EGYPT. Uncertain. Circa 2nd-3rd centuries. Tessera (Lead, 17 mm, 3.03 g, 6 h). The Judgment of Paris: on platform, Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena standing with their usual attributes; to left of them on platform, Paris; to left on ground, Hermes (?) seen from behind, head turned left to Paris, pointing with his right hand at Aphrodite; before platform, various animals; above, Eros flying left, holding wreath. Rev. Elpis standing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising skirt with her left. Dattari (Savio) -. Emmett -. A very interesting piece with a charming mythological scene. Somewhat rough, otherwise, about very fine.


The obverse scene on this tessera showing the Judgment of Paris was most likely copied from the Egyptian drachms struck by Antoninus Pius in 143/4 showing a similar scene on the reverse (cf. Leu Web Auction 11 (2020), 1547), although in a slightly altered form, probably to make up for the smaller flan size. The Judgment of Paris is one of the most famous tales of Greek mythology. Eris, the goddess of discord, once threw a golden apple inscribed 'for the most beautiful' between the gods of the Olympos. Pressured by Aphrodite, Hera and Athena, who all claimed the apple for themselves, to decide who was the most beautiful of all, Zeus referred the judgment to the Trojan Paris. All the goddesses attempted to bribe Paris with a reward: Hera offered him to make him King of Europe and Asia, Athena offered wisdom, and Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. Paris opted for the latter, leading to the Trojan War, as the most beautiful woman in the world was Helena, the wife of King Menelaos of Sparta, whom Paris abducted from the Peloponnese.