apple of discord

noun

(classical mythology) a golden apple thrown into a banquet of the gods by Eris (goddess of discord—who had not been invited); the apple had `for the fairest' written on it and Hera and Athena and Aphrodite all claimed it; when Paris (prince of Troy) awarded it to Aphrodite it began a chain of events that led to the Trojan War

• Topics: ↑classical mythology

• Hypernyms: ↑trophy, ↑prize

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Etymology: translation of Late Latin malum Discordiae; from the golden apple inscribed “for the fairest” which was thrown into an assembly of the gods by the goddess Discord (Latin Discordia, Greek Eris) and claimed by Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite

: a subject of contention and envy

the chief apple of discord was western lands — T.A.Bailey

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Class. Myth.

a golden apple inscribed "For the fairest," thrown by Eris, goddess of discord, among the gods. Its award by Paris to Aphrodite caused events that led to the Trojan War. Cf. Helen, Paris.

[1640-50]

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apple of discord noun

Any cause of envy and contention, after the golden apple (in Greek mythology) inscribed ‘for the fairest’, thrown among the gods by Eris, goddess of discord, and claimed by Aphrodite, Pallas and Hera

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Main Entry: ↑apple

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apple of discord see under ↑apple

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Main Entry: ↑discord

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apple of discord,

1. any cause of jealousy and trouble.

2. Greek Legend. a golden apple inscribed “For the fairest” thrown by the goddess of discord, Eris, into a gathering of the gods. Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera forthwith claimed it, and in return for Aphrodite's promise to him that he might have Helen, the fairest of women, Paris awarded it to Aphrodite. This dispute and the decision of Paris led to the Trojan War.