The Judgement of Paris

	The Judgement of Paris

Euripides: Helen
Helen in Egypt debunks the myth

"My name is Helen. Now let me tell you of my misfortunes.
The three goddesses, Hera, Aphrodite and Athene, daughter of Zeus, came as rivals to the glen of Mount Ida, where Paris lived, each one eager to be judged the first in beauty. And my beauty - if so great a misfortune can be so named - was used by Aphrodite as the bribe by which she won the prize, promising Paris that he should marry me. So Paris left his dairy farm on Mount Ida and came to Sparta to win me as his bride.
But Hera, baulked of her victory over the other goddesses, in her resentment turned the substance of Aphrodite's promise into air. She gave the royal son of Priam for his bride - not me, but a living image compunded of the ether in my likeness. Paris believes that he possesses me: what he holds is nothing but an airy delusion."

		The Judgement of Paris Engraving after Raphael Marcantonio Raimondi c. 1516
		Hermes leads Aphrodite, followed by Athena and Hera, down from the clouds and onto Mount Ida, where Paris is working on his tan. Giulio Romano (1499 - 1546)
		Paris appears as a Swiss country gentleman who has just presented Aphrodite with the apple as her prize. Hera and Athene turn aside in defeat. From a branch of the tree, blindfolded Cupid shoots an arrow at Paris. The two coats of arms hanging from the boughs belong to the family of Benedicht Brunner, a councillor of Berne, who commissioned the painting. Niklaus Manuel 1518
		The Judgement of Paris Lucas Cranach the Elder 1528
		The Judgement of Paris Lucas Cranach the Elder 1530

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