---
title: The Judgement of Paris Mosaic
author: Carole Raddato
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4555/the-judgement-of-paris-mosaic/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# The Judgement of Paris Mosaic
_Authored by Carole Raddato_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/4555.jpg)
## Image Caption
[Mosaic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mosaic/) depicting the Judgement of [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/), one of the preliminaries in the [Trojan War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Trojan_War/) story. The mosaic, dating to the second century CE, adorned a dining room in the house of a wealthy [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) in [Antioch](https://www.worldhistory.org/Antiochia/) on the Orontes (modern-day Southeastern [Turkey](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/)). The three goddesses, [Athena](https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/), [Hera](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hera/) and [Aphrodite](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aphrodite/), present themselves to Paris (the son of Priam, king of [Troy](https://www.worldhistory.org/troy/)) in the contest for the golden apple. [Hermes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hermes/) asked the young prince to judge a beauty contest between the three goddesses. Paris sits on a rock surrounded by his hounds and sheep. Beside him stands the [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) Hermes (the messenger of the gods), and above him, on a rock, a tiny winged [Nike](https://www.worldhistory.org/nike/) (Victory). The three goddesses stand together in a group. Athena wears the aegis, helmet and spear. Hera wears a crown and Aphrodite in the centre is accompanied by [Eros](https://www.worldhistory.org/Eros/), who stands on a plinth above her head. (Louvre Museum, Paris)
## Cite This Work
### APA
Raddato, C. (2016, February 16). The Judgement of Paris Mosaic. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Raddato, Carole. "The Judgement of Paris Mosaic." *World History Encyclopedia*, February 16, 2016. .
### MLA
Raddato, Carole. "The Judgement of Paris Mosaic." *World History Encyclopedia*, 16 Feb 2016, .
## License & Copyright
[](https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolemage/24439640543/)This image was first published on [Flickr](http://www.flickr.com). [Original image](https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolemage/24439640543/) by [**Carole Raddato**](https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolemage/24439640543/). Submitted by [Carole Raddato](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/FollowingHadrian/ "User Page: Carole Raddato"), published on 16 February 2016. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon a work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.