The Trojan War, which began in 1250 b., was caused by an economic rivalry between Mycenae and Troy, a big trading city in current-day Turkey. "According to the legend, the chain of events that led to the Trojan War started at a royal wedding," (www.royalty.nu/legends/troy.html, 1). Peleus, who was the king of the Myrmidons, a race of people that evolved from ants, was marrying a sea nymph named Thetis. Many gods were present at the wedding. Eris, daughter of Zeus, was not invited to the wedding because she was the goddess of discord and was bound to stir up a lot of trouble. .
Eris was furious. She then went on and proceeded to disrupt the banquet. "She threw a golden apple "for the fairest" among the guests," (www.royalty.nu/legends/troy.html, 1). Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite also attended the wedding, each thought that she was the fairest of all. They quarreled for a while debating who should get the apple and finally asked Zeus to decide.
Zeus didn't want to get involved, so he ordered them to Prince Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy in Anatolia. Despite her royal heritage, Paris had been raised as a simple shepherd after his mother learned in a vision that he would cause the destruction of Troy. There are many reasons on why Paris was chosen to judge the contest. Many contestants attempted to rig the contest with bribes. Paris went on to award the Apple of Discord to Aphrodite. There was one problem, the most beautiful woman in the world was already married. .
The woman was Helen, a half-mortal daughter of Zeus. King Tyndareus of Sparta was hesitant to let her marry because of his premonition that it would lead to war. Tynadreas convinced Helen's suitors to swear to protect her and her husband, whoever he may be. Helen eventually went on to marry Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon, the King of Mycenae. After Tyndareus's passing, Agamemnon became king of Sparta.
