Judgment of Paris

Lore & Background

The conflict began when the goddess Eris, feeling snubbed at a wedding feast, tossed a golden apple into the gathering. Inscribed with 'to the fairest,' it immediately ignited a dispute among Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Zeus, unwilling to take sides in such a volatile argument, delegated the decision to Paris, a Trojan prince raised as a shepherd on Mount Ida. Each goddess offered Paris a bribe: Hera promised dominion over Europe and Asia, Athena offered glory in war, and Aphrodite pledged the love of the world's most beautiful woman. Paris ultimately chose Aphrodite, a decision that led him to abduct Helen of Sparta. This act drew the wrath of Menelaus and Agamemnon, sparking the decade-long Trojan War. The event is remembered not just for the war it caused, but for the deep-seated resentment Hera held against both Paris and mortals in general.

In Their Own Story

The air on Mount Ida was thick with the scent of pine and impending storms. Three figures stood before the young shepherd, their radiance blinding even as they spoke in tones that could shatter stone. The Queen demanded his loyalty; the Warrior promised him fame; the Lover whispered of a beauty he had never seen. Paris looked at the golden orb in his hand, heavy with destiny, and felt the weight of Olympus pressing down on his mortal shoulders. He did not see a war coming; he saw only the promise of love.

Reader's Guide

In Hades, the Judgment of Paris is often alluded to through character dialogue, particularly when discussing Hera's motivations or the history of the Trojan War. Characters like Achilles may reference the chaos that followed Paris's choice, framing it as a cautionary tale about divine interference. The event explains why Hera is so hostile toward mortal heroes and why she views Hades' house with suspicion; her pride was wounded by a mortal's rejection, an insult that echoes through millennia. While no specific item in the game directly replicates the Golden Apple, the themes of choice and consequence are central to Zagreus's journey. Supergiant Games uses this myth to ground its world in authentic Greek tradition while adding their own flavor. The House of Hades is depicted as a refuge from such capricious divine drama, contrasting the stability of the Underworld with the volatile politics of Olympus that began with Paris's fateful decision.

Did You Know?

• Eris was not invited to the wedding feast where she threw the apple, which is why she sought revenge through discord.
• Paris was originally a shepherd who had been abandoned as an infant before being recognized as a prince of Troy.
• The choice Paris made directly led to his own death during the final days of the Trojan War.
• Hera's bitterness over this event is a recurring theme in her interactions with other gods and mortals in mythology.