauty! I was born from sea foam as pure perfection!"

The argument grew more and more heated! The other gods backed away in fear!

Even Zeus didn't want to judge! He knew any choice would leave two goddesses furious with him!

"We need an impartial judge," said Zeus with relief. "Someone who doesn't know us well!"

And then he had an idea: "Paris, the prince of Troy! He's young, a shepherd, known for his fairness! He will judge!"

Paris was the son of King Priam of Troy! But there was a prophecy: Paris would cause Troy's destruction!

Therefore, when he was a baby, he was abandoned on Mount Ida! But shepherds found him and raised him!

Paris grew strong and fair, not knowing he was a prince! He lived tending sheep in the mountains!

One day, while caring for sheep, Hermes appeared.

"Paris! Zeus has chosen you to judge which of these three goddesses is the fairest!"

And suddenly, there they were: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite - three of the most powerful goddesses, awaiting judgment from a simple shepherd.

Paris trembled! How could a mortal judge goddesses?

But it got worse! Each goddess tried to Bribe Paris!

Hera approached first: "Paris, if you choose me, I'll give you POWER! You'll be king of all the lands of Asia! You'll rule empires!"

Paris was tempted! Power was attractive!

Then Athena approached: "Power without wisdom is useless! Choose me and I'll give you WISDOM and GLORY IN WAR! You'll be the greatest warrior, invincible in battle!"

Paris hesitated! Military glory was also tempting!

Finally, Aphrodite smiled sweetly: "Paris... choose me and I'll give you the LOVE of the most beautiful woman in the world! Helen of Sparta - so beautiful she makes men lose their reason!"

Paris was young! Romantic! Power and glory seemed distant!

But love? Love seemed real and immediate.

"Aphrodite," said Paris, handing the apple to her, "you are the fairest!"

Aphrodite smiled triumphantly! She took the apple!

But Hera and Athena were Furious.

"You will regret this, Paris!" hissed Hera!

"Troy will pay for this insult!" swore Athena!

The two goddesses became mortal enemies of Troy in that moment! And when goddesses become your enemies... disasters happen!

Soon after, Paris discovered he was a prince! He returned to Troy! He was received with joy (despite the prophecy)!

And then Aphrodite fulfilled her promise.

Paris was sent on a diplomatic mission to Sparta, in Greece.

There, he met Helen - wife of King Menelaus.

Helen was truly the most beautiful woman in the world! She had golden hair like the sun! Bright eyes! A smile that melted hearts!

When she was young, ALL the princes of Greece wanted to marry her! There were so many suitors that her father feared war among them!

So the clever Odysseus (Ulysses) suggested: "All suitors must swear to protect Helen's marriage! Thus, whoever she chooses, all the others will defend!"

Everyone swore! Helen chose Menelaus! They married!

But when Paris arrived in Sparta and saw Helen... Aphrodite acted.

The goddess made Paris and Helen fall in love instantly! A love so strong it ignored everything else!

What happened next is debated to this day:

Some versions say Paris abducted Helen by force while Menelaus was away.

Other versions say Helen eloped voluntarily with Paris, choosing love over duty.

It was probably something in between - Aphrodite manipulated their feelings, but Helen also made a choice.

Paris took Helen (and many treasures from Sparta!) back to Troy in his ships!

When Menelaus returned and discovered his wife had left with a Trojan prince... his fury was Nuclear.

"PARIS! TROJANS! WILL PAY FOR THIS!"

Menelaus ran to his brother Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and the most powerful man in Greece.

"My brother! Troy has dishonored me! They stole my wife! We need REVENGE!"

Agamemnon saw an opportunity! Troy was rich! Controlling Troy would mean controlling trade routes!

"Brother," said Agamemnon, "we'll gather ALL the Greek kings! Remember the oath they made to protect Helen's marriage? It's time to collect on it!"

Messengers were sent to all corners of Greece.

And because of the oath, the greatest Greek heroes HAD to come:

Achilles - son of Thetis, the strongest warrior in the world.

Odysseus (Ulysses) - king of Ithaca, the smartest of the Greeks.

Ajax - giant warrior, strong as a bull.

Diomedes - fierce young warrior.

Nestor - elderly and wise king.

And many others! In all, a Thousand ships gathered!

"A thousand ships for one woman!" people said in amazement! Helen became known as "the face that launched a thousand ships!"

Before departing, the Greeks consulted the prophet Calchas.

"The war will be long," prophesied Calchas. "It will last TEN YEARS! Many will die! But in the end, Troy will fall!"

Ten years! It was unthinkable! But the Greeks had already gathered the army!

The Greek fleet sailed across the Aegean Sea.

A thousand ships with white sails covering the horizon.

Inside Troy, King Priam and his sons saw the ships arriving.

Hector, the eldest son and greatest warrior of Troy, said to his brother Paris:

"See what you caused? Because of one woman, our people will suffer!"

But Paris, under Aphrodite's spell, only embraced Helen! "It's worth it! I'll fight for the woman I love!"

And thus began the Trojan War - the most famous war in Greek mythology.

A war caused by:

- The vanity of three goddesses

- A golden apple

- An imprudent choice by a young prince

- And a forbidden (or abducted) love

A war where gods would fight alongside mortals.

Where the world's greatest warrior (Achilles) would face the noblest defender (Hector).

Where clever strategies (the Trojan Horse!) would defeat brute force!

A war that would last ten bloody years and end with a city in flames.

But those stories come in the next parts...