Paris

Helen and Paris

Paris was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. His famous elopement with Helen sparked the War that was the downfall of his homeland. He was originally married to Oenone, a nymph. He avenged the death of his eldest brother, Hector, by killing Achilles with a arrow to the heel (guided by Apollo, who himself avenged the death of his son King Tenes of Tenedos). Later in the war, Paris was killed by Helen's former husband, Menelaus.

Childhood

When Paris was born, either his mother Hecuba  or sister Cassandra, had a dream in which the city of Troy  was on fire. They prophesised Paris would ultimately doom the land to destruction. Priam, not having the heart to kill his own son, sent a shepherd to take him into the wilderness and abandon him. The shepherd, also not wanting to kill the baby, raised him as his own. During a wrestling competition, Paris bested his brother Deiphobus, who was previously undefeated. When Hecuba and Priam saw him, he was instantly recognised and accepted regardless of the prophecy.

Family

Dardanid Genealogy in Greek mythology

Names in Bold are Kings of Troy

Names in Italics are Kings of Dardania

Oceanus   Tethys                                                     Scamander   Idaea   Zeús   Electra                                                             Teucer   Arisbe                                                     Simoeis         Bataea       Dardanus                                                               Astyoche     Ericthonius       Ilus                         Tros   Callihroe                                                                                             Ganymede   Ilus   Eurydice             Assaracus   Hieromneme                                                                                 Leucippe   Laomedon         Themiste           Capys                                                                                             Priam   Hecuba   Hesione   Telamon   Anchises   Aphrodī́tē                                                           Tithonus       Hector   Andromache           Aeneas                                                 Astyanax                       Eos     Creusa                           Lavinia                                                                             Memnon of Aethiopia       Paris   Helen   Ascanius   Kings of Alba Longa                                             More               Legendary kings of Britain