Paris was the son of King Priam of Troy. It was prophesied that he would bring ruin to the city and so he was abandoned. But shepherds rescued him (his shepherd's staff can clearly be seen in Rubens's 'Judgement of Paris').
Paris had to decide which of the three goddesses was the most beautiful: Venus, Juno or Minerva. He chose Venus and awarded her a golden apple. The jealousy and indignation of the others precipitated the Trojan War.