Kallisti is a Greek word that I discovered while reading Greek mythology. One myth that caught my eye involved a bevy of gods and goddesses, a snub, an apple, and a young lad. In other words, all of the makings for a truly rich story!
Please enjoy this tale of gods, goddesses, apples, and …
One day, Zeus was preparing a wedding party for Peleus and Thetis. Knowing how much mayhem Eris usually caused at such affairs, Zeus decided not to invite her.
Well, Eris found out about the get-together. She decided that if she wasn’t good enough to invite to what could be the social event of the season, then the least she could do would be to make the party just a tad bit more interesting than the usually godly gossip and boring god games.
Ever the clever one, Eris fashoined a solid gold apple and engraved the word “Kallisti” upon it. “Kallisti” is Greek for “to the prettiest one.”
When the party was just about to get into full-swing, Eris rolled that golden apple into the party where it stopped between three lovely goddesses — Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite.
Once the three beauties set their eyes upon that apple, a huge argument commenced over whose apple it was.
Who deserved the apple since it was for the one who was the prettiest?
“I know,” said Athena. “Let’s ask Zeus!”
This was a great idea. In theory.
The only thing more discomforting than a goddess displeased because she wasn’t chosen as the prettiest is two goddesses displeased because they haven’t been chosen as the prettiest. That is the situation Zeus would have on his hands if he chose one of the lovely lasses who posed the question to him and not the other two.
But Zeus was no nimrod. He turned to the ladies and said, “I am in no position to make such a choice. We must ask a man who can be completely objective. You ladies go to Paris and ask him.”
Zeus was not referring to the city of Paris, but rather a strapping young lad who was asleep under a tree. Or watching his sheep. Depending on whose story you’re going to believe.
Now, I bet you can imagine the look of surprise on his face when he all of a sudden noticed three beautiful goddesses standing about him!
The goddesses posed the question to Paris — “Which of us is the prettiest?” — and then individually proceeded to tempt him. Or bribe him. Depending on whose story you’re going to believe.
Hera, the wife of Zeus, offered him riches beyond his wildest fancy.
Athena, the goddess of the hunt and battle, offered him victory and glory in battle.
Aphrodite, the goddess of love, offered him the most beautiful woman in the world.
Paris, being a young, virile lad, of course chose “c,” the most beautiful woman in the world.
Aphrodite, being true to her word and ecstatic about being the most beautiful, gave him his desire.
Thus, Paris chose Aphrodite and he in return received the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Troy.
This sparked the famous Trojan war which lasted many, many years and caused much chaos and mayhem.
This in turn tickled Eris to tears.
The morals of the story are:
- Be beautiful.
- When in doubt, pick “c.”
- And always invite Eris to your soirees!
Please get for yourself the best of everything … Because you’re beautiful!
Have fun …
Anthony Michalski
Publisher
Kallisti Publishing
