The mythologycal story is that, in the marriage of Pelleus and Tetis (achilles´ parents), which a lot of gods and heroes attended, there was one goddess who wasn´t invited, Eris, the goddess of strife (she wasn´t invited because Zeus wanted things to go all right in the wedding). Eris gets mad when she finds out and, in a simple way to exact revenge, throws anonimously a golden apple in the garden where the party was happening, inscribed with the words "for the fairest". The pride burns inside all women, mortal or immortal, but just three come forth and claim the prize: Hera, Aphrodite and Athena. Since no one wants to be the judge of that dispute, Zeus determines that a shepherd from Mount Ida named Paris will have the final say. While the astounded young Paris inspects them, they each promise him something akin to their nature: Hera offered to make him king of Europe and Asia, Athena offered wisdom and skill in war, and Aphrodite offered the world's most beautiful woman. This was Helen of Sparta, wife of the Greek king Menelaus. I don´t know if he judged fairly or accepted the bribe, but he picked Aphrodite. A lot of events then happen that set Paris in a position to seduce and abduct Helen (he is discovered to be Pryam´s lost son etc) and there is also a lot of background to this story, like why every greek leader had sworn to protect Helen´s honor, which is all easy to search in google. Sorry for the long post.