What fruit should Paris have awarded to one of the goddesses? Paris awarded the golden apple to the goddess Athena

Hecuba (Hecate).

Her father was considered to be Kisseus, the eponym of the Thracian city Kissos. She is the mother of twenty children, among whom were sons Hector, Paris, Helen, Deiphobus and Troilus, as well as daughters Cassandra and Polyxena. The main place of cult of this Asia Minor goddess was in Lycia, and her sacred animal was considered dog. According to legend, she rushed in the form of a dog to the Hellespont, as a result of which her grave is located on the cape Kinossema (“dog mound”) in the Hellespont. This the mound is considered a monument to Hecate. She is the daughter of Persian and Asteria. Hecate has power over the Earth and its seas and is revered by Zeus himself. Hecate is a terrible chthonic night goddess, with a flaming torch in her hands and snakes in her hair.

Hecate is a pre-Olympic deity who connects the two worlds - the living and the dead. She is a symbol of darkness and the black moon, close to Selene. However, Selena is White moon. At the same time, the image of Hecate is the image of a huntress of the night, similar to Artemis. Hecactus hunts in world of the dead, in the underworld, among many graves. Unlike Hecate, Artemis is accompanied by pack of dogs- hunts during the day. Hecate, according to Roman belief, was a goddess Trivia- “goddess of three roads.” Therefore, the image of Hecate was placed at the crossroads, where abundant sacrifices were made to her. Hecate, being another ancient symbol of the “comet-retribution”, combines new world heroic mythology and ancient archaic demonism.

Selena (Elena).

IN Greek mythology Selena(literally “shine”) is the personification of the Moon, more precisely, the day of “Passover”, i.e. day of cosmic catastrophe. This is why Selene is identified with the Greek Artemis, Roman Diana And Hecate. She is the daughter of the titans Hyperion And Teii and sister Helios And Eos. Selena is a symbol of the "old moon", in contrast to the “young Moon” - Hecate. The concept of “old” and “young” Moons is associated exclusively with the phases of the Moon, and serves to designate the day of “Passover” (the last quarter of the Moon). the abduction of Spartan Helen by Paris. (According to one version, Paris deliberately sailed with Helen in the direction opposite to Troy, to Phenicia and Cyprus). Arrived to Troy, Helen, despite the disasters that she brought upon the city, won the love of all the Trojans with her beauty. After the death of Menelaus, she was expelled by his sons and fled to Rhodes(according to another version in Tavrida). Another one, the most beautiful version legend, claims that after her death she was transferred to the island of Levka at the mouth of the Danube, where she united in eternal union with the one who died in Trojan War Achilles. (see Art. Achilles)

According to the Gnostics, Helen was a harlot in the Phoenician city ​​of Tire, and her image merges with the image of Astarte. Due to the relationship of her name with Selena, Elena has lunar symbolism. After such an explanation, the mythological terms “apple of discord” and “judgment of Paris” become absolutely clear. The term “apple of discord” was used by ancient authors to designate the Cretan cosmic catastrophe (Noah’s Flood), which brought untold disasters to the peoples of the earth, and the term “judgment of Paris” denoted the epicenter of this catastrophe on Mount Ida near Troy. And earlier I have already cited the testimony of Thrakil from Merides, who reported that during this catastrophe, “Mount Sipylus collapsed, and Troy was flooded by waves”. The legends about Helen have a clear geographical interpretation, for they indicate the epicenters of the Cretan comic catastrophe. And the commonly used symbolism of royal power is also associated with the mythological term “apple”.

Apple. Sovereign apple.

Sovereign apple (power)- symbol state power monarch, which was ball topped with a crown or cross. (The cross as a symbol of global cosmic catastrophe, appeared with the advent of the Christian era.) The sovereign apple is the insignia of the highest monarchical power in the countries Christendom. Russia used the Byzantine version of the insignia. Historically, the sovereign apple was the insignia of the emperors of the Roman Empire. Images of the power are found as early as 27 BC. e. on the coins of the Roman Emperor Augustus. Initially, a statue was installed on the ball goddess of victory. Later, the emblem of royal power was a ball topped with a cross, representing a symbol of dominion over the earth. The symbol of supreme power was borrowed from the Romans by English kings and Western European monarchs. Russia adopted this symbol in 1557 from Poland, where it was called an apple. If the scepter is considered a symbol of the masculine, then the orb is considered to be feminine. Sovereign apple in Russian Orthodox Christian tradition symbolizes the Kingdom of Heaven. In medieval painting and iconography, God the Father and Jesus Christ were depicted with a sovereign apple. The iconographic prototype of the power is the mirrors of the archangels Michael and Gabriel - as a rule, these are gold discs with the initials of Jesus Christ. The sovereign apple symbolizes the Kingdom of Heaven, the power over which belongs to Jesus Christ and through the rite of anointing transferred to the monarch.

Sovereign apple(as well as “apple”, “sovereign apple”, “autocratic apple”, “apple of the royal rank”, “power of the Russian kingdom”) - is considered a symbol of knowledge and an image of the world. The apple is a symbol of the fruit of the tree of knowledge in the Bible. The sovereign apple is depicted on the spire, under the cross of the church, or under the state eagle on the spire of the tower. In the biblical tradition, the apple is considered an attribute of heaven. The apple is a symbol of Adam's fall. In Celtic mythology, the Isle of the Blessed (the other world, kingdom of the dead, Champs Elysees) - named Avalon (Avvallah) (literally “apple”). The island got its name from the word “afal” - apple. In medieval texts this word was written “abblah” - “island of apples”. It was believed that the “golden apples of the Hesperides” symbolize immortality. In Christianity, the apple symbolizes temptation, enticement, forbidden fruit. IN Latin apple -"malum", I is synonymous with the word "evil". In Russia an apple was placed on the grave of the deceased. The apple tree is one of the symbols of the Roman goddess Ceres. In the mythology of the Baltic countries, the apple is a symbol of the setting sun. And all we have to do is report that ancient civilizations used the mythological term “apple” to designate a meteorite, and the generalized image of a global cosmic catastrophe, caused by a “comet of retribution,” was embodied in the symbolism of the sovereign apple.

Apple. Apples of the Hesperides.

In addition, a few words should be said about the apples of the Gesprerides, because in the future, when talking about the island of the Atlanteans, this information will be in demand. The legend of the apples of the Hesperides has several versions. This legend is interesting to us insofar as it determines the location of the island of Atlanta. After all, information about the island of the Atlanteans formed the basis of Plato’s legend of Atlantis, which is still not understood by scientists. By determining the exact location of the island, we can immediately understand dozens of unsolved mysteries Ancient world. Therefore, we will repeatedly return to the story of Atlantis and Canary Islands, to which I dedicated an entire book, and our subsequent story about these islands will be long and detailed. An ancient Greek legend tells us that the earth goddess Gaia gave apples from a golden apple tree as wedding gift Gere. Hera was delighted with the gift and planted a tree in her magical garden. The legend directly states that the garden was located on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains, where the tired horses from the solar chariot completed their journey and where Atlanta’s thousand sheep and thousand cows grazed in his pastures.

One version of the legend says that Hera placed the dragon Ladon, who was born, to guard her apple tree Typhon And Echidna. That is, this is the site of the epicenter of the next cosmic catastrophe. He had a hundred heads and a hundred tongues.Hercules did not know whether the Hesperides lived on the Atlas Mountains in Mauritania, or somewhere else beyond the Ocean River, or on two islands lying off a cape called the Western Horn near the Ethiopian Hesperia, on the coast of Africa. Not knowing where the Garden of the Hesperides was, Hercules went through Illyria to the Po River, where the prophetic sea god Nereus lived. On the way he crossed Ejedor- a river in Macedonia, where the son of Ares and Pirene named Kikn challenged him to a duel. Ares acted as Cycnus's comrade and brought the opponents together, but Zeus stopped the fight by striking Perun between them. Nereus advised Hercules not to pick the apples himself, but to use Atlas for this, for a while, freeing him from the enormous burden. After some time, Atlas returned with three apples picked by his daughters the Hesperides. Hercules gave the fruits to Athena, who returned them to Hera. Hercules did not return to Mycenae by a direct route. He went to Libya, where King Antaeus, the son of Poseidon and Gaia, forced all travelers to fight him, and then killed hisenemy. Gaia conceived Antheus in a Libyan cave and was proud of him more than of her ownterrible older children - Typhon and Briareus.And it would not have been good for the Olympians if Antaeus had fought against them in the valleys of Phlegra. Legend says that the duel between Antaeus and Hercules took place in Lixe, a small Moorish town fifty miles from Tangier, which was formerly called Tingis. Here, not far from the sea, there still stands a hill considered to be the grave of Antaeus. Locals It is believed that if several baskets of earth are taken from this hill, it will begin to rain and continue until the earth is returned to its place. And we're in Once again we must say that this legend has a clear geographical interpretation, for it marks the epicenters of cosmic catastrophes.

