Which Greek goddess of discord threw an apple into the midst of Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite?

• A. Athena
• B. Eris
• C. Hera
• D. Aphrodite

Answer: (B)

The Greek goddess of discord who threw an apple into the midst of Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite is Eris. This act is famously linked to the myth of the Golden Apple, which Eris used to instigate a quarrel among the goddesses, leading to events that ultimately culminated in the Trojan War. The apple was inscribed with the words "to the fairest," prompting each goddess to claim it and leading to a judgment call that involved Paris of Troy.

In this context, while Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite are all important figures in Greek mythology, their identities are focused on various aspects of wisdom, marriage, and love, respectively. However, it was Eris, the personification of strife and discord, who played the crucial role in creating the situation that sparked rivalry and conflict among them. This myth illustrates how Eris is not only a character rooted in conflict but also serves as a catalyst for significant events in Greek lore.