This mosaic shows Paris, the young Prince of Troy, judging a competition between the three goddesses Aphrodite, Athena and Hera. This was the decision that, eventually, led to the Trojan War as Paris judged Aphrodite the most beautiful, thus incurring the wrath of the other two goddesses. The mosaic decorated the dining room of the Atrium House in the wealthy Asia Minor city of Antioch. Other panels showed a satyr, a Maenad, Hercules, Dionysus, Aphrodite, and Adonis. This mosaic had pride of place at the centre of the floor, and uses a rich palette of colours using different coloured stones and glass. The opus vermiculatum technique used here imitates the shading and detail of paintings - the Eastern tradition of mosaic was influenced by Hellenistic art, with its play of light and shadow. The surrounding border, with human faces, foliage, birds and insects on a black background, is particularly fine.
