Zeus, king of the gods, fell in love with Thetis. However, Zeus remembered how he had overthrown his own father, so he decided to give up Thetis before they had children. He sent Thetis to a man called Peleus.

Peleus and Thetis were to be married. Many were invited, but Eris was not invited because she was the goddess of strife, Eris was upset and decided to cause trouble. At the wedding, Eris placed a golden apple on which was written 'The Fairest'.

But who was the fairest? Hera, goddess to women and marriage thought` the apple was for her. Aphrodite, goddess of beauty thought she was the fairest and so did Athena, goddess of war and wisdom. They asked Zeus to be the judge, but Zeus knew that whoever, he picked, he would make two enemies. So Zeus asked Paris, prince of Troy and one of the most handsome men, to be the judge. Paris chose Aphrodite.

Helen was another beautiful woman. Lots of men wanted to marry Helen. They all agreed to keep the peace if Helen chose one of them. They also agreed to come to help if Helen were ever in trouble. Helen chose Menelaus, King of Sparta. He was the second most powerful King after his brother, Agamemnon of Mycenae.

The Trojan War had its beginnings when Paris, a prince of Troy, was visiting King Menelaus of Sparta. Menelaus was a very powerful king. Menelaus left Sparta to visit King Idomeneus, King of Knossos. When Paris left Sparta to return to Troy, he took Queen Helen with him. Did Paris kidnap Helen or did she leave because Menelaus had treated her cruelly? We will never know, but the story tells us that Menelaus sent King Nestor of Pylos to see all of the other kings. He reminded them of their agreement to help Helen. Nestor got the help of the other Greek kings to raise a mighty army. They launched a thousand ships to attack Troy and recover Queen Helen.  Helen's was the face that launched a thousand ships.

The huge Greek army camped on a plain near the city of Troy. The city had a high wall around it, with gates being the only way in. For ten years the Greeks camped there; too proud to go home without a victory but unable to get inside the city walls.

Finally it was Odysseus who thought of a plan. The Greeks built a huge wooden horse. Several soldiers hid inside the horse. Then the Greek army boarded their ships and sailed away. King Priam and the other Trojans were overjoyed. Imagining that they had won the war, they dragged the huge wooden horse into their city. What a trophy they had to prove their victory.

Later that night while the Trojans slept, a secret door in the horse opened. The Greek soldiers climbed out and opened the city gates. The Greek ships had sailed back to Troy during the night. Now the Greeks poured into the city. Slaves were taken, treasures were looted and then the city of Troy was burned. The Trojan War was finally over.