1. Paris' Judgment and the Apple of Discord:
- The conflict originated with Eris (Discordia), the goddess of strife, who threw a golden apple inscribed with the phrase "For the Fairest" into a gathering of gods and goddesses. Zeus avoided choosing between the three contenders – Aphrodite (Venus), Athena (Minerva), and Hera (Juno) – thus setting the stage for the events that followed.
- He tasked Paris, the son of the Trojan king Priam, to judge the goddesses and award the apple. Paris ultimately chose Aphrodite, who promised him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.
2. Abduction of Helen and Outbreak of War:
- Paris subsequently sailed to Sparta, where he was welcomed by King Menelaus. However, he fell in love with and eloped with Helen, Menelaus' wife, who was renowned for her beauty. This ignited the outrage of the Greeks, leading to the start of the Trojan War.
- Zeus played a direct role in the abduction by diverting the winds to prevent the Greek fleet from immediately setting sail to avenge the affront.
3. Divine Support and Intervention:
- Zeus favored the Trojans in the war, largely due to his relationship with Aphrodite. He often tipped the scales in their favor by sending divine interventions, such as providing favorable weather conditions, sending the god of war Ares to assist them, and manipulating events on the battlefield.
- Simultaneously, Zeus made promises and owed debts to other gods, including Hera and Athena, who favored the Greeks. He tried to maintain a delicate balance, preventing any side from achieving a decisive victory and allowing the war to drag on.
4. Weighing the Fates of Heroes:
- Zeus held a golden scale to determine the fates of heroes and warriors. He would place a hero's destiny in one pan and his opponent's in the other, symbolizing their relative strengths and chances of victory.
- In some instances, Zeus intervened directly to save heroes favored by him or other deities, sometimes changing the course of battles.
5. The Doom of Troy and Achilles:
- Despite Zeus's general favor toward the Trojans, he ultimately decided that Troy would fall and that the Greeks would ultimately win the war. He aligned with the divine will of the Fates (Moirai) to bring about this outcome.
- Zeus influenced the events leading to the death of Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior. He allowed the Trojan prince Paris to kill Achilles with an arrow guided by Apollo, following the prophecy that Achilles would meet his end in Troy.
6. Aftermath and Final Judgment:
- After the fall of Troy, Zeus oversaw the division of the spoils of war, ensuring that the Greek heroes received their due rewards and that the survivors made it safely back to their homes.
- He played a role in resolving disputes and conflicts among the gods and mortals, demonstrating his ultimate authority over the affairs of both realms.
In summary, Zeus was a central figure in the Trojan War, intervening to support the Trojans, maintain balance among conflicting divine interests, and ultimately ensuring that the war reached its fated conclusion. His actions shaped the course of the war and the destinies of the heroes involved.