by Christy Bingham

Created on: August 15, 2008

The Golden Apple

Characters:
Eris, Athena, Aphrodite, Paris, Thetis, Hera, Zeus, Peleus, Rhea, Ares, Hermes.

Act 1

Setting: Wedding of Thetis and Peleus. All the gods and goddesses are there except Eris who is enraged at not being invited. There is great drinking and partying and laughter. A number of male gods cluster around Aphrodite, Hera is enthroned with Zeus, and Athena is speaking with Ares. They are all having a great time. At the gates of Mount Olympus, Eris sneaks up with something golden in her hand.

Eris: What fools are these to anger me! Every god and goddess may celebrate the wedding of Thetis and Peleus, everyone, but me, the goddess of discord! What fools! Well, lets see, with all their pomp and vanity, how they do with this.
She holds up a golden apple. Eris enters through the gates of mount Olympus.

Zeus: Eris! How dare you come here and disrupt our merriment! Did you not know? You were never invited. Leave us!

Eris: Bows mockingly. Oh, I have no wish to anger you great Zeus. I was not meaning to stay; only I desired to pay my respects to the newly wedded couple by way of this gift.
Eris holds up the golden apple. She then throws is disrespectfully, and purposefully in the middle of Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera. The three goddesses look at the apple and are immediately charmed. Eris leaves.

Athena: What craftsmanship!

Hera: What beauty!

Aphrodite: What Charm!

All Three: It's mine!
They lunge for the apple.

Zeus: Wait one moment! He makes his way to the apple. There is an inscription on this apple. It says, "To the fairest" That can only mean that one of you can own this golden apple, and it must only be the fairest.
The three goddesses look jealously at each other.

Athena: Well, there is no argument there. It is plain as day that I am the bearer of the apple.

Aphrodite: You? You inexperienced virgin, how would you possibly know that?
The assembly laughs
Surely one as experienced as I should know that I am the true bearer of the apple.

Hera: There is only one way that we can straighten this out. We must have another to choose who it is that is the fairest goddess here!
Hera snuggles up to Zeus
Do you not agree, dear husband?

Zeus: Yes indeed. A contest must be commenced. But who will be the judge?

Hera: Who better than you, husband? The king of all gods!
The assembly cheers and yells in agreement. Zeus looks unsure.

Zeus: Well, very well then. I will give my consensus with the gods here. But the goddesses must leave us.
The goddesses all leave the room. Zeus sits

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