golden apple
Prize causing discord
Golden apple appears most often in mythology and folklore, where it typically represents something precious, contested, or transformative—the apple of discord that sparked the Trojan War, or the golden apples of the Hesperides that Hercules had to steal.
The phrase evokes objects of desire that cause strife or require heroic effort to obtain.
In botany, golden apple names several unrelated yellow fruits, including a tropical American tree fruit and an old name for the tomato.
Greek personification of conflict
- ParisFrance's chief city
- AphroditeGreek goddess of love
- HeraOlympian marriage deity
- AthenaGreek wisdom deity
Thetis · wedding feast · Troy · Trojan War · fairest · beauty contest · strife · rivalry
Olympian marriage deity
- AtlasSky-bearing Titan of myth
- nymphsMinor female nature deities
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- guardiansThose who protect others
Heracles · orchard · westernmost · Greek mythology · Argonauts · immortality · eternity · ambrosia
Award for winning
- awardHonor given for merit
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- rewardPayment for service
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
honor · treasure · accolade · achievement · coveted · champion · laurel · distinction
Attractive, tempting quality
- forbiddenNot allowed
- enticementSomething that attracts
- desireIntense wanting
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
lure · covetousness · irresistible · craving · indulgence · deception · guile · charm
Eris
Greek personification of conflict
Athena · Thetis · wedding feast · Troy · Trojan War · fairest · beauty contest · strife · rivalry · Mount Olympus
Hera
Olympian marriage deity
- AtlasSky-bearing Titan of myth
- nymphsMinor female nature deities
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
guardians · Heracles · orchard · westernmost · Greek mythology · Argonauts · immortality · eternity · ambrosia · elixir
trophy
Award for winning
recognition · honor · treasure · accolade · achievement · coveted · champion · laurel · distinction · medallion
allure
Attractive, tempting quality
- forbiddenNot allowed
- enticementSomething that attracts
- desireIntense wanting
seduction · lure · covetousness · irresistible · craving · indulgence · deception · guile · charm · yearning
orchard
Fruit tree plantation
cider · Opal · heirloom · picking · autumn · preserves · sweet · tart · ripe · varieties
- Hesperides
- Spondias
- VenusVenus, Aphrodite, Venus de Milo, morning star, evening star
- mythic symbolsouroboros, caduceus, axis mundi, Mjolnir, cosmic egg
- Slavic folkloreBaba Yaga, vampire, Ivan, mora, Firebird
- Trojan WarTroy, Achilles, Hector, Helen, Odysseus
golden applerotten fruit
Decomposing edible plant matter
dung · poisoned apple · forbidden fruit · ashes · dust
golden applerotten apple
Corrupting presence in group
spoiled goods · garbage · dregs · lead · wormy apple
gold, golden, apple, goldfish, apples, gilded, crabapple, goldenrod, goldsmith