"Venus mit dem Apfel - Venus (Aphrodite) with an apple." (see details A | B | C) (see related A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M), 1813 - 1816 Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770 - 1844) Neue Pinakothek, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Venus, or Aphrodite, won a beauty competition - the prize was a golden apple that became known as the "Apple of Discord". The setting was prepared by Eris, the goddess of discord. She manipulated a wedding party to which she was not invited. Among the guests were Venus, Hera, and Athena, the three most famous beauties from Olympus. Eris tossed the apple in the midst of the party with the inscription "to the most beautiful". To resolve the dilemma, Paris, the prince from Troy was chosen to be the judge of which of the three goddesses was "the most beautiful" - he chose Venus who promised him the possession of Helen, a married woman whose Husband was Menelaus. "The Judgment of Paris" unleashed a chain of tragic events - Helen eloped or was abducted by Paris who sought refuge in Troy - Menelaus declared war and recruited all Greeks to the task, including Achilles - the scorned Hera and Athena manipulated the fates to insure that Troy would loose the war - and the rest... you better explore elsewhere.