Assignment #6

The main conflict in the Iliad is when Paris, prince of Troy takes Helen who is married to the Greek king, Menelaus. Of course, when Menelaus learned of his wife's capture, he wanted her back, starting the Trojan war. 

The conflict goes even deeper, to when Paris decides to take Helen as his bride. It all started with the marrage between Thetis, a sea goddess, and Peleus. The couple did not invite Eris, the goddess of discord, and she got very angry. She crashed the wedding and as her gift, she put down one golden apple on the table and said that the apple belonged to whomever was the fairest. Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite all reached for the apple. Since they could not decide whom among them was the fairest, they had a judge, the mortal Paris because lots of women desired him. In return for deeming each goddess the fairest, they all bribed him. Athena promised Paris wealth, Hera promised him power, and Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful women in the world. Paris chose Aphrodite, and Aphrodite told him Helen would be his wife. Paris then took off for Sparta to take Helen.