Guessing game #1:

This story's a classic.  Some facts here might not be in line with the most popular version circulating.

A leader of the ruling class had a kid and invited over all the local ruling class - bar one.  That uninvited one was a nasty old lady who always ruined parties and stirred up resentment by opening old wounds and perhaps new ones.

She turned up anyway.  Nice of her to bring a gift.  It was pretty cheap though, just some golden apple with the words: "This is for the prettiest lady here."  Then she left.

Generally, ladies without egos wouldn't contest such a thing.  Three ladies, however, must have had not enough things to do.  They brang the apple with them to the nearest cattleherder (of all men to choose!) and and asked him who the apple should belong to.  He didn't give them a straight answer. (Does it have anything to do with the fact that cattleherders don't typically see many women over the course of their life to pick and choose from? )

The most senior of the three ladies was dressed pretty formally.  She was married to the governor.  She bribed him, saying he could have Europe and Asia if he picked her.

Another of the ladies was dressed in a military suit.  She bribed him, saying she'd help him out with his military tactics and wisdom if he picked her.

The third lady UNDRESSED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM.  She bribed him, saying she'd marry him the prettiest woman on Earth who wasn't a member of the ruling class if he picked her. 

In the end he chose the third lady.  (Which would you choose?) However, it turned out that the prettiest woman on Earth happened to be married already.  That didn't stop them eloping, causing quite a diplomatic incident.  The situation deteriorated into armed conflict, and many sons of the ruling class were dragged into it.  They fought heroically for both sides of the conflict and many ended up dead. v[The nasty old hag was probably laughing at all of this.  Bitch.]

If you haven't guessed which story this is by now, I don't suppose you've read it.  Read it - it's a good story.  So good that blind musicians were paid to recite the tale in rhyming verse in ancient Greece.  [A good way of providing welfare to the disadvantaged, I'd say.]

[The full title of this post is: Guessing game #1: Epic epic.]