Paris

** PARIS **  (Πάρις) was the second child of King Priam and Queen Hecabe. Just before his birth, his mother dreamed that she gave birth to a flaming torch. This dream was interpreted by the seer, Aesacus, as a foretelling of the downfall of Troy, and he declared that the child would be the ruin of his homeland. This was different from King Priam's interpretation, which he thinks that the fire referred to the torch of his heart burning of love for Helen. 

So after Paris was born, King Priam, following Aesacus' interpretation of the dream, gave his and Hecabe's son to a servant named Agelaus, with instructions to expose him on Mount Ida, near Troy. Agelaus did as he was told, but when he returned, he saw that the child had survived because a bear had nursed him. In the end, Agelaus brought him up as his own son, and named him Paris. This boy grew up to be a very handsome and strong young shepherd who also defended the flocks from robbers, and it is at this time that he was surnamed **ALEXANDER**. In time, he married Oenone, a mountain nymph (minor goddess of nature, usually represented as young and beautiful) and lived with her in the mountains, where he tended cattle.  As a young Trojan prince, Paris had to choose which goddess among Hera, Aphrodite, or Athena was most beautiful. This became known as the Judgment of Paris. Eris, the goddess of strife, tossed a golden apple inscribed with the phrase "For the Fairest" Each goddess (Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena) promised Paris a special gift if he decided in her favor. Hera promised to make him a powerful ruler. Athena promised him wisdom and victory in battle. Aphrodite offered Paris the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. Paris gave the golden apple to Aphrodite, which enraged Hera and Athena. This gift made Paris abandon his wife Oenone and went to Sparta. 

Eventually, Paris took away Helen and some Sparta treasures from the hands of King Menelaus. As Paris was leaving, Hera sent a storm that nearly destroyed their ship, but Aphrodite protected them until they reached Troy.

Paris played a minor role during wars. As a warrior, he was greatly inferior to his brother Hector, and his cowardly nature won little respect. Then, Hector forced Paris to fight King Menelaus single-handed in combat after the Trojans and Greeks agreed that this would end the war. At this point, Aphrodite rescued Paris at the point where Menelaus was winning.

Nearing the end of the Trojan War, Paris, with the help of Aphrodite, killed Achilles by shooting an arrow into his heel, the weakness of Achilles. But, Paris was struck by a poisoned arrow by Philoctetes. He was then sent back to Oenone, who had the gift of healing, yet she was angry at Paris for abandoning her. When Oenone relented, it was already too late. Paris was dead. 



Words of Paris: 1. Paris - The capital of France

 Sources: http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Paris.html http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/s/st/statue_of_paris.jpg http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/ent/A0837644.html http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Pa-Pr/Paris.html 

Marvin Amin IB-A