Hermes and the three goddesses quickly rushed to the slopes of Ida to Paris. Paris, the son of Priam, was tending his flocks at this time. Before the birth of Paris, his mother Hekabe had a terrible dream: she saw how a fire threatened to destroy all of Troy. Hekabe was frightened and told her dream to her husband. Priam turned to the soothsayer, and he told him that Hekabe would give birth to a son who would be responsible for the death of Troy. Therefore, Priam, when a son was born to Hekabe, ordered his servant Agelaus to take him to high Ida and throw him there in the thicket of the forest. But the son of Priam did not die - he was suckled by a bear. A year later, Agelay found him and raised him as his own son, calling him Paris. Paris grew up among shepherds and became an unusually beautiful young man. He stood out among his peers for his strength. He often saved not only herds, but also his comrades from the attacks of wild animals and robbers, and became so famous among them for his strength and courage that they called him Alexander (slaying men). Paris lived quietly among the forests of Ida. He was quite happy with his lot.
It was to this Paris that the goddesses and Hermes appeared. Paris was frightened when he saw the goddesses and Hermes. He wanted to run away from them, but how could he escape from Hermes, who was as quick as a thought? Hermes stopped Paris and spoke kindly to him, handing him an apple:
“Take this apple, Paris,” said Hermes, “you see three goddesses standing in front of you.” Give the apple to the one who is the most beautiful. Zeus commanded you to be a judge in the dispute between the goddesses.
Paris was confused. He looks at the goddesses and cannot decide which of them is more beautiful. Then each of the goddesses began to convince the young man to give the apple to her. They promised Paris great rewards. Hera promised him power over all of Asia, Athena promised him military glory and victories, and Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful of mortal women, Helen, the daughter of the thunderer Zeus and Leda, as his wife. Paris didn’t think long when he heard Aphrodite’s promise: he gave the apple to her. Thus, Aphrodite was recognized by Paris as the most beautiful of the goddesses. Since then, Paris became Aphrodite's favorite, and she began to help him in everything, no matter what he did. And Hera and Athena hated Paris, they hated Troy and all the Trojans and decided to destroy the city and all the people.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru