The story starts with the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, two deities from the Greek pantheon. All the gods and goddesses of Olympus were invited, except for Eris, the goddess of discord. To avenge this slight, Eris threw a golden apple into the midst of the festivities, inscribed with the words "For the fairest." Three goddesses claimed the apple: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite.
To settle the dispute, Zeus, the king of the gods, sent the three goddesses to Paris, a Trojan prince known for his beauty and judgment. Each goddess tried to bribe Paris with offers of power, wealth, and wisdom. Hera promised him power and dominion over all of Asia; Athena promised him victory in battle and military prowess; and Aphrodite offered him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.
Paris chose Aphrodite's gift, and in return, she helped him abduct Helen, the beautiful wife of Menelaus, the king of Sparta. Helen's abduction sparked outrage among the Greeks, leading to the formation of an alliance of Greek states to reclaim Helen and seek vengeance against Paris and Troy.
The Greeks sailed to Troy and laid siege to the city for ten years. During the war, many heroes emerged on both sides, including Achilles, Hector, and Odysseus. The war was characterized by intense fighting, cunning strategies, and divine interventions.
In the end, the Greeks were victorious through a ruse devised by Odysseus, the Trojan Horse. The Greeks built a giant horse made of wood and left it outside the gates of Troy. The Trojans, believing the horse to be an offering to the gods, brought it inside the city walls. That night, Greek soldiers hiding inside the horse emerged, opened the city gates, and allowed the rest of the Greek army to enter. Troy was sacked and burned, and Helen was returned to Menelaus.
The story of Helen of Troy has been immortalized in literature, art, and film throughout the ages. It is a timeless tale of the consequences of love, betrayal, and the devastating impact of human passions on nations and individuals alike.