The Apple of Discord – ⅔

[…] They discussed like that for a while and tried to surpass each other with their deeds and experiences. Eris was ecstatic and feasted on that battle of words. Even after such a long time it was fun to her to see humans arguing. The tone of voice became louder and more intense between the five men. All the people around them had turned silent, all the attention was turned to them. Until suddenly the goddess Pallas Athena appeared in form of an ordinary maid. She had noticed Eris’ little game and indicated to the goddess of discord that she should vanish now. Eris had recognized Athena in her disguise and knew she would be a spoilsport again. Therefore, Eris decided to fly the coop and disappeared before Athena interrupted the five men:

“Foolish are you – oh great heroes and conquerors – to think you were admirable. You don’t even know what that exactly means. Pitiable is the word that comes to mind watching you.”

She pointed at Theseus. “You did defeat the Minotaur, indeed. But without the help of the smart princess Ariadne and her red thread you would have perished in that labyrinth yourself.”

She turned to Hercules. “You, son of Zeus, said you achieved fame and glory by coping with and completing the twelve tasks. I can however tell you that you just wasted twelve years of your life serving a cowardly, devious king who didn’t deserve neither this title nor the throne itself.”

Athena got going. “And you, hero Perseus, you were only able to free the city of Athens with the help of its god-protector. Although, to free is the wrong word. Medusa was an unhappy, misunderstood creature. She was cursed. Her death was rather a relief. And rightly in the future she will be much more present than you. She will decorate the skin of countless people who won’t even know the name of her “redeemer””.

“And you, oh great Achilles, you might have killed hundreds of warriors in the war and you also might have conquered many cities but there will only be one thing stuck in the head of the people. Your death. Your unfortunate death due to carelessness of your mother while she was trying to make you immortal. Your heel will be remembered. Not your victories.”

Finally, she turned to Odysseus. “Well, clever King Odysseus. Without the help of your patron Pallas Athena many of your ideas wouldn’t have come to your mind. Also, in your case you won’t be remembered in the way you imagine it. You will be known as the unlucky one whom it took 20 years to return to his wife. And the Trojan Horse, yes that will be widely known. But that it was you who had the idea and who initiated its construction, that will slowly be forgotten.” […]