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Eris, Goddess of Discord

Eris (known in Rome as Discordia) was once in the employment of Ares, but is now a powerful megastar goddess in her own right. Below is the tale of her most famous acheivement, the Trojan War.

The Wedding of Thetis and Peleus

Zeus had wanted to marry the sea nymph Thetis, but the Fates had warned him that Thetis was destined to be the mother of a son that would far outshine his father.

Upset, Zeus decreed that Thetis should therefore marry Peleus, King of Phthia. Thetis only agreed to this arangement on the condition that all the gods should be present at the wedding.

The wedding was going smoothly until suddenly an uninvited guest stormed in. She was well miffed. Eris always was of course, being the goddess of discord but this time she had good reason! How dare all the other gods be invited to the wedding but not her!

Her snaky locks, sour looks and violent temper startled everyone. Eris, however merely tossed a beautiful golden apple into the centre of the banquet and vanished.

The Apple of Discord

Zeus was first to get the apple, and on it he read the word "Kallisti" which meant "The Fairest". Immediately upon Zeus reading it aloud, all the women and goddesses at the banquet claimed the apple for themselves, forgetting its source.

One by one the women left the competition, as such it had become until it was a straight choice between Hera (Goddess of Motherhood), Athena (Goddess of Wisdom and Warcraft) and Aphrodite (Goddess of Love and Poetry).

Zeus wisely began looking for someone else to be the judge, not wanting to get involved in a dispute between goddesses, knowing what they can be like about this kind of thing. He wished he'd never touched the accursed apple. One by one all the men in the wedding refused to take the place of Zeus. That is until Zeus asked a foolish young Youth named Paris.

Paris bribed

Before Paris could make his decision Athena took him aside and offered him a bribe, supreme wisdom. As Paris was thinking about this offer Hera butted in and offered him great wealth and unlimited power. Paris was sorely tempted, but before he could agree Aphrodite came up to him and dropped her clothes to the floor. Paris began to drool. Aphrodite promised him a woman as fair as herself if he choose her. Paris involuntarily found himself handing her the apple, while his jaw still wouldn't shut.

Well Paris was the heir to the throne of Troy. And the woman Aphrodite promised him was Helen, queen of Sparta. Paris, aided by Aphrodite, sucessfully seduced her. Unfortunately she was married to Menelaus, King of Sparta. The rest, as they say, is history.

Because 2 out of the 3 Goddesses were guaranteed to be upset, the sacred number of Eris is 23. Numerologically this adds up to 5. Apples are particularly useful in Eris rites.

Incidentally, my daughter has the bithday 23rd May (23/05) and is called Claire (the fair one). Explains a lot really!

Followers of Eris are called Discordians.

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This Page was written by Frater Mithrondal 1232 on 20 May 1998. Last updated 20/05/1998.

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