Paris Character Analysis in The Iliad

Trojan prince, son of Priam and brother of Hector. Cowardly but successful with women, before the events of the Iliad Paris was asked to judge whether Hera, Athena, or Aphrodite was the most beautiful. He chose Aphrodite and, as a reward, she helped him to steal Helen from Menelaus, beginning the Trojan War.

Paris Quotes in The Iliad

The The Iliad quotes below are all either spoken by Paris or refer to Paris. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Maddening one, my Goddess, oh what now?...
Well, go to him yourself—you hover beside him!
Abandon the gods’ high road and become a mortal!...
suffer for Paris, protect Paris, for eternity . . .
until he makes you his wedded wife—that or his slave.

Related Characters: Helen (speaker), Aphrodite, Paris

Page Number and Citation: 3.460-474

Explanation and Analysis:

Paris Character Timeline in The Iliad

The timeline below shows where the character Paris appears in The Iliad. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...each other on the battlefield, the Trojans with war cries and the Achaeans in silence. Paris appears at the front of the Trojan force, challenging Achaeans to fight him one on... (full context)

Paris tries to save face from Hector’s criticism by offering to fight Menelaus in single combat... (full context)

...the duel “limited vengeance” and noting the heavy casualties brought on by his quarrel with Paris over Helen, but ultimately accepts the challenge. He asks for a sacrifice to be made... (full context)

...of Hector’s sister Laodice, flies to Helen and informs her of the coming duel between Paris and Menelaus: “the man who wins the duel, / you’ll be called his wife!”. Helen... (full context)

The ground for the duel is measured off, and the two champions cast lots. Paris’ lot falls out of the helmet, meaning he will throw his spear first. Paris straps... (full context)

Menelaus, furious at his weapons’ failure, grabs Paris by the crest of his helmet and begins to drag him away to the Achaean... (full context)

...Helen, and taking the appearance of Helen’s beloved seamstress from Lacedaemon, summons her to join Paris in his bedroom. Helen resists, suggesting that Aphrodite has transported her before against her will,... (full context)

...Zeus begins to taunt Hera, mocking her and Athena for standing by while Aphrodite rescues Paris. He notes that Menelaus is the victor, and that he should now lead Helen home.... (full context)

...the archer Pandarus to shoot an arrow at Menelaus, promising him fame and gifts from Paris. (full context)

Hector comes across Paris in his chambers, polishing his armor. Hector and Helen berate Paris for shirking the battlefield.... (full context)

...begin to mourn Hector, convinced that he will never return from battle with the Achaeans. Paris joins Hector as they run back into battle. Hector scolds Paris, calling him a good... (full context)

Hector and Paris sweep back into battle, and each kills an Achaean. Athena notices the Trojan surge and... (full context)

...has come to give back Helen and her treasure in order to end the war. Paris refuses to give up Helen, but offers to return to the treasure that he took... (full context)

A Trojan emissary goes to the Achaean ships and offers Paris’ treasure for peace. The Achaeans reject the Trojan offer immediately, but agree to a temporary... (full context)

As Diomedes is stripping the armor from a Trojan conquest, Paris shoots him in the foot with an arrow. Cursing Paris, Diomedes mounts his chariot and... (full context)

Hector continues his onslaught, pushing the Achaeans back. The healer Machaon is wounded by Paris, causing distress among the Achaeans. Nestor carries Machaon back to the Achaean camp in his... (full context)

...battle to find that many of his commanders have been killed or wounded. Hector finds Paris and asks him where Deiphobus and others have gone. Paris answers him and tells Hector... (full context)

...not allow it because of her hate of all Trojans resulting from the Judgment of Paris, when Paris favored Aphrodite's beauty over that of Athena and Hera, eventually leading to the... (full context)