Paris was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, the rulers of Troy. Because Priam had been informed by way of a prophecy that this son would cause the downfall of Troy, he brought Paris out of the city when he was young and abandoned him in the wilderness. Paris grew up a shepherd and cowherd as he lived with a nymph, and he became to be known for his fairness and judgement abilities. Paris had fairly judged a contest among prize bulls that the god Ares had won, and this prompted Zeus, who refused to decide which of the three goddesses was fairest, to enlist Paris of Troy as judge. Paris was in the land of Phrygia when the goddesses appeared before him and asked him to decide which one was the fairest. Hera offered him sovereignty over Europe and Asia if he chose her, and Athena offered him wisdom, strategy, and skill at war. But it was the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, that Paris selected, for she offered him the most beautiful woman in the world. His selection was the cause of the Trojan War. Read
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