History Main / JudgementOfParis

[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Has nothing do with the judicial system in a French city]], or with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgment_of_Paris_%28wine%29 a 1976 blind taste test that saw California wines rated better than French ones in the same French city]].

* Averted in ''ComicBook/AgeOfBronze'': In keeping with the de-mythificated nature of the work, the judgement is a dream Paris claims he had which he uses to justify his kidnapping Helen, and even then he only narrates it.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_judgement_of_paris_large.png]]

This common scene is of the three goddesses, led to Paris by Hermes, trying to bribe Paris as he makes his decision. The artist normally gives each of the characters some signifying objects. Paris was a shepherd at the time, so he will have a shepherd's crook. In later artwork, he often wears a Phrygian cap due to being from there. Hermes, the messenger god, will have his caduceus and winged sandals. Hera was symbolised by the peacock and Athena was distinguished by her armour, including a shield bearing the head of Medusa.

* In one episode of ''Series/{{Poirot}}'', the Judgement of Paris was the key to unveiling the murderer. When a young playwright mentioned the subject, the widow of the murdered man mistakenly thought he was talking about the fashion judgement of the city. This struck him as odd, since at a previous meeting he had discussed Trojan myth with her at length (it turned out she had a body double).

* The starting fiction of ''TabletopGame/{{Scion}} 2E'' has Donnie Rhodes, [[spoiler: a [[{{Demigod}} Scion]] of Aphrodite]], put in a position echoing the Judgement of Paris (Donnie realizes this, but only remembers vague details of the story), with the Apple of Discord changed to an Apple ''phone''. [[spoiler: Donnie goes off-script by picking ''himself'']].

* Averted in ''ComicBook/AgeOfBronze'': In keeping with the de-mythificated nature of the work, the judgement is a dream Paris had which he uses to justify his kidnapping Helen, and even then he only narrates it.

[[IThoughtItMeant Has nothing do with the judicial system in a French city]], or with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgment_of_Paris_%28wine%29 a 1976 blind taste test that saw California wines rated better than French ones in the same French city]].

* In one episode of ''Series/{{Poirot}}'', the Judgement of Paris was the key to unveiling the murderer. When a young playwright mentioned the subject, the widow of the murdered man mistakenly thought he was talking about the fashion judgement of the city. This struck him as odd, since at a previous meeting he had discussed Trojan myth with her at length (it turned out she had a double).

[[IThoughtItMeant Has nothing do with the judicial system in a French city]].

The JudgementOfParis is a popular topic for artists in classical and renaissance period. The story itself is part of the background of Literature/TheIliad and connected to the story of the original AppleOfDiscord. In order to not make the decision himself, Zeus gave the decision of whom to give the Apple of Discord to Paris. He had to choose out of Hera, Athena and Aphrodite.

* Rubens ([[BigBeautifulWoman that guy]]) was very fond of this one. He painted it in 1625, 1636 and 1639. In the earliest, Aphrodite gets a choir of angel like beings to adorn her as the winner. In all three at least one of the losers is turned away from the viewer which helps to show the dejection.

Aphrodite was the eventual winner and goddess of beauty, love and lust. She won by bribing Paris with the most beautiful woman in the world. Correspondingly, she is often shown being the happier of three (the other two will be looking away or standing apart) and she will be attended by her son Eros/Cupid. The apple may be in hers, Hermes or Paris's hand.

[[IThoughtItMeant Has nothing do with the judicial system in a French city or the victory of American wines over French ones in a blind taste test]].

* Jan Both and Cornelis van Poelenburgh collaborated on one. Van Poelenburgh did the figures while [[WhosOnFirst Both]]) did the landscape. This may have influenced the decision to set the scene further from the viewer, giving Both's landscape more prominence. Thus, the figures are less detailed and have little to signify them as deities or specific individuals, though there is still one goddess turned away and a child clinging at Aphrodite's leg. Hermes is not apparent, though a crowned older bearded figure (presumably Zeus) is in the picture. Hera is also depicted as a more mature woman.

[[IThoughtItMeant Has nothing do with the judicial system in a French city]].

!! Examples:
* Rubens ([[{{Rubenesque}} that guy]]) was very fond of this one. He painted it in 1625, 1636 and 1639. In the earliest, Aphrodite gets a choir of angel like beings to adorn her as the winner. In all three at least one of the losers is turned away from the viewer which helps to show the dejection.

The JudgementOfParis is a popular topic for artists in classical and renaissance period. The story itself is part of the background of TheIliad and connected to the story of the original AppleOfDiscord. In order to not make the decision himself, Zeus gave the decision of whom to give the Apple of Discord to Paris. He had to choose out of Hera, Athena and Aphrodite.