Regarding the Treasury of the Siphnians at Delphi,
we learn of the following:

"The subject of the west frieze was
the Judgement of Paris.

Wishing to avoid misunderstandings,
the gods did not invite Eris, goddess of discord,
to the marriage of Thetis and Peleus.

In order to take her revenge,
she rolled among the guests a golden apple
inscribed with the words

'to the most beautiful'.


A quarrel broke between Hera,
Athena,
and Aphrodite,

and Zeus sent them
with Hermes
to Paris, Prince of Troy,
well known for his sound judgement.

The goddesses tried to sway Paris.

He resisted Hera's promise of gold
and Athena's offer of wisdom,


but was persuaded by Aphrodite's promise
that he would gain
the most beautiful woman on earth,
and awarded her the golden apple.

With Aphrodite's connivance,
Paris abducted Helen,
wife of the Spartan King Menelaus,
thus becoming the cause of the Trojan War.

This is the relevant myth represented on the frieze. --- "

Delphi, p. 67
by Eleni Aimatidou-Argyriou
copyright 2003