Key Points

- Golden Apples play numerous, various important roles throughout Greek Mythology

Brief Bio

The three most prominent roles of golden apples in Greek Mythology are:

1. A huntress named Atalanta who raced against a suitor named Melanion, also known as Hippomenes. Melanion used golden apples to distract Atalanta so that he could win the race.

2. Hera's sacred tree, given to her as gift from Zeus, grows apples made entirely of gold. The dragon Ladon was sent to guard it from anyone who might try to steal the apples.

3. Zeus held a banquet in celebration of the marriage of Peleus and Thetis. Eris, the goddess of discord, was not invited due to her troublesome nature, and upon turning up uninvited, she threw a golden apple into the ceremony, with an inscription that read: "for/to the most beautiful". Three goddesses claimed the apple: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. They brought the matter before Zeus. 

Not wanting to get involved, Zeus assigned the task to Paris of Troy. Paris had demonstrated his exemplary fairness previously when he awarded a prize unhesitatingly to Ares after the god, in bull form, had bested his own prize bull. Zeus gave the apple to Hermes and told him to deliver it to Paris and tell him that the goddesses would accept his decision without argument. 

As each goddess wanted the apple, each appeared before Paris offering gifts as a bribe in return for the apple. Hera offered to make him the king of Europe and Asia Minor, Athena offered him wisdom and skill in battle, and Aphrodite offered to give to him the love of the world's most beautiful woman, Helen of Sparta, who was already married to King Menelaus. 

Paris chose Aphrodite, a decision that caused the Trojan War, and ultimately the destruction of both Paris and his city, Troy.