Three thousand years ago, there was a great city that was rich and powerful and was second to none. Its power and wealth came from its location: controlling the sea route between Europe and Asia. Its fame comes from a great war caused by an argument among three jealous goddesses.

The Trojan War has its roots in the marriage between King Peleus and Thetis, a sea-goddess. Peleus and Thetis had not invited Eris, the goddess of discord, to their marriage. The furious goddess stormed into the wedding banquet anyway, and threw a golden apple onto the table among the guests. She announced in terrifying tones, “This golden apple belongs to the most beautiful.”

All the goddesses wanted the Golden Apple, but the choices were narrowed down to three: Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena, who each reached for the apple at the same time.

They asked Zeus to judge who should get the Apple, but he refused. Instead he told them to go to Paris of Troy. Zeus claimed he was an excellent judge of beauty.

Hermes went to fetch Paris, who agreed to act as the judge. As the goddesses descended upon Paris, they all offered him bribes. Hera promised him power, Athena promised him wealth, and Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful woman in the world.

For choosing Aphrodite, Paris was given the most beautiful women in the world, Helen, who was married to King Menelaus of Sparta. Twin prophets Cassandra and Helenus tried to persuade Paris against going after her, but Paris would not listen and he set off for Sparta.

In Sparta, Menelaus, husband of Helen, treated Paris as a royal guest. However, when King Menelaus left Sparta to go to a funeral, Paris abducted Helen (who perhaps went willingly) and also carried off much of Menelaus' wealth.

Menelaus was outraged to find that Paris had taken Helen. Menelaus then called upon all of Helen's old suitors, because all of the suitors had made an oath long ago that they would all back Helen's husband to defend her honor. Many of the suitors did not wish to go to war. Odysseus pretended to be insane but this trick was uncovered.