Who is the goddess of Discord and Chaos, daughter of Nyx, and ally of Ares?

• A. Eris
• B. Hera
• C. Nyx
• D. Aphrodite

Answer: (A)

Discord and strife are the traits that define Eris, the goddess who embodies chaos and discord. In Hesiod’s Theogony, Eris is named as a daughter of Nyx, linking her to the primal, night-born forces rather than to the more familiar domains of marriage, love, or the night personified itself. Her purpose is to spark contention and conflict, the kind that can flare into war, which naturally makes her an ally of Ares, the god of war. The apple of discord story—where her mischief sets off disputes among the goddesses that pave the way for mortal and divine conflict—illustrates this role vividly. The other figures are distinct: Hera governs marriage and the royal divine sphere, Aphrodite governs love and beauty, and Nyx is the personification of Night, not of discord. So, the goddess described is Eris.