Paris was the son of Priam and Hecuba and the younger brother of Hector. He was raised by shepherds on Mount Ida until being asked to judge a contest between the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Paris chose Aphrodite's offer of the most beautiful woman, Helen, which led Paris to steal her from her husband Menelaus and spark the Trojan War. The war began following Paris' theft of Helen from Sparta and lasted until the Greeks defeated the Trojans and destroyed Troy.