Eris is, perhaps, best known in Greek myth for her role in starting the Trojan War. According to the myth, when Eris was not invited to the wedding feast of Peleus and Thetis she sought revenge by throwing a beautiful golden apple inscribed with the word “Kallisti” (which means “to the fairest”) among the party goers. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all claimed that the apple was for them, as they were the fairest of the goddesses. When the mater could not be decided, each agreed to submit to the judgment of Paris, who was a prince of Troy. None of the goddesses were content to leave the decision to Paris’s wisdom, so each attempted to bribe him. Aphrodite’s bribe, the love of the most beautiful mortal woman, proved most convincing and Paris awarded the golden apple to Aphrodite. In payment, Aphrodite gave the love of Helen of Troy to Paris. When Helen ran away from her husband Menelaus, it started the Trojan War.
She is currently worshiped by the Discordians and occasionally placated by the Church of the SubGenius as the goddess of Chaos, Confusion, Discord, Athletic Competition, Small Press Publications, the Internet, and free-thought.
The so-called 10th planet – which was discovered on January 5, 2005, and which caused the demotion of Pluto to dwarf planet status – was officially named Eris on September 13, 2006. The name was suggested because this dwarf planet, like its Greek namesake, caused much discord and strife among the astronomical community.