DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9177#0324
304
PRINCIPLES OP GREEK ART
CHAP.
play, the Andromache (1. 275), the chorus dwells on the prepa-
ration of the goddesses for the judgment by washings in the
springs of Ida.
It is not only the poets who touch upon the myth, but also
some of the prose-writers. Isocrates, writing in the earlier
part of the fourth century, speaks of it. In the contest of
beauty, he writes:1 " Hera offered Paris the sovereignty of all
Asia, Athena victory in war, Aphrodite Helen as a bride. Paris,
not being able to give judgment on the physical charms of the
three, and being dazzled by their beauty, was obliged to go by
their promises, and chose the possession of Helen rather than
all else." Of the way in which the story of the Judgment is
treated by the writers of the Hellenistic age we can best judge
from the works of the Roman poets who copy them, Ovid,
Propertius, and the rest. The version generally accepted is
that of Isocrates, that Paris was set to judge the goddesses, who
appeared naked before him; but found himself unable to com-
pare such heavenly charms; whereupon each tried to entice
him with promises, and Aphrodite was most successful.
The vase-paintings belonging to the period after B.C. 450
introduce changes; but it is noteworthy that the changes do
not, if we except one vase, show a development of idea, but
they tend rather to overlay the original scheme with what is
irrelevant. The order of the goddesses is broken up; they are
sometimes grouped about Paris instead of approaching him in
procession. Attributes are increased; and fresh personalities
are introduced somewhat irrelevantly.
The one vase which is the exception gives us a charming pic-
ture (Fig. 105). What is here represented is not the actual
Judgment, nor the procession to Ida, but the preparations of
the goddesses. We have seen that in the Cypria the toilet
of Aphrodite is described; and in the Andromache we read how
1 Encomium of Helen, par. 46.
PRINCIPLES OP GREEK ART
CHAP.
play, the Andromache (1. 275), the chorus dwells on the prepa-
ration of the goddesses for the judgment by washings in the
springs of Ida.
It is not only the poets who touch upon the myth, but also
some of the prose-writers. Isocrates, writing in the earlier
part of the fourth century, speaks of it. In the contest of
beauty, he writes:1 " Hera offered Paris the sovereignty of all
Asia, Athena victory in war, Aphrodite Helen as a bride. Paris,
not being able to give judgment on the physical charms of the
three, and being dazzled by their beauty, was obliged to go by
their promises, and chose the possession of Helen rather than
all else." Of the way in which the story of the Judgment is
treated by the writers of the Hellenistic age we can best judge
from the works of the Roman poets who copy them, Ovid,
Propertius, and the rest. The version generally accepted is
that of Isocrates, that Paris was set to judge the goddesses, who
appeared naked before him; but found himself unable to com-
pare such heavenly charms; whereupon each tried to entice
him with promises, and Aphrodite was most successful.
The vase-paintings belonging to the period after B.C. 450
introduce changes; but it is noteworthy that the changes do
not, if we except one vase, show a development of idea, but
they tend rather to overlay the original scheme with what is
irrelevant. The order of the goddesses is broken up; they are
sometimes grouped about Paris instead of approaching him in
procession. Attributes are increased; and fresh personalities
are introduced somewhat irrelevantly.
The one vase which is the exception gives us a charming pic-
ture (Fig. 105). What is here represented is not the actual
Judgment, nor the procession to Ida, but the preparations of
the goddesses. We have seen that in the Cypria the toilet
of Aphrodite is described; and in the Andromache we read how
1 Encomium of Helen, par. 46.