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The movie Odyssey debuts with a near perfect 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, officially dethroning Memento and The Dark Knightas the highest rated film of Christopher Nolan. 🍅🔥 But long before this ancient story reached the silver screen, its origins were rooted in one of the most enduring legends ever told. A beauty contest between 3 goddesses, and the bitter rivalry for the prize of a golden apple. The legendary tale became the foundation for two of the greatest epic masterpieces ever written: The Iliad, which recounts the events of the Trojan War, and The Odyssey, which follows Odysseus’ extraordinary journey back home after the fall of Troy. It’s fascinating how the Greek gods often reflected the very best and worst aspects of human nature: Pride, Jealousy, Ambition, and Revenge. According to legend, when Eris, the goddess of Discord, was excluded from a celebration/party among the gods, she responded with a treacherous act of vengeance. She appeared at the gathering uninvited and tossed a golden apple into the crowd, inscribed with the words: “To the Fairest.” The golden apple sparked a fierce rivalry between three of Olympus’ most powerful goddesses: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Each believed she deserved the title of the most beautiful. They demanded that Zeus pick the winner. But Zeus wisely refused to make such an impossible choice. Instead, he placed the decision in the hands of Prince Paris of Troy, the same Paris who would later set the world of Greece and Troy at war. Each goddess attempted to persuade/bribe Paris with an irresistible offer. Hera promised him unmatched power and influence. Athena offered wisdom, glory, and victory in battles. But Aphrodite promised him something no mortal could resist: Helen of Sparta, considered the most beautiful woman in the ancient world. Paris took up Aphrodite's offer. He claimed Helen as his prize and brought her to Troy, a decision that would ignite a devastating war between the Greeks and Trojans. The events described in The Odyssey are believed to have taken place around 3,200 years ago, following the legendary Trojan War, which is generally dated to around 1200 BCE. The blind poet Homer, drawing from generations of oral storytelling and traditions, is thought to have composed The Iliad and The Odyssey approximately 500 years LATER after the event took place. The legendary city of Troy is believed to have been located in what is now modern day Turkey. The ancient city stood in northwestern Anatolia near the entrance of the Dardanelles, a strategically important waterway connecting the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea. For centuries, Troy was considered a place of myth and legend, until in 1870 a German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered the remains of an ancient settlement at the site, now known as Hisarlik. Excavations uncovered layers of cities built one on top of another, showing that the location was occupied for thousands of years. One of these layers is believed by many scholars to correspond to the period of the legendary Trojan War.