Hecabe rebukes Helen, Menelaus’s wife, for leaving Sparta with Paris. Helen reminds her that Paris also was married, and he came to her. Helen’s crime, according to Hecabe, was allowing herself to be seduced. Helen describes the “madness” Aphrodite slowly inflicted on her when she tried to refuse, telling Hecabe, “Your grudge is with the goddess” (138).

This chapter tells the story of the Judgment of Paris. The wedding of Thetis and Peleus bring together the gods, including Aphrodite (goddess of sex and love), Hera (wife of Zeus and goddess of marriage), and Athene (daughter of Zeus and goddess of strategic warfare), none of whom is particularly pleased to be at the wedding. Thetis does not wish to be marrying Peleus, but Zeus forced the marriage on her. After a prophecy stipulated that she would bear a son more powerful than his father, Zeus would not permit her to marry a god and potentially destabilize the balance of power that has him at the top.

During the wedding, a small golden apple rolls at the goddesses’ feet. Aphrodite is about to pick it up when Athene grabs it. Seeing them arguing, Hera investigates and, noticing the inscription “Te kalliste” (“for the most beautiful”), declares it could be for her (146).