Paris, the son of Priam, before the arrival of the goddesses and Hermes, grazed herds on the slope of Mount Ida. Before the birth of Paris, his mother Hecuba (aka Hecabe, aka Hecate) had a terrible dream: she saw how a fire threatened to destroy all of Troy. Frightened, Hekabe hurried to tell her dream to her husband. Priam turned to the soothsayer, and he told him that Hekabe will give birth to a son who will be responsible for the death of Troy. And when Hekabe had a son, Priam ordered his servant Agelaus to take him to high Ida and abandon him there. But Priam's son did not die - he was fed by a bear. A year later, Agelay found the child and raised him, calling him Paris. Paris grew up among shepherds and became a wonderful young man. Hermes gave the apple to Paris and said: “Take this apple, Paris, and give it to the most beautiful goddess. “So Zeus commanded you”. Each of the goddesses began to convince the young man to give the apple to her. Hera promised Paris power over all of Asia, Athena - glory and victories, and Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful wife Elena, daughter of the thunderer Zeus and Leda. Hearing Aphrodite's promise, Paris gave the apple to her. Thus, Aphrodite was recognized by Paris as the most beautiful of the goddesses. Since then, Paris became the favorite of Aphrodite, and Hera and Athena hated Paris, hated Troy and all the Trojans and decided to destroy the city and all the people. And Aphrodite helped kidnap Paris Elena, the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus, which later became the cause of the Trojan War.

First time term "apple of discord", as a synonym for a reason for hostility and dispute, was used by the Roman historian Justin (II century), who, apparently, should be considered the author of this catchphrase. This legend is not at all difficult to understand rationally, but to do this we must clarify the meaning of several mythological terms. Paris (P a r i z , Paris) - (in Phrygian verb. "place of struggle", (“place of dispute between the gods”), meaning “place of cosmic catastrophe”) - Trojan prince, son of Priam and Hecuba

Nereid Thetis and her marriage to Peleus. - Eris: the myth of the apple of discord. - Shepherd Paris is the son of Priam, king of Troy. - Judgment of Paris: the apple of discord is handed to Aphrodite. - The meaning of the myth about the judgment of Paris.

and this site creator

The ancient Greek writer of late antiquity Libanius, in his work “Progymnasmata,” briefly outlined the myth about the Trojan prince Paris and the apple of discord as follows:

Zeus was delighted with the beauty of Thetis, however, having heard from the Night that the one born from Thetis would be stronger than his father, he did not marry her, but gave her as a wife to Peleia. And the wedding was celebrated on Mount Pelion, resounding with hymns to the gods and the song of Apollo. But Eris, as if she was not participating in the feast, threw a golden apple onto the banquet table. It was written on it that it was a gift from the most beautiful of goddesses. This apple became the cause of a quarrel between the wife of Zeus, Aphrodite and Athena. Zeus avoided judging the dispute by appointing Paris, the son of Priam, as judge. When the goddesses came to the shepherd Paris, victory went to Aphrodite, who promised Paris a marriage with Helen: the son of Priam considered this payment the best, and he rejected the reign over Asia that Hera offered him and the superiority in battles promised by Athena. Paris built a ship, sailed to Sparta, took Helen and destroyed Ilion-Troy. (Libanius, “Progymnasmata”, 2, 27)

Nereid Thetis and her marriage to Peleus

The Nereid Thetis, whose beautiful statue is in the Louvre Museum, was the most beautiful of the sea goddesses.

According to the myth, for eight days the bear came to feed the abandoned child. The shepherd, amazed by this miracle, took the child to himself and raised Paris.

Having become a young man, the royal son Paris, raised as a shepherd, differed from his comrades in his dexterity and extraordinary beauty.

Judgment of Paris: Apple of Discord handed to Aphrodite

When the god Hermes brought Paris to the feast of the gods and explained to him what was going on, Paris began to examine the goddesses with great attention.

Before Paris came to any decision, Pallas Athena (Minerva) addressed him with the following words: “Come closer, son of Priam! Neither the wife of Zeus nor the goddess of love is worthy of attracting your gaze; let only one goddess of valor and courage, one Pallas Athena, deserve your attention and your praise. You, they say, are destined to defend the walls of Troy; know that I can contribute to the liberation of your people and protect you from Bellona's wrath. Decide in my favor, and I will teach you the art of war, and I will make you equal to the bravest warriors."

As soon as Pallas Athena finished, the goddess Hera (Juno) spoke: “If you award me a prize for beauty, I promise you dominion over all of Asia. What do you need military art for? What does war mean for a ruler? Kings command equally the bravest and the most cowardly. And Minerva’s favorites do not always occupy the first rows.”

