PARIS (also called ALEXANDROS)  , in Greek legend, the son of Priam, king of Troy and Hecuba . Before he was born his mother dreamed that she was delivered of a firebrand . The dream was interpreted that her child would ruin his country, and when Paris was born he was exposed on Mt Ida . His life was saved by the herdsmen, and he grew up among them, distinguished for beauty and strength, till he was recognized and received by his parents . He was said to have been called Alexandros from his bravery in defending the herds against raids . When the strife arose at the marriage of Peleus and . Thetis between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, each claiming the apple that should belong to the most beautiful, Paris was selected as the judge . The three rivals unveiled their divine charms before a mortal judge on Mt Ida . Each tried to bribe the judge, Hera by promising power, Athena wisdom, Aphrodite the most beautiful woman in the world . Paris decided in favour of Aphrodite, and thus made Hera and Athena bitter enemies of his country (Homer, Iliad, xxiv . 25; Euripides, Troades, 925; Andromache, 284; Helena, 23) . To gain the woman whom Aphrodite had promised, Paris set sail for Lacedaemon, deserting his old love Oenone, daughter of the river-god Cebren, who in vain warned him of the consequences .

He was hospitably received by

Menelaus, whose kindness he repaid by persuading his wife Helen to flee with him to Troy (Iliad, vi . 290) . The siege of Troy by the united Greeks followed . Paris proved a lazy and backward fighter, though not wanting in actual courage when the could be roused to exert himself . Before the capture of the city he was mortally wounded by Philoctetes with an arrow (Sophocles, Philoctetes, 1426) . He then bethought him of the slighted nymph Oenone, who he knew could heal the wound . He was carried into her presence, but she refused to save him . Afterwards, when she found 'he was dead, she committed suicide (Apollodorus iii . 12) . The judgment of Paris became a favourite subject in Greek art . Paris is represented as a beautiful young man, beardless, wearing the pointed Phrygian cap, and often holding the apple in his hand .