apple of discord

: a subject of contention and envy

the chief apple of discord was western lands

—T. A. Bailey

Word History

Etymology

translation of Late Latin malum Discordiae; from the golden apple inscribed "for the fairest" which was thrown into an assembly of the gods by the goddess Discord (Latin Discordia, Greek Eris) and claimed by Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite

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