Following her, the goddess Aphrodite (Venus) approached and, wanting to appear to Paris in all the splendor of her beauty, unbuttoned the buckles of her tunic and, proud of herself, said: “Look and admire all the charms that you see in front of you. Do they not deserve preference over all military virtues? Is not their possession more valuable than all the scepters and kingdoms of Asia? And what do I care about all the helmets and shields? A woman must first of all be distinguished by her beauty. I will not give you valor, but I will give you the most beautiful woman as a girlfriend; I won’t give you the throne, but I will give you Helen.”

As soon as the goddess of love fell silent, Paris awarded her a prize for beauty, and Aphrodite received from his hands an apple, which became a source of discord and fierce battles.

The meaning of the myth of the Judgment of Paris

Judgment of Paris was depicted very often by artists, but due to the difference in interpretation between ancient and modern artists, the meaning of this myth has completely changed.

According to primitive sources, the idea embedded in the myth of the court of Paris was purely moral and moral: it pointed to the contempt with which the ancient Greeks treated their Asian neighbors, considering them to be effete people, incapable of even understanding courage and valor.

The Phrygian Paris, having awarded the apple of discord to Pallas Athena, could have received military valor in return and, thanks to it, strengthened the independence of his country. By giving an apple to the goddess Hera, the Phrygian Paris could gain dominion over Asia. But Paris preferred the passion and pleasures offered to him by Aphrodite, and that is why Troy fell and why Greece, patronized by Pallas Athena and Hera, stood immeasurably higher than Asia.

Although Koluf and other ancient writers mention that the goddess Aphrodite unveiled her clothes before Paris, nevertheless, the artists of antiquity always depicted all three goddesses at the court of Paris fully clothed.

During the period of Roman rule, art continued to depict goddesses dressed. Many works of art on the theme of the Judgment of Paris survive from this period.

Modern art, on the contrary, has constantly depicted and depicts all three goddesses at the court of Paris, devoid of any signs of clothing. In Flaxman, only Venus is naked, but Rubens, Raphael and many other artists depict all three goddesses naked, so that Paris, as it were, awards a prize for plastic beauty.

Rubens, in his beautiful painting “The Judgment of Paris,” in order to further emphasize the sensual character that he wanted to give to his work, placed in his picture, and they, taking this opportunity, look with all their eyes at the naked goddesses. Meanwhile, if we strictly adhere to mythological traditions, not a single satyr would dare to look with such impudence at Pallas Athena, for fear of incurring the wrath of this strict and chaste goddess.

Additions from an Ancient Greek teacher and this site creator

The myth of the apple of discord and the Judgment of Paris in ancient Greek

And now let’s touch on antiquity in the original source - read the story of the rhetorician Libanius about the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, the apple of discord and the Judgment of Paris in the ancient Greek original.

Libanii Progymnasmata 2, 27)

Θέτιν ὁ Ζεὺς ἐθαύμασε τοῦ κάλλους, παρὰ δὲ τῆς Νυκτὸς ἀκούσας ὡς ὁ τικτόμενος ἐκ Θέτιδος ἀμείνων ἔσται τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτὸς μὲν οὐ μίγνυται, Πηλεῖ δὲ δίδωσι. καὶ δέχεται μὲν τοὺς γάμους τὸ Πήλιον καὶ θεῶν ὕμνον καὶ Ἀπόλλωνος ᾠδήν. ἡ δὲ Ἔρις, οὐ γὰρ μετεῖχε τῆς θοίνης, μῆλον χρυσοῦν ἀφίησιν εἰς τὴν τράπεζαν. δῶρον εἶναι τῇ καλλίστῃ θεῶν τούτῳ ἐπεγέγραπτο. γίνεται οὖν ἀμφισβήτησις τὸ μῆλον τῇ τοῦ Διὸς γυναικὶ καὶ Ἀφροδίτῃ καὶ Ἀθηνᾷ. ὁ δὲ Ζεὺς φεύγει μὲν αὐτὸς τὴν κρίσιν, ποιεῖ δὲ αὐταῖς Πάριν τὸν Πριάμου κριτήν. ὡς οὖν ἧκον παρὰ τὸν βουκόλον, νικᾷ μὲν Ἀφροδίτη τῷ τῆς Ἑλένης γάμῳ, τοῦτο γὰρ ἄμεινον ὁ Πάρις ἡγήσατο, βασιλείαν δὲ ἣν ἐδίδου τῆς Ἀσίας ἡ Ἥρα, καὶ τὸ μαχόμενον κρατεῖν, ὃ ἦν τῆς Ἀθηνᾶς ὑπόσχεσις, παρῃτήσατο. ναυπηγεῖται οὖν καὶ πλεῖ καὶ λαμβάνει τὴν Ἑλένην καὶ ἀπόλλυσι τὸ Ἴλιον.

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