The Singing Scoutmaster: Judgment of Paris, The

Long ago, when the gods still roamed the earth and mingled with mortals, there was a grand celebration high on Mount Olympus. All the gods and goddesses gathered for the wedding feast of Peleus, a mortal hero, and Thetis, a beautiful sea nymph. It was a joyous occasion filled with laughter, music, and endless food and drink. But not everyone was welcome at this divine gathering. Eris, the goddess of discord and strife, had been deliberately left off the guest list. Angered by the slight, she devised a plan to sow chaos among the gods.

As the festivities were in full swing, a hush fell over the crowd. Out of the shadows, Eris appeared, holding a gleaming golden apple in her hand. With a sly smile, she tossed the apple into the midst of the gathering. The gods watched as it rolled to a stop at the feet of Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, the three most powerful goddesses of Olympus. Inscribed on the apple were the words, "To the fairest."

In an instant, the mood of the celebration changed. Each of the three goddesses stepped forward, claiming the apple for herself. "I am the fairest!" Hera declared, her voice filled with regal authority. "It belongs to me!" Athena, her eyes flashing with wisdom and strength, countered, "No one's beauty can match mine." Aphrodite, the goddess of love and desire, simply smiled and said, "Surely, no one can contest my claim to this prize."

The argument grew heated, with voices rising and tempers flaring. Zeus, king of the gods, watched from his throne, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. He knew that choosing one goddess over the others would only lead to more discord and conflict. Reluctant to make such a dangerous decision himself, Zeus decided to pass the responsibility to someone else—a mortal who would not fear divine wrath. With a wave of his hand, Zeus summoned Hermes, the messenger god, and whispered his decision: "Find the mortal prince Paris, and bring him here. He will be the judge."

Paris, the young prince of Troy, was tending his sheep on the slopes of Mount Ida when Hermes appeared before him. "Come with me," Hermes said. "The gods have chosen you to settle a matter of great importance." Bewildered, Paris followed Hermes to the foot of Mount Olympus, where Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite awaited him, each radiating an otherworldly beauty.

"Mortal prince," Hera began, her voice sweet as honey, "you have been chosen to decide which of us is the fairest. Choose me, and I will make you the ruler of all Asia. You will be the most powerful king to ever live, your name spoken in awe and reverence." She held her hand out to Paris, her eyes gleaming with the promise of power and dominion.

Before Paris could respond, Athena stepped forward. "Choose me, Paris, and I will grant you unmatched wisdom and skill in battle. Your name will be remembered for all time as a hero of legendary prowess. No one will dare stand against you." Her gaze was intense, her words filled with the weight of destiny.

Then Aphrodite, the last to speak, glided toward Paris with a soft smile. "Oh, noble prince," she whispered, her voice as light as a breeze, "I offer you the greatest prize of all—the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. Choose me, and I will give you Helen of Sparta, whose beauty has no equal. She will be yours forever, and you will know a love that will eclipse the sun and the stars."

Paris's heart fluttered at the sound of her voice. He knew of Helen, famed for her beauty, and the thought of having her as his own consumed him. With trembling hands, he reached out and handed the golden apple to Aphrodite. "I choose you," he said softly, his gaze locked on the goddess of love. Aphrodite's smile widened, and the other goddesses, their faces dark with anger, turned away in fury.

True to her word, Aphrodite led Paris to the great city of Sparta, where he met Helen, wife of King Menelaus. The moment their eyes met, it was as if the world stopped. Helen fell deeply in love with Paris, and together they fled to Troy, leaving her husband and homeland behind. But their love, born of a divine promise, carried a heavy price. Menelaus, enraged by the loss of his wife, called upon all the kings of Greece to join him in a war against Troy.

Thus began the Trojan War, a conflict that would last ten long years and claim the lives of countless warriors and heroes. The city of Troy, once proud and mighty, fell to ruin because of a single choice made on a distant mountainside. The judgment of Paris, though seemingly a simple contest of beauty, set in motion a chain of events that would shape the fate of nations and echo through history.

The tale of the golden apple serves as a reminder of how small actions can lead to great consequences, and how even the mightiest of kingdoms can be brought low by the desires of the heart. And so, whenever the stars twinkle in the night sky, it is said that the gods still watch the heavens, remembering the day when the pride of goddesses and the love of a mortal set the world ablaze.