Paris of Troy
Prince of
Troy who was the son of king Priam and his queen Hecuba. He was also called
Alexander.
Priam had been told by an oracle that his son would cause Troy's ruin, and
left the child to die on the mountain Ida. Sheperds found him and brought
him up, ejoying the love of the nymph Oenones.
After winning the athletic competitions king Priam held, he was accepted as
the king's son again.
Paris had the misfortune to be chosen by the gods as a judge at the dispute
between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite about who was the most beautiful. (see
Helen for this story). He went to Sparta and was welcomed by Menelaus. Paris
answered the hospitality with treachury, stealing Menelaus fortunes and taking
Helen with him. This led to the Trojan war. Paris was rescued from being killed
by Menelaus by Aphrodite, who surrounded him with a cloud and brought him
back to Troy. It was also Aphrodite who helped him kill Achilles by blowing
his arrow to the hero's mortal heel, but Paris himself was killed with an
arrow from Philoctetes.
Just before his death, Paris begged his beloved nymph Oenone to heal him,
but she refused. After Paris death Oenone committed suicide.