Background to Trojan War;
Zeus (Jupiter) fell in love with Thetis (sea goddess), but an oracle said that the son of Thetis was to be mightier than his father. So Zeus (Jupiter) ordered Thetis to marry a mortal (Peleus, King of Phthia). The son of Thetis and Peleus was Achilles, who was educated and taught the arts of war by Phoenix and Chiron, the centaur.
The wedding of Thetis and Peleus was magnificent--all the gods and goddesses were invited except Eris, the goddess of strife, who appeared with a golden apple (the Apple of Discord) inscribed "To the fairest."
All of the women fought over it, but the finalists were Hera (Juno) (wife of Zeus, queen of the gods, and the goddess of marriage), Athena (Minerva) (wisdom), and Aphrodite (Venus) (love and beauty). Jupiter refused to select a winner..
Paris, son of Priam (king of Troy), was selected as judge. Each goddess offered him a bribe to influence his choice: Hera (Juno) offered wealth and power, Athena (Minerva) offered wisdom, and Aphrodite (Venus) offered the most beautiful woman. Paris chose Venus, angering the other two goddesses.
The most beautiful woman in the world was Helen, daughter of Leda and Zeus. Unfortunately, she was already the wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta. Paris persuaded her to go with him to Troy, angering the Greeks. Consequently, Greece attacked Troy, with Menelaus' brother Agamemnon in command of the Greeks. The Greeks sacrificed Iphigenia, Agamemnon's daughter to gain favorable conditions for battle.
The most famous Greek commanders were Nestor (oldest, most knowledgeable, best talker); Ulysses (wily); Achilles (best warrior); and Ajax (strong and dumb). The most famous Trojan commanders were Hector (Priam's oldest son), Paris (another of Priam's 50 sons), and Aeneas (son of Venus and Anchises)
The war lasted 10 years (in accordance with the prophecy). Throughout the war, Hera and Athena helped the Greeks, while Aphrodite helped the Trojans. The Greeks eventually won the war by using the Trojan horse and sacking Troy.